PILOT CAREERS

Fly a fleet of modern wide-bodied aircraft

Our roles

Discover where your skills and expertise fit within our flight deck crew

Online Emirates Pilot Information Session

Join our pilot recruitment team and guest speaker Capt Brian Tyrrell, Senior Vice President Fleet on Wednesday, 16 October at 13:00 (UAE time).

Learn more about first officer, accelerated command and direct entry captain roles, along with what you can expect as an Emirates pilot from application, assessment, training and Rosters to the benefits package.

We welcome all interested pilots and their families.

Register now

Pilots Roadshows

We are on the road again! Next stops South Africa, Ireland and United Kingdom.

Come and meet the Pilot Recruitment Team where we will discuss all aspects of the pilot recruitment process from application to assessment, life as an Emirates Pilot from training to rosters to the benefits and package.

All interested pilots and their partners are welcome, no registration required.

Location

Pilot Information Session

Ireland

Dublin

22 Sep 10AM

Hotel Clayton Charlemont

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Ireland

Dublin

22 Sep 1PM

Hotel Clayton Charlemont

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Ireland

Dublin

23 Sep 10AM

Hotel Clayton Charlemont

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United Kingdom

London Gatwick

24 Sep 10AM

Crowne Plaza

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United Kingdom

London Gatwick

24 Sep 1PM

Crowne Plaza

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United Kingdom

London Gatwick

25 Sep 10AM

Crowne Plaza

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United Kingdom

Manchester

26 Sep 10AM

DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Airport

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United Kingdom

Manchester

26 Sep 1PM

DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Airport

Register now

United Kingdom

Manchester

27 Sep 10AM

DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Airport

Register now

Apply

More than just a job, working with Emirates offers an exciting lifestyle

Our pilots take us to the top of the world

Watch behind the scenes to see how we took our A380 for a spin around the Burj Khalifa for the making of our viral ad

Pilot training journey

Our new recruits undergo intense training in our state-of-the-art facility in Dubai. Learn more about the training journey.

Career opportunities

There are many career paths available to you within the Emirates Group

Frequently asked questions

Get the answers you need to your questions about the Emirates Group and what it's like to work with us

The current selection process is held in two stages.

Stage one is held remotely and consists of a short HireVue video interview, psychometrics testing, abstract reasoning testing, and a live digital panel interview.

Stage two is held in Dubai over a two-day period and consists of simulator assessments, Advanced Compass, and Emirates medical assessment.

You would also need to allow for a day’s travel on either side.

We provide you and your legal spouse with a return Economy Class ticket (upgradable to Business Class subject to availability) to Dubai from your nearest destination in the Emirates network.

Yes, you must provide complete certified logbook records when you’re invited for the assessment. This can either be a stamp in your logbook from your fleet manager or chief pilot verifying your hours flown, or a stamped original letter from the fleet department of your airline or authority.

You can email Pilot Recruitment at pilotrecdxb@emirates.com if you want your application to be considered at a later date. However, if you have accepted your scheduled assessment and then declined with less than a week’s notice, your application may be closed subject to specific circumstances.

If you are eligible, we will email you the timeframes and relevant details for your reapplication.

No, you will need to pay.

Unless otherwise stated, the contract of employment is permanent and open (no fixed duration).

The probation period is six months from your date of joining.

The training bond for first officers and captains is USD 42,000. The bond applies to flight crew on passenger fleet for 42 months.

This is at the discretion of the company.

This is a mandatory government formality to secure a residence visa.

Our current company criteria is as follows:

Minimum 6,000 hours total time
Minimum 2,000 hours actual time in an operating seat (stick time) must have been completed on the Emirates aircraft type you plan to upgrade on.
Minimum of 6 EBT modules successfully completed on any Emirates fleet
The minimum age to commence the command course is 30
Note: Total Time is defined as flying as P1 and/or P2, excluding single and multi-engine piston

While we take into account your past experience and preference, this won’t always determine the fleet type. Allocation is based solely on our operational requirements.

Yes, you can ask or volunteer for transfer, but only when our operational requirements deem it necessary. The transfer will be based on seniority.

The rostering system is a rotating cycle, so each group becomes the top priority for bidding every five months.

Within the groups there is a seniority list. However, you have a stronger chance of getting the duties you ask for when you are in the top most group. Bid preferences include: destination, regions, days off, pairing length and check-in time among others.

A reserve month (where no duties are scheduled) is usually rostered for each group approximately every 10 months for a duration of 35 days, which will be allocated to the bottom bid groups.

The sectors range from 50 minutes to 17 hours.

Layover trips generally range from 24 hours to 72 hours. The maximum time away from base is nine days.

Yes, you can travel away from Dubai on your days off.

No, only after your first six months. However, special cases will be considered.

Pilots can apply for available vacancies in our training, safety and flight operations units.

Stopover allowances apply at all layover locations and are normally paid one month later with your monthly salary.

All crew members have a minimum of seven days off in any consecutive 28 days, and at least eight days off in each consecutive 30 day period, averaged over three such periods. These figures will be allotted in relation to periods of leave.

You will be entitled to 42 days leave a year. During the course of the calendar year under UAE law you must be granted a minimum of 30 days annual leave. Leave is allocated by a bidding system through the Flight Crew Portal. The allocation depends on when you last took leave and on your fleet seniority.

Your salary is tax free in Dubai. Please check the income taxation laws in your home country in case you’re eligible to pay tax.

The company reviews salaries every year and may award pilots an incremental rise in salary or a percentage increase, subject to satisfactory performance. However this payment is not contractual.

Provident Scheme

As a condition of your employment, you will be required to take part in the Provident Scheme, subject to the scheme rules and qualifying period. The company will automatically enroll you after six months of joining.

You will contribute 5% of your monthly basic salary into the Provident Fund.

Emirates will contribute 12% of your monthly basic salary to the Provident Fund during your first ten years of service. After completing 10 years of service, Emirates will contribute 15% of your monthly basic salary into the Fund, Provided.

The vesting periods (the amount of time you must have worked at Emirates before you fully own the shares) are set out in the scheme rules: 75% of the A account (company contribution) after three years but less than five years of scheme membership, 100% of the A account after five years of scheme membership.

End-of-Service Benefits

You will be guaranteed a minimum End-of-Service payment of 21 days’ basic salary a year for the first five years of service, and then 30 days’ basic salary a year for each year of service thereafter.

You will receive either your Provident Scheme A account or the End of Service Benefit (EOSB), whichever has the higher value, but not both.

All GCC nationals will be enrolled in their respective pension schemes.

Upon termination of employment, you will be entitled to the following benefits:

Less than three years’ service: You receive the Provident Scheme benefit accumulated on your contributions as an employee only, plus your End of Service Benefit, calculated at 21 days’ basic salary for every year of service.

Over three years’ service and less than five years’ service: You receive the Provident Scheme benefit accumulated on your contributions as an employee, plus: 75% of the A account value (the company’s contribution), or your End of Service Benefit (whichever is higher). This is calculated at 21 days’ basic salary a year for the first five years of service, and then 30 days’ basic salary a year for each year of service thereafter.

More than five years’ service: You receive the Provident Scheme benefit accumulated on your contribution as an employee, plus: 100% of the A account value (the company’s contribution) or your End of Service Benefit (whichever is higher), calculated at 21 days’ basic salary a year for the first five years of service, then 30 days’ basic salary a year for each year of service thereafter.

If the company reaches its profit target, employees receive a profit share payment in May. The amount varies from year to year and has ranged from two to 24 weeks of basic salary.

You must be employed for the complete period from 1 April – 31 March to be eligible for the full profit share payment. If you join after the 31 March and before 30 September you are entitled to a pro rata amount.

If you join after 30 September you will have to wait until the end of the next financial year to be eligible for the profit share.

Expatriate pilots, irrespective of nationality, grade or position, are covered by the Exchange Rate Protection (ERP) scheme (except for the USA as the dirham is tied to the dollar).

The ERP scheme provides reasonable protection if you are adversely affected by exchange rate fluctuations to the currency of your home country. Under the ERP Scheme, 50% of the net basic salary you receive each month is protected.

Yes, as your salary is paid monthly in local currency.

No, the company provides transportation to/from work and to/from training college, within Dubai.

We cover you and your dependant family members in the UAE and worldwide as a benefit of your employment.

You are covered free of charge, and you pay a nominal monthly amount to cover your spouse and children.

Your dependants will need to attend an initial dental check upon joining to assess any pre-existing conditions. But otherwise, your dependants (husband or wife, and children below the age of 19) will be automatically registered in the scheme. You need to submit a declaration of health for each dependant, plus the birth certificates of your children and your marriage certificate.

The final decision is taken by our chief medical officer and we’ll let you know before you join. As with all insurance companies, there is an exclusion list and a pre-existing condition is normally excluded for the first six months of employment. You can discuss any concerns during the assessment process.

If you are absent due to sickness, accident or industrial injury, your absence must be supported by a medical certificate issued by a company doctor. Full basic salary will be paid for up to 52 weeks (this applies after you complete your initial six months’ of employment).

The company insures all flight crew upto 36 months basic salary (depending on age), against permanent loss of licence arising from an accident or sickness.

Full details can be found in the Employee Handbook upon joining the company.

You and your family will be eligible for staff travel benefits, including waitlisted and confirmed tickets, from the day you join. Every year, you and your immediate family are entitled to one confirmed return annual leave ticket free of charge, while you’ll have 15 wider eligibility tickets for your extended family to use. Your spouse and children up to age of 23 are entitled to unlimited concessional tickets. You’ll also have 10 tickets available for friends each year.

Yes, we offer an education support allowance subject to company policy. This is available for up to three children aged between 4 and 19 who are in full time education either in Dubai or overseas:

Primary school: up to AED 42,750 per child per year
Secondary school: up to AED 65,250 per child per year

We contribute towards the tuition and transport fees for up to three children aged 4 to 19. You can choose a school, but some schools may cost more than the allowance covers.

For overseas education, we cover tuition fees up to the overall allowance limit, including school boarding. Other fees for things like books, transport, taxes and admission fees aren’t covered.

All our employees in the UAE can get an Emirates Platinum Card, which is a discount card you can use at over 600 shops, attractions, restaurants and more around Dubai. There’s an annual fee of AED 300, paid in monthly instalments deducted from your salary. You can also get one extra card for free for a registered dependant.

There is also a Premium Club Membership that costs around AED 140 a month. This gives you and your family access to fitness and leisure facilities at selected clubs in Dubai.

No, we don’t provide this option for flight crew. All our pilots are based in Dubai.

Emirates are currently providing company accommodation in a three or four-bedroom villa based on space and availability. These villas are located in various Emirates Group properties across Dubai, and are assigned regardless of marital status and whether you have children. If you live in company accommodation, Emirates will cover the cost of utilities and municipality taxes. Free local landline calls are also available.

You can decorate the interior of your assigned company accommodation as long as you restore it to its original condition upon vacating the property. Pets are also allowed.

Although Emirates does not offer insurance for housing or personal property, it does have excellent relationships and deals with insurance companies should you need it.

As soon as you join Emirates, we will start the application process for your residence visa. This can take up to two weeks. Once you have your residence visa, you can then apply for your family's visas. This process can take up to 10 days. We will provide you with flight tickets for your family once their visas are approved.

If you choose to travel to Dubai with your family before we can process your residence visa, you will need to cover the cost of changing your family's visit visas to residence visas.

Once your family’s residence visa has been approved and processed, we cover the cost and issue you with tickets to fly your family (for up to three children) to Dubai.

If you travel with your family at the start of your contract, you’ll need to cover their expenses including travel and visit visas. There’s also a cost for changing a visit visa into a residence visa, and your family may need to leave the country while the new one is processed.

Yes. There are no visa restrictions on your husband or wife working in Dubai.

Yes, for some schools there is a waiting list and in some cases the list is quite long. Many schools offer Emirates families priority enrolment.

We’ll give you a list of school contacts in Dubai before you join and you can make the arrangements.

Most schools provide transport. The costs can be covered by the education support allowance.

Yes, if the school allows it. However, children can’t start school after 30 April as the school year ends in June.

Yes, you can hire domestic help through an agency. This employee will be under your sponsorship and you need to pay the fees. You can complete their visa forms and submit the documents to the Emirates Service Centre and the team will help you with the process.

Check the MMI website for the information you need:

http://www.mmidubai.com/retail/#retail_licence

If you have a driving license issued in Europe, North America, Australasia, South Africa or countries in the GCC, you can exchange it for a UAE driving license without taking a driver's test. Otherwise, you will need to register for lessons with a private driving school in Dubai and take a test. You can refer to the RTA portal for more details.