Mistakes That Get Your Resume Rejected by Dubai Recruiters

If you are applying for jobs in Dubai for months but are not getting interview calls, there’s a high chance your resume is the issue. A small mistake in your CV can make your resume get auto-rejected by ATS or even by the recruiter. The job market in Dubai is very competitive, and there shouldn’t be any scope for error. If you are facing resume rejection constantly, it might have some major or minor errors in it. Here are the common mistakes that get you rejected by Dubai recruiters and how you can avoid them.

Top 10 Mistakes That Are Getting Your Dubai  Resume Rejected

A well-written resume can help you get shortlisted fast for Dubai jobs. Especially if you are targeting big Dubai companies or a high-paying job in Dubai, your CV should be perfect. 

Here are the top 10 mistakes that are usually in a resume, but most job seekers aren’t aware of. 

1. Using a Generic Resume for Every Job

One of the biggest mistakes is sending the same resume for every job in Dubai. If you are not customizing your resume as per the job description, you won’t get selected easily. You need to read the job description, then make the required changes in your resume. 

For example, add the skills mentioned in the job description smartly in your work experience section, summary, and skills section. Similarly, mention the same role and responsibilities as listed in the job description. Modify the resume title as per the job profile mentioned in the job description. 

Customize your resume for each application. Use keywords from the job description, highlight skills they need, and remove irrelevant details.

Also Read: How to Tailor Your Dubai Resume to a Job Description

2. No Keywords

Dubai companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to filter resumes. If your CV doesn’t have the right keywords, it will get rejected by ATS and never even be seen by the recruiter. Keywords are the skills or relevant terms regarding your job that are listed in the job description. For example, a keyword can be communication skills, Adobe expertise, SEO, or digital marketing. For each profession has it’s own keywords.  You need to research the top Dubai keywords for your job profile and add them strategically to your CV. 

Also Read: Role Of Keywords In Your Resume

3. Adding too Much Personal Details

Some people add too much personal information, like passport number, full address, marital status, or religion. Recruiters only want to see your skills, experience, and education for the job. Extra details make your resume look outdated. Just mention your name, phone number (with country code), email, and location (Dubai / UAE or your current city if applying from abroad).

Also Read: How To Write Dubai CV As Per ATS System?

4. Adding Irrelevant Work Experience

This is one common mistake job seekers make to impress the recruiter; instead, they get rejected. You need to add only the work experience that is related to the job you are applying for in Dubai. If you did cashier, receptionist, or store worker jobs early in your career, you don’t need to list them in your Dubai resume.

 If you have good years of work experience, then just mention relevant work history in your CV. You can write about irrelevant work experience in 1 or 2 lines at the bottom of the work experience section. 

5. Not Showing Achievements

Dubai recruiters dont just want to know about your duties, they look for your achievements. Duties show what you were supposed to do; achievements show how well you did it. Achievements show how well you did your job and the value you brought to the company. They help you stand out from other candidates who may have had similar responsibilities.

A good way to do this is to link each duty with a result. For example, instead of just saying “Handled customer complaints”, you can say “Handled customer complaints and resolved 95% of issues within 24 hours”. This gives hiring managers a clear picture of your performance and impact.

Also Read: How to Write Work Experience in a Dubai Resume

6. Using an Old-Style Objective Statement

Your resume objective statement is the first thing that a recruiter reads. If the objective looks bad, your resume will be skipped. Objective statements like “Looking for a challenging position to grow my career” don’t impress recruiters. It focuses on what you want, not what you can give. Write a short, powerful professional summary that shows your skills and value to the company.

Modern Professional Summary:

“Customer service professional with 4+ years of experience in handling client queries, resolving complaints, and improving satisfaction scores. Skilled in CRM software and building strong client relationships to support company growth.”

Also Read: How to Write an Objective of Dubai Resume for Freshers?

7. Too Long or Too Short

In Dubai 2 2-page resumes only work. If your resume is 6 pages or 10 pages or even 4 pages, you are making a mistake. As per the Dubai resume standards, your resume should be a maximum of 2 pages. 

Recruiters scan resumes, so if yours is too long, they might lose interest before getting to the important parts. You can use a 1 page Dubai resume if you are a fresher. If you have years of work experience, you can write a 2-page resume. 

Also Read: How Long Should Be Dubai Resume?

8. No Proof of UAE/Industry Knowledge

If you are applying from outside the UAE and your resume looks like it’s written for another country, recruiters may skip you. Your resume should highlight that you have Dubai industry knowledge to stand out. Mention any UAE-related experience, clients, or certifications you have. If you don’t have any such experience, you can still research the local industry trends and use terms familiar to the UAE job market.

Example:

• If you are applying for an HR role, mention that you are familiar with the UAE Labour Law and employee visa processing.
• For a sales job, highlight your knowledge of Dubai’s retail market or experience with GCC clients.
• For an accounting role, mention familiarity with VAT laws in the UAE.
• For a construction or engineering job, include awareness of Dubai Municipality regulations or RERA guidelines.
• For a teaching position, note that you understand KHDA requirements and the UAE’s education standards.

Also Read: How a CV Distribution Service Can Help You Get a Job in Dubai

9. Mentioning salary on your resume

Even if you already have a salary in mind, don’t put it on your resume. Salary discussions usually happen later, during the interview or once you get a job offer. Mentioning salary in your resume can get you rejected very fast. You can talk about your salary expectations during the interview round. 

10. Not giving enough details

 When you mention your work experience, don’t just write the job title and company name; give enough information to tell what you did and how well you did it. For your current or most recent job, try to add around five bullet points highlighting your main responsibilities and achievements. For older jobs, add three bullet points. 

Start each point with a strong action word like led, managed, improved, increased, or created, and then explain the result of your work. 

For example: “Increased sales by 20% in 6 months” or “Reduced processing time by 30%.” This helps recruiters quickly see your value

Also Read: Should a Dubai Resume Have a Photograph – Pros & Cons

If you need a perfect Dubai resume with no errors, we can provide you with one. Learnwithfaiz, resume writing services is one of the best in Dubai that have helped many job seekers find job fast.