Country guide for Indian applicants · Sources checked 12 October 2026
UAE and Dubai CV format for Indian applicants
A CV for a job in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE looks a lot like a good Indian resume: two pages or less, latest job first, plain layout. What changes are practical details that UAE employers often ask about up front (where you are, your visa status, your notice period) and, for certain jobs, attested degree certificates.
Below: what to change, a sample section, and which points come from official UAE and Indian government pages (linked, checked 12 October 2026) rather than common practice.
Indian resume vs UAE CV
"Source" means we read it on an official or institutional page; "Common practice" means it is a convention, not a rule, so judge it against the job ad.
| What | Typical Indian resume | UAE CV | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | One page for freshers, two or more for experienced candidates | Two pages or less is the usual target; one page is enough for freshers. | Common practice |
| Photo | Often included | Optional. None of the UAE government pages we checked require one. Add a formal headshot only if the job ad asks for it. | Common practice |
| Personal details | Date of birth, father's name, marital status, religion, nationality | Name, phone with country code, email, current city and country, nationality. Leave out religion, caste and father's name: UAE Labour Law Article 4 bars discrimination on religion, among other grounds. | Source: UAE government portal |
| Visa and availability | Rarely mentioned | One line with your current visa type, or that you are in India and would need an employment visa, plus your notice period. | Common practice |
| Format | Career objective, then education, projects and experience | A 2 to 3 line professional summary, then experience (latest first), then education. Single column, standard headings. | Common practice |
| Salary and money figures | Current and expected CTC; amounts in lakh and crore | Leave salary off the CV. Write amounts in millions with the currency, or add an AED or USD equivalent. | Common practice |
| References | Listed, or "References available on request" | Not on the CV. Have two referees ready when an employer asks. | Common practice |
| Certificates | Not mentioned | If your degree has been attested for UAE use, say so on the education line. Certain jobs require attested academic certificates. | Source: UAE government portal |
| Declaration | "I hereby declare that the above information is true…" with place, date and signature | Not used. Remove it. | Common practice |
What to change in your Indian resume
- Rewrite the top block. Name; city and country; phone with country code (+91 or +971); email; LinkedIn. Then one line: nationality, visa status, notice period.
- Delete the India-only parts. The declaration, father's name, religion, caste, and a hobbies list that has nothing to do with the job.
- Spell out Indian abbreviations. Write "Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech)", "Chartered Accountant (ICAI)", and give a CGPA with its scale, such as 8.1/10.
- Convert lakh and crore. A reader in Dubai may not know them. ₹4.2 crore is ₹42 million; if you add an AED figure, note the year you converted it.
- Start attestation early if the job needs it. It involves offices in India and in the UAE. See the steps below and ask the employer which documents they need.
Sample section
A fictional accountant applying from Dubai. Names, employers and numbers are made up; the layout is the point.
ANJALI MENON Dubai, UAE | +971 5X XXX XXXX | anjali.menon@example.com | linkedin.com/in/example Nationality: Indian | Visa: UAE residence visa (employment) | Notice period: 30 days PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Chartered Accountant (ICAI) with 6 years in statutory audit and month-end close for retail groups in India and the UAE. IFRS reporting, UAE VAT returns, SAP FI. EXPERIENCE Senior Accountant, Example Retail LLC, Dubai Mar 2023 - Present - Closes the books for 14 stores each month within 5 working days - Prepares quarterly VAT returns and reconciles input tax across 3 entities Audit Associate, Example & Co. Chartered Accountants, Kochi Jul 2019 - Feb 2023 - Led fieldwork on 12 statutory audits of retail and FMCG companies EDUCATION Chartered Accountant, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, 2019 Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), University of Kerala, 2016 (degree certificate attested for UAE use)
Attested certificates: what the official pages say
The UAE government portal says certain jobs require expatriates to present attested academic certificates to complete residency and employment procedures. Certificates are first authenticated in the country where they were issued, then by a UAE embassy or consulate, and some professions also need the UAE Ministry of Education to attest a university degree. (UAE government portal (u.ae))
For documents issued in India, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi lists this order: (Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi)
- Authentication by the concerned State Government authorities.
- Attestation by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
- Attestation by the UAE Embassy in New Delhi or the UAE Consulate in Mumbai.
- Further attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the UAE.
Requirements depend on the job and the employer, so ask which certificates they need before you start. Once it is done, a short note on your CV's education line tells the employer one step is already out of the way.
Check the file before you send it
Whatever the country, the first reader is often software that has to pull the text out of your PDF. The free check reads your PDF in your browser (the file is not uploaded) and shows whether your name, email, phone, section headings and dates can be found. It doesn't judge country conventions; use the table above for those. Resumity's 7 templates are free, single-column, and export to PDF and DOCX.
Questions
Should I put a photo on my CV for a Dubai job?
It is optional. None of the UAE government pages we checked require a photo on a CV. Add a formal headshot only if the job ad asks for one.
Should I mention my visa status on a UAE CV?
Yes, in one line under your contact details: your current visa type, or that you are in India and would need an employment visa, plus your notice period.
Do I need attested degree certificates for a UAE job?
For certain jobs, yes. The UAE government portal says some jobs require attested academic certificates. For Indian documents, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi lists State Government authentication, then Ministry of External Affairs attestation, then the UAE Embassy or Consulate in India, before attestation in the UAE.
How long should a CV for the UAE be?
Two pages or less is the usual target, and one page is enough for freshers. This is common practice, not a rule.
Sources, checked 12 October 2026
We opened every page below on that date. Rules and forms change, so check the source before you rely on a detail.
- UAE government portal (u.ae): Anti-discrimination laws and policies. Article 4 of the UAE Labour Law prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender, race, colour, sex, religion, national or social origin or disability. Page last updated 2 September 2026. Checked 12 October 2026.
- UAE government portal (u.ae): Preparing to work. Certain jobs require expatriates to present attested academic certificates; certificates are authenticated in the country of origin, then by the UAE embassy or consulate; some professions also need Ministry of Education attestation. Page last updated 24 September 2026. Checked 12 October 2026.
- Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi: Attestation Services. The order for Indian educational documents: State Government authentication, Ministry of External Affairs attestation, then the UAE Embassy in New Delhi or UAE Consulate in Mumbai, before further attestation in the UAE. Checked 12 October 2026.