CV conventions in Middle East & North Africa

These 13 countries follow broadly the same CV conventions: a photo is common, date of birth is usually included, 2 pages, and “references on request” is enough. The table below shows where individual countries differ.

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At a glance

CV conventions in Middle East & North Africa
What it is called	Curriculum Vitae
Length	2 pages
Paper size	A4
Layout	Single column
Order	Most recent first
Dates	Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023)
Photo	Usually included
Date of birth	Usually included
Nationality	Usually included
Marital status	Optional
Right to work / visa status	Optional
Military service	Optional
References	“References available on request” is fine
Explain gaps longer than	6 months

Tips

Photo, date of birth and nationality are commonly included.
In countries with conscription, men often state military service status.
French is the usual CV language in the Maghreb; English or Arabic in the Mashreq.

Countries in this group

Country	Called	Usual language	Paper
Algeria	Curriculum Vitae	French	A4
Egypt	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
Iran	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
Iraq	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
Jordan	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
Lebanon	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
Libya	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
Morocco	Curriculum Vitae	French	A4
Palestine	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
Sudan	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
Syria	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4
Tunisia	Curriculum Vitae	French	A4
Yemen	Curriculum Vitae	English	A4

Other regions

Guidance checked October 2026. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.