Emirates Announces Massive Recruitment for Pilots and Crew

Emirates Airline has launched a massive recruitment drive to hire approximately 20,000 operational staff by the end of the decade.

This ambitious campaign, confirmed by Deputy President and COO Adel Al Redha in late January 2026, aims to support a significant expansion of the carrier’s fleet and global flight network.

Fueling a $950 Million Expansion

The hiring spree is directly linked to an aggressive aircraft delivery schedule.

Emirates is preparing to receive 17 new Airbus A350-900 aircraft within the 2026 financial year, marking the beginning of a long-term fleet renewal.

These new widebody planes will be deployed to establish new international routes and increase flight frequencies on high-demand existing sectors.

To maintain these assets, the airline is also investing $950 million into a state-of-the-art engineering facility at Dubai World Central.

This 1-million-square-meter hub, scheduled for Phase 1 completion by 2027, will serve as a regional center of excellence for heavy maintenance and cabin retrofitting.

Diverse Roles at Emirates and Global Outreach

The recruitment drive targets five core operational areas:

• Cabin Crew: Seeking thousands to join their 20,000-strong multicultural team.
• Pilots: Recruiting for Direct Entry Captains and First Officers.
• Engineering: Hiring aircraft technicians and licensed engineers.
• Airport Services: Expanding ground handling and customer service roles.
• IT & Support: Modernizing the “Siddham” portal and digital infrastructure.

Emirates is hosting a series of global roadshows to meet this demand, with a significant focus on India.

Information sessions are scheduled for Mumbai and Kolkata in February 2026, targeting experienced aircraft technicians with at least five years of widebody maintenance experience.

Incentives and National Goals

The airline is offering highly competitive packages to attract top-tier talent, including tax-free salaries, comprehensive medical insurance, and profit-sharing eligibility.

Additionally, a major component of this strategy is the “Emiratisation” program, which aims to train and integrate more UAE nationals into specialized engineering and pilot roles through dedicated cadet programs.

As the Emirates Group’s workforce grows beyond its current 124,000 employees, this 20,000-person expansion ensures the airline remains the world’s primary challenger in the premium long-haul market, securing its operational readiness for the next decade of aviation.

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