Published in: Career Opportunities

Latest Resume Standards in Saudi Arabia for Job Applicants

Author Proresumes Team

Published on: May 19, 2026

Did you know that organizations in the cities of Saudi Arabia, such as Riyadh and Jeddah, prefer ATS-optimized resumes?

Explore this guide to create a Saudi Arabian resume by learning the main resume guidelines for Asia.

Name used for the job application document in Saudi Arabia

The population of Saudi Arabia uses two words interchangeably for the job application known as CV and resume. A resume belongs to the French terminology which translates as to summarize something. In America, this word is used to refer to concise and ATS-optimized job applications.

The abbreviated form, CV belongs to the term curriculum vitae. It is mostly used to refer to long career documents in the US and Canada. These documents are usually used to provide details of the career and education history for roles in academia or research.

However, the word CV is also used to refer to job applications in the UK and many countries in Asia. So, the CV in Saudi Arabia is similar to the UK CV, not the US one.

Regional resume standards for Saudi Arabian applicants

Saudi Arabia is situated in the Middle East, which is part of the western area of the Asian region. Due to its geographical location, the country follows the hiring practices and resume standards common in the Asian job market.

These standards also have many common factors with the UK and US resume standards, which are the following:

Resume Length

The length of a resume document in KSA is expected to be between one and three resume pages. However, recruiters in the UK or the US expect the job applications to be within two pages at maximum.

In KSA, recruiters prefer concise documents but often require detailed descriptions of past experiences as compared to other countries. However, the use of resume pages in Saudi Arabia still depends on the career graph and experience of an applicant.

Most applicants are either recently graduated or career changers. These job applicants are advised to use a one-page resume instead of three pages to keep the information relevant and concise.

Meanwhile, mid-career or experienced job applicants with over 15 years of experience are expected to provide more details. These professionals should use two or even three pages to cover every detail in their resumes.

Paper Size

The standard use of the paper size for professional documents like resumes in Saudi Arabia is A4. This paper size standard is utilized by every country in Asia except the Philippines, which utilizes the US letter format.

However, the A4 paper size belongs to the German A size paper series and is used for the following reasons:

• The A4 paper size is available at every stationery store for printing.
• It is easily printed through any kind of printing machine.
• The paper size can be conveniently shared across digital devices.
• It is cost-effective and spacious enough to cover all relevant career chronology.

Moreover, the resumes in KSA have the following dimensions as per every measurement marker:

• Centimeters: 21 x 29.7
• Inches: 8.27 x 11.69
• Pixels: 2480 x 3508
• Millimeters: 210 x 297

Resume Format

The resume formats that are mostly used by job applicants in Saudi Arabia are the following:

Reverse-chronological

1. The most preferred and used resume format.
2. Covers the career details of the applicant in chronological order, starting from the current experience.
3. Shows clear career progression and skills development.
4. It is ATS-friendly and easily readable for recruiters.

Functional/ Skills-based

1. It should only be used by applicants who don’t have much experience, such as students, career changers, or freshers.
2. The resume format highlights the skills of the applicants in the resume.
3. Un-strategic use of the functional resume format is considered a red flag by recruiters.

Hybrid/ Combination

1. It is used by mid-career or senior job applicants who have years of work experience and skills development.
2. The format focuses on both the skills and the work experience.

How many languages are used by applicants in Saudi Arabia for resumes?

The Saudi Arabian job applicants utilize two main languages to write their resume content, such as:

Arabic

The Arabic language is the main language of the country and is also used for resumes when applying to:

• Jobs demanding local interaction
• Public-sector roles
• Government work positions

However, it is necessary to utilize the modern standard Arabic (MSA) instead of the local Arabic variations of the language. Moreover, applicants can also submit an Arabic and English resume for organizations that demand bilingualism or multilingualism.

English

The other widely used language for multinational companies or the private sector is standard English. This means that applicants can use any standard version, such as British English or American English.

However, many organizations prefer American English over British English, so it is better to confirm the recruiter’s requirement. Moreover, job applicants should use the formal, direct, and evidence-based version of the language in their résumés.

The resumes should focus on the following language factors, such as:

1. UK or US spellings
2. Grammar
3. Tone

Want to work in international companies in Riyadh or Jeddah? It’s time to refine your resume with perfect business English.

Get in touch with the resume writers at ProResumes and explore their resume writing packages with phone consultation.

Is the applicant’s photo required in the CVs or resumes in Saudi Arabia?

The photo requirement for resumes in Saudi Arabia is considered optional for some companies, while expected by some. Since the country is part of the Asian region, recruiters often prefer pictures of the applicant in the resume.

However, many international organizations or foreign-affiliated corporations follow Western resume standards and don’t require a photo from the applicants. The hiring practices of these companies ensure fair recruitment practices by focusing on competencies and experience.

Moreover, the applicants who are expected to add their photos to their resumes should follow these standards:

1. The placement of the photo should be at the top right or left corner of the CV or resume.
2. The dress of the applicant in the photo should be professional according to Saudi culture.
3. The background of the picture should be neutral or plain and free of unnecessary props.
4. The quality of the picture for the resume should be good.
5. The picture should be of a passport size with 2 x 2 dimensions.
6. The applicants should have approachable expressions on their faces.
7. The picture should not be edited with filters or editing apps and tools.
8. The picture should be a center stage shot instead of random angles.

Guidelines for professional references in Saudi Arabia

The job applicants in KSA can include references in their resumes since it is considered the norm in that region. Even though many Asian recruiters don’t prefer it, the Saudi local recruiters expect it.

Here’s how the job applicants in KSA can include references in a resume:

• Get the permission of the referees regarding the inclusion of their details in your document.
• Include a resume section at the end known as “references”.
• Include elements like name, cell phone number, profession, and email address of all the references.
• Also, mention your professional connection with each reference within a line.

Main sections of a resume or CV in Saudi Arabia

The components of a Saudi Arabian resume include the following:

Contact and Personal Information

The top section or the header of these resumes includes the following information regarding the candidates:

• Full name
• Contact number
• Professional email address
• City of residence
• Profile photo (optional)
• LinkedIn link (optional)

Here’s a list of details that aren’t necessarily included but can be shared explicitly when requested:

• Marital status
• Nationality
• Family information
• Religion
• Date of Birth

Professional Summary

The professional summary is written in these resumes to highlight the following career details, such as:

• The main work achievement of the applicant.
• Years of experience in a particular industry.
• Main skills of the applicant (Mention two or three at least.)
• Future career aspirations of the applicant.

Pro Tip: Entry-level professionals should include an objective statement instead of a professional summary to highlight their goals.

Work Experience

The work experience section includes all the work details of the applicant in chronological order. The elements that should be highlighted in this section are:

• Organization name
• Position held at each organization
• Duration of employment
• Bullet points and the STAR method to add work responsibilities
• Numbers, metrics, and percentages to quantify achievements
• Middle East work experience

Education

The education section of the KSA resumes, or CVs, includes the following details:

• Name of degree
• Name of institute
• Graduation year
• Professional certifications
• Professional training
• Internship experience
• Academic honors

Additional Sections

The extra sections that are often included in the Saudi Arabian resumes are:

• Skills
• Hobbies and interests
• Volunteer work
• References
• Language skills

How to optimize a resume in Saudi Arabia for job search success?

Here’s how applicants can refine their applications by following some expert tips:

1. Ensure that the resume is optimized for the applicant tracking system ATS.
2. Make use of plain and simple, black and white backgrounds for a CV.
3. Make the headings readable and easy for scanning by automated systems.
4. Ignore the use of any kind of humor or informal tone.
5. Utilize a one-column layout for the Saudi Arabian resumes.
6. Share your visa or Iqama Status if required in the header of your resume

Don’t know how to create each section of the resume in Saudi Arabia? Explore Proresumes blogs.