If you’re applying to roles in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain or Oman, relying only on LinkedIn means you’re seeing just a slice of the real job market.
Many Gulf employers either don’t post on LinkedIn at all or treat it as a secondary channel. Local companies, government entities and family businesses often prefer regional portals, country‑specific job sites or even niche industry platforms.
This guide from MHNtips walks you through the most useful niche platforms beyond LinkedIn for finding your next role in the Gulf—and how to use them strategically.
Why You Need More Than LinkedIn for a Gulf Job Search
Before diving into the platforms, it helps to understand how hiring in the Gulf is different:
- Regional job boards are dominant
Many HR teams in Dubai, Riyadh, Doha and elsewhere invest heavily in Bayt, GulfTalent and other regional portals rather than LinkedIn Recruiter. - Not all employers are “LinkedIn-native”
Government agencies, semi‑government firms and local SMEs often use Arabic‑friendly or country‑specific sites and still rely on classifieds or internal talent pools. - Visa and relocation filters matter
Niche Gulf platforms let employers filter by current location, visa status (e.g., transferable Iqama in Saudi), and willingness to relocate, which they can’t always do easily on LinkedIn. - Less noise, more relevance
On targeted portals, competition is often smaller and applications are more relevant, so your CV stands a better chance of being seen.
Gulf‑Focused Job Portals You Should Know
These regional platforms focus on the Middle East and GCC and should be at the core of your strategy.
1. Bayt.com
What it is:
One of the largest career platforms in the Middle East, with strong coverage across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
Best for:
- Mid‑level to senior professionals
- White‑collar roles in finance, HR, sales, engineering, IT, marketing and more
Tips to use Bayt effectively:
- Complete your profile 100%. Recruiters filter by profile strength. Add skills, achievements, and languages (especially Arabic if you have it).
- Upload multiple CV versions. Tailor resumes for different functions (e.g., one for sales, one for business development).
- Use “Desired Location” smartly. If you’re open to relocation, mention specific cities: “Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha.”
- Turn on visibility. Make your profile searchable so recruiters can approach you directly.
2. GulfTalent
What it is:
A premium portal that Gulf employers use heavily for professional and managerial roles.
Best for:
- Experienced professionals and managers
- Engineering, construction, oil & gas, consulting, finance, HR and corporate roles
Tips:
- Invest time in your profile summary. Many recruiters scan this first; include years of experience, key industries, GCC experience and languages.
- Show Gulf experience clearly. If you’ve worked in the region, highlight country names, project values and regional clients.
- Use job alerts. Set specific filters (e.g., “Project Manager – Riyadh – Construction”) to avoid irrelevant emails.
3. Naukrigulf
What it is:
A popular job site for Gulf roles, with a strong candidate base from India, Pakistan, the Philippines and across Asia, plus local talent.
Best for:
- Mid‑career professionals
- IT, engineering, finance, operations, logistics, facility management and support roles
Tips:
- Align your profile with ATS keywords. Reuse exact skills and job titles from job descriptions (e.g., “Mechanical Engineer – HVAC,” “Accounts Payable Specialist”).
- Highlight relocation readiness. Add “Open to relocation to UAE/Saudi/Qatar” in your headline and summary.
- Update regularly. Many Gulf recruiters filter by “Last updated” date.
4. Laimoon
What it is:
A Gulf‑focused job aggregator covering UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other GCC markets.
Best for:
- Quick market scans across multiple employers
- Entry‑ to mid‑level roles in various industries
Tips:
- Use Laimoon to discover companies and roles, then apply both through the site and directly via company career pages when possible.
- Set broad alerts (e.g., “Accountant – UAE”, “Civil Engineer – Qatar”) to catch early postings.
5. Akhtaboot & Tanqeeb
What they are:
Regional platforms widely used in the broader MENA region (including some GCC roles), with strong Arabic content.
Best for:
- Arabic‑speaking candidates
- Roles with bilingual requirements or local client interaction
Tips:
- Apply in the right language. If the posting is in Arabic, submit a CV and cover letter in Arabic unless stated otherwise.
- Add Arabic keywords for your profession (e.g., مهندس مدني for Civil Engineer) to improve search visibility.
Country‑Specific Job Sites Across the GCC
In addition to regional portals, each Gulf country has its own favored platforms and channels.
UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Other Emirates
Key platforms:
- Dubizzle Jobs – Especially strong for blue‑collar, admin, sales, retail, driver, and service roles.
- Newspaper job portals – Online classifieds from Khaleej Times and Gulf News still attract local employers.
- Company career pages – Large UAE employers (Emirates Group, ADNOC, Etihad, Emaar, DEWA, Dubai Holding, etc.) post directly on their own sites.
Tips:
- Use Dubizzle for high‑volume roles and quick hires; be cautious about scams and never pay for a job.
- Bookmark the career pages of top companies in your field and check them weekly.
- For government and semi‑government entities, search “[entity name] careers” rather than waiting for LinkedIn posts.
Saudi Arabia
Key platforms:
- Mihnati.com – One of the best‑known Saudi‑focused job boards.
- GulfTalent & Bayt – Both have very strong Saudi coverage.
- Company career portals – Saudi Aramco, SABIC, STC, Saudi Electricity Company, NEOM, and other giga‑projects recruit heavily via their own channels.
Tips:
- If you already live in KSA, mention your Iqama status (“transferable Iqama”, “locally available”) as this is a major decision factor for employers.
- Focus on Saudi‑specific keywords in your profile (e.g., “worked on Vision 2030 projects”, “experience in KSA market”).
Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain & Oman
Qatar:
- QatarLiving Jobs – A popular local platform for a wide range of roles.
- Bayt, GulfTalent, Naukrigulf – Strong coverage, especially for professional roles.
Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman:
- Regional portals (Bayt, Naukrigulf, GulfTalent, Tanqeeb) carry most white‑collar roles.
- Some local classifieds and newspaper sites also advertise jobs, especially for smaller businesses.
Tips:
- For Qatar and Kuwait, emphasize GCC experience and previous work with local regulations or clients, if applicable.
- If you’re already in-country, highlight “available locally” or “immediate joining” in your title and summary.
Industry‑Specific Platforms for Gulf Roles
Depending on your sector, niche job boards can be much more effective than general portals.
Oil & Gas, Energy and Engineering
- Rigzone
- OilandGasJobSearch
- Energy Jobline
Best for:
Petroleum engineers, drilling & production, HSE, maintenance, project management, EPC roles.
Tips:
- Filter by location: Middle East / Gulf / UAE / Saudi / Qatar.
- Use these platforms to identify key EPC contractors, consultants, and operators, then follow up on their own career pages.
Hospitality, Tourism and F&B
- CatererGlobal
- Hosco
- Hozpitality
Best for:
Hotel management, F&B, front office, housekeeping, spa, events, and tourism roles in major Gulf cities.
Tips:
- Target cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah in your search.
- Highlight pre‑opening experience, international chains you’ve worked with, and guest satisfaction metrics where possible.
Aviation and Airlines
While many roles appear on general job boards, most serious hiring happens via official career portals:
- Emirates Group Careers
- Qatar Airways Careers
- flydubai Careers
- Saudia Careers, flynas, etc.
Tips:
- Create profiles on the airline’s own portal and set specific alerts.
- Keep documents (passport, licenses, ratings, logbooks where relevant) updated and ready to upload.
Beyond Job Boards: Community Channels That Work in the Gulf
Some of the best leads never reach big job boards. They circulate via networks and communities.
Useful channels:
- WhatsApp & Telegram groups
Many industries and cities have informal job groups (e.g., “Dubai HR Jobs”, “Riyadh Engineers Jobs”). You can often find invite links in LinkedIn posts, Facebook groups or through colleagues. - Facebook groups
Search for “Jobs in Dubai”, “Jobs in Qatar”, “Jobs in Saudi Arabia for [Your Nationality/Profession]”. Activity is mixed, but genuine opportunities do appear. - Professional associations and chambers
PMI chapters, accountancy bodies, engineering societies, and business councils often share roles via newsletters or events. - Co‑working spaces & startup hubs
In places like Dubai and Riyadh, startup hubs and accelerators frequently recruit via their own networks and events.
Important:
Always be careful about scams. Legitimate employers and recruiters do not ask candidates to pay money, buy visas, or pay for interview slots.
How to Build a Multi‑Channel Gulf Job Search Strategy
Instead of scattering your efforts, build a focused system:
- Clarify your target market.
Decide on 1–2 primary countries (e.g., UAE + Qatar, or Saudi only) and 1–2 main role types. - Prepare GCC‑ready CVs.
- Follow local CV norms (2–3 pages are acceptable for experienced candidates).
- Include location, visa status, notice period, and willingness to relocate.
- Tailor at least two versions of your CV for different role types.
- Choose 3–5 main portals.
For example: Bayt, GulfTalent, Naukrigulf + one industry‑specific site + key country‑specific sites (Dubizzle, Mihnati, QatarLiving Jobs). - Create strong, consistent profiles.
- Use the same job titles and keywords across portals.
- Include “Gulf”, “UAE”, “Saudi Arabia”, “Qatar” where relevant so recruiters find you in location‑based searches.
- Write a short, clear headline:
“Senior Civil Engineer | 10+ Years Experience | UAE & KSA Projects | Open to Relocation Across GCC”
- Set up job alerts and track applications.
- Use daily or weekly alerts for each portal.
- Keep a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, role, company, portal, status, follow‑up date.
- Combine portals with direct outreach.
- When you see a job on a niche platform, apply there and search the company on LinkedIn to identify the recruiter or hiring manager.
- Send a short, focused message referencing the exact role title and where you saw it.
- Review and adjust monthly.
- If you’re not getting responses, refine your keywords, target roles, and CV format.
- Focus more on the platforms and countries where you see real traction.
