Arabic or English CV: Which Should You Send?
For job seekers across the Arab world, one question comes up again and again: do I send my CV in Arabic or English? The wrong choice can quietly cost you. The good news is the answer is usually clear once you look at who's hiring. Here's how to decide.
Match the language of the job posting
The simplest rule: reply in the language of the advert. If the job is posted in English, send an English CV; if it's in Arabic, send Arabic. The posting's language tells you how the company communicates internally and what its reviewers expect.
When English is the safer choice
Multinational companies, the Gulf's private sector, tech, finance, and any role that mentions international work usually expect English. When in doubt for a private-sector or corporate role, English is the safer default across most of the region.
When Arabic is preferred
Government bodies, public-sector roles, local companies, and positions serving Arabic-speaking customers often prefer — or require — an Arabic CV. In these cases an Arabic document signals fit and respect for the working language.
The best answer: have both
Maintaining a polished CV in both languages means you're ready for any opportunity and can match each application instantly. The content is the same; only the language and direction change. Keeping both in sync is the strongest position to be in.
Keep both versions with write.cv
write.cv is built for Arabic and English, with proper right-to-left and left-to-right formatting, so you can create and maintain both versions of your CV from one place. Build it once and export whichever language each job calls for.