Emirates Cabin Crew Requirements, Salary & Hiring
Everything you need to know before you apply to Emirates— requirements, real pay, the hiring process, and whether they're recruiting right now.
Reviewed August 2026 · confirm exact figures on Emirates' careers page before applying.
Is Emirates hiring right now?
Actively hiring — Emirates runs the most frequent recruitment cycle of any Gulf carrier.
Track Emirates hiring newsEmirates cabin crew requirements
- Age
- 21+ at the time of joining
- Education
- High school graduate (12 years of formal education) minimum
- English
- Fluent spoken and written English; a second language is an advantage
- Tattoos
- No visible tattoos when in uniform, including short sleeves
- Swimming
- Must be able to swim unaided for 25 metres and pass a swim test in training
- Medical
- Fit-for-flying medical clearance, no visible scars or physical impairments
Arm reach 212 cm on tiptoes, minimum height 160 cm. Check your own eligibility →
Emirates cabin crew salary
- Basic pay
- AED 4,700 basic
- Flying pay
- ~AED 63/flying hour, typically 80–100 hours/month
- Per-diem
- Tax-free per-diem on every layover, varies by destination
- Accommodation
- Free shared accommodation in Dubai + transport to/from the airport
Total: Roughly AED 10,000–13,000/month tax-free for junior cabin crew, all-in. UAE has no personal income tax — this is the full take-home.
Full Emirates salary breakdown →Emirates hiring process
- 1Online application + CV screening
- 2Video interview or in-person open day (grooming + English check)
- 3Group exercise (assessed on teamwork and communication)
- 4Final one-on-one interview with a recruiter
- 5Online assessment (English, numerical, situational judgement)
- 6Medical exam and background checks, then a training offer
Open days run in multiple cities almost every month.
From the crew
I went through this exact process to join Emirates, and the thing nobody tells you is how much the group exercise matters — it's not about being the loudest person in the room, it's about whether you actually listen and build on what others say. Assessors are watching for who includes quieter candidates, not who dominates. The English and situational-judgement test trips up more candidates than the interview itself, because people assume it's a formality and don't practise. And the swim test genuinely eliminates people at training in Dubai who assumed 'unaided for 25 metres' was a low bar — it isn't if you haven't swum in years. If there's one thing I'd tell my past self: rehearse the group exercise with actual strangers, not friends who already know how you think.
Emirates cabin crew FAQs
How long does the Emirates cabin crew hiring process take?
From the first open day to a training offer, most candidates go through the full process in 4–8 weeks, though final documentation and visa steps can extend that by a few more weeks.
Can I apply to Emirates without airline experience?
Yes. Emirates hires the majority of its cabin crew from hospitality, retail, and customer-facing backgrounds with no prior flying experience.
Does Emirates allow visible tattoos?
No — Emirates requires no visible tattoos in the short-sleeve uniform. Tattoos that are fully covered by the uniform, including in short sleeves, are generally acceptable.
Is the Emirates salary really tax-free?
Yes. The UAE has no personal income tax, so the basic salary, flying pay, and per-diems are all paid in full with nothing withheld.