Quick answer
For most internship and co-op applications submitted through company portals, your internship CV should not include a photo unless the employer explicitly asks for one. ATS systems read text, headings, keywords, and structure. A photo rarely helps that process, and it can take space away from stronger proof such as education, projects, certificates, and relevant skills.
This is especially true for major-company applications in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. If you are applying through an online portal, a clean ATS CV is usually safer than a decorative CV with a large image.
When to remove the photo
Remove the photo when the application asks for a PDF CV, when you are applying through an ATS portal, or when the internship description focuses on skills, projects, GPA, major, certificates, or technical tools. Use the top of the page for contact details, LinkedIn or GitHub if relevant, and a focused two-line summary instead.
A strong header should help both the recruiter and the software understand who you are: name, city, phone, email, useful profile link, target internship, and field of study. That is more valuable than an image for most student CVs.
When a photo is acceptable
A photo can be acceptable if the employer requires it, if the application form includes an official photo field, or if you are preparing a separate profile-style CV for direct sharing. Even then, keep an ATS-friendly version without a photo ready for online applications.
The practical approach is to maintain two versions only when needed: one clean ATS CV for portals, and one visual version for contexts where a photo is requested.
How The Jundi AI CV Builder helps
The Jundi CV Builder is built for internship students who need a clear, ATS-ready Arabic or English CV in about five minutes. Use the AI CV Builder path when you want structure and preview. Use the AI CV Writer path when your summary, skills, or projects need stronger wording.
For photo decisions, the rule is simple: choose clarity over decoration. Your internship CV should prove your education, projects, tools, certificates, languages, and target role as quickly as possible.