Here at Remitly, we’re invested in your career growth. As you set your sights on a new life in the UAE, you’ll likely be applying for jobs there. Although the process can be daunting, this guide will help walk you through writing a stand-out cover letter that will help you land the job.
How to write a UAE-style cover letter
A cover letter is a short, persuasive letter that job applicants include with their CV when applying for a position. The purpose of a cover letter is to show your interest and highlight specific experiences and skills.
Cover letters should be responsive to the context of the job. This means a cover letter should take into consideration the job itself, the industry, and the culture of the country and community.
Understanding corporate work in the UAE
In general, the UAE is marked by a conservative and traditional culture. Emirati people are very family-oriented and social interactions are informed by the dominant and official religion, which is Islam. The values that dominate UAE culture are also present in professional settings.
Having said that, the business environment in the UAE is highly international, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as many expats work there.
Key elements of a UAE cover letter
Cover letters in the UAE are generally expected to be respectful and conservative:
- Header
The header of your cover letter will include your personal information, like your full name, current location, and contact information. It’s a good idea to use the same header on your cover letter as on your CV.
- Potential employer information
Address the cover letter to the person hiring. If this information is not included in the job posting, see if you can find it elsewhere.
- Formal greeting
You can start your letter with “Dear” and the correct title for the hiring person, whether that’s Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Dr.
- Opening paragraph
Include how you heard about the job and why you’re interested in the company. You can also include details like your degree and any relevant licenses or certifications.
- Middle paragraphs
Go into deeper details about how your experiences and skills connect with the responsibilities of the position.
- Concluding paragraph
Reiterate your interest in the job and thank the reader for their time and consideration. You can politely request to hear back or express your excitement to hear back and include your best form of contact. - Signature
At the bottom of the letter, sign off with a salutation, your signed name, and your typed name.
Aligning with local expectations and preferences
Your cover letter should be thoughtful and purposeful. Try to use a personal but also business-professional tone.
Professional culture in the UAE is hierarchical. Don’t skip the greeting at the start of your letter. If you can’t find the name of the hiring person, address your letter to “Dear Hiring Manager,” or “Dear Sir/Madam.” This will maintain respect even if it’s anonymous.
If you aren’t local to the UAE, it can be helpful to address your adaptability. Speak about your willingness to integrate into a different culture and show any local market understanding that you have.
Best UAE cover letter samples
Below is an example that includes all of the main points already mentioned.
Example of a UAE-specific cover letter
| JANE DOE
New York, NY, USA jdoe@gmail.com | +1.123.456.7890 January 1, 2025 Joe Smith, Director of Human Resources Emirates Airlines 1 Airport Road Dubai, UAE Dear Mr. Smith, I’m writing to express my interest in the Senior Analyst position with Emirates Airlines that was posted on LinkedIn. As a junior analyst with five years of experience, I’m drawn to the cutting-edge work that Emirates Airlines is doing in regards to customer experience and digital booking. This position would provide me with a growth opportunity to develop my financial analysis skills and manage junior analysts. I am passionate about how digital services impact sales, and was able to learn firsthand during my five years as an analyst with American Airlines. My main career goals have been to increase customer satisfaction, develop intuitive interfaces, and, ultimately, increase sales. I had to prepare pitches and present findings to senior leaders, which developed my public speaking and management skills. I also worked closely with the marketing team to develop a campaign that resulted in an additional annual profit of $10 million USD in the Canadian market. This project demanded attention to detail, collaboration and time management skills as we adhered to a strict and unchangeable schedule of deadlines. I also had to navigate the cultural nuances of working on a project in Canada. I’m confident that my analytical skills and forays into leadership positions will make me an impactful member of Emirates Airlines’ senior analyst team. I’m excited about the opportunity to work with the world’s top-ranked airline. As a traveller myself, I’m looking forward to experiencing and integrating into the Emirati culture. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely,
Jane Doe |
What makes it a successful cover letter?
So, what makes the above an example of a solid cover letter? There are a few elements that work in the applicant’s favor.
- Includes all of the key elements of a strong cover letter
- Addresses the letter to a specific hiring manager and uses a formal title to address him
- Uses an easy-to-read and clear format
- Highlights specific skills and details about past experiences, including measurable results
- Mentions an openness and excitement about Emirati culture
Lessons from top cover letters
A top cover letter is concise, direct, and informative. It adds additional details to the information included on your CV without being repetitive. You can think of the cover letter as the story or narrative behind your CV.
Here are some best practices to consider when writing your cover letter:
- Use active voice
- Avoid overuse of the verb “be” (am, are, was)
- Use action verbs from the job description
- Include personal details and insights
Ultimately, a marker for success for a cover letter is that it provides all of the information the person that’s reading it needs. A hiring manager shouldn’t have to research any additional information to understand your qualifications, relevant skills, or contact details.
Structure and format of a UAE cover letter
Now that you understand the content of a cover letter, let’s look at the format. Remember, UAE culture values formality, so the structure of your cover letter should reflect that.
Standard UAE cover letter format
In order to write a formal and appropriate cover letter, make sure that it:
- Fits on one page
- Is in a professional and clear font, like Times New Roman or Arial
- Uses a 10-, 11-, or 12-point font
- Includes a header with your information, the date, and the addressee’s information
- Uses a formal greeting at the beginning and sign-off at the end
- Has standard margin sizes
- Is about 250-400 words long
Tips for maintaining clarity and conciseness
Your cover letter should be no longer than one page. This means you’re going to have to be short and sweet. You can achieve clarity and conciseness by avoiding repeated information. If something is listed on your CV, you don’t need to say the same thing in your cover letter. Only include information that is directly applicable to the job posting.
Use strong verbs to convey nuanced and complete information in a fewer number of words. It’s a good idea to use the verbs present in the job description.
Tailoring your cover letter to specific job applications
The structure and format of your cover letter won’t change much from job to job. However, make sure that the details you include in your cover letter reflect the job you’re applying for. Even if you use the same starting point for your cover letters, research the company and include relevant information.
Researching the company and role
Your cover letter should respond to the specific role, company, and culture or context of the job. In order to ensure that you’re responding to all three points, it’s a good idea to conduct some research. Use all of the resources available to you to inform your cover letter.
- The job description
Use the job description as your main resource when writing your cover letter. Action verbs used in the job description can be used in your cover letter. In addition, the tone of the job description will inform the tone of your cover letter.
- Online information
Use sites like Glassdoor and LinkedIn to find information about the role and the company you’re applying to, as well as “About” pages on the company website.
- Cultural research
Including some information about UAE culture shows initiative. You can also touch on any experience you have in the country, whether personal or professional.
Customising the content to match job requirements
It’s a good idea to consider the responsibilities listed in the job description and see if you have any relevant experience that connects. Presenting your experience and skills in the context of the job that you want, as opposed to just the bullet points on your CV, is the main aim of the cover letter.
Common mistakes to avoid in UAE cover letters
Overused phrases and common errors
There are a few common pitfalls when writing cover letters. Once you’ve written your first draft, proofread it to make sure you’re avoiding these common mistakes.
- Don’t change the formatting to fill the page
Your cover letter should provide meaningful information that’s relevant to the job posting. Don’t change the size of your text or margins to fill the page with text.
- Avoid the use of passive voice
Passive voice focuses more on the result than the person who made it happen. Passive sentences also tend to be longer and less concise. Here is an example of passive voice and how it can be improved using active voice.
Passive voice: “A new process was developed by a team I led.”
Active voice: “I led a team to develop a new process.”
- Replace the verb “be” with action verbs
If you notice repeated use of “are,” “am,” and “was” in your cover letter, consider replacing those verbs with more active ones. The verbs you choose can provide more nuance and insight into your skills and experience. Compare “I was part of multiple projects” with “I contributed to multiple projects.”
- Support any generalised statements with examples and experience
If you catch yourself making statements like “I’m a great employee,” or “I have strong leadership skills,” or “I’m the perfect candidate for the role,” ask yourself why. What examples and experiences can you include that support these statements? - Check your letter for overused phrases and cliches
Certain phrases make your cover letter sound like everyone else’s, or even like it was written by AI. Phrases like “hardworking,” “out-of-the-box thinker,” “highly motivated,” “detail-oriented,” “team player” and “self-starter” are generic, so avoid overusing them.
Cultural nuances and taboos
While some cultures encourage people to “bring their whole selves” to work, the corporate culture in the UAE can be more separated from home life. Avoid any language that could be misinterpreted or considered offensive. For example, it can be taboo to bring up personal or familial details in a professional setting.
Ensuring originality and a personal touch
You can add personal touches to your cover letter by including a digital or analogue signature at the end of the letter.
The font of your cover letter can be changed as long as the text is clear and easily readable. The header of your cover letter, which should match the header of your CV, represents your personal brand.
You can include a subtle personal logo, like a monogram, or specific colours that carry through all of your professional documents as long as they are not distracting.
Final tips and best practices
When you have written your cover letter, it’s time to carefully proofread it. Proofreading is a crucial step, as things like typos and spelling mistakes could negatively affect the professional image that you want to portray.
Proofreading
Here are some tips for proofreading your cover letter:
- Try reading out loud; it can help you notice awkward wording.
- Use online spelling and grammar checkers, but don’t rely on them completely.
- Read each sentence one by one, from end to beginning. It can help to notice errors at the sentence level.
- Take a break and come back to it. A little distance can help you notice things you weren’t seeing before.
- Ask someone else to take a look at it, like a friend or family member.
When you’re happy with your letter, all that’s left to do is submit it and wait for a response. Hopefully, you’ll receive a request for an interview, taking you one step closer to your new life in the UAE!
FAQs
Do I have to write a cover letter?
It depends. If the job posting requests a cover letter, you should write one. If the job posting says a cover letter is optional, consider including one. This will show additional interest in the job posting because you’re completing steps that are not strictly required.
How do I write a cover letter for UAE jobs?
Make sure your cover letter is in an appropriate format, and include details about your background and experience that are relevant to the job. Keep your cover letter to no more than one page.