| Base / hub | Dubai, UAE | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Minimum age | 21+ at the time of joining | 21+ at the time of joining |
| Education | High school graduate (12 years of formal education) minimum | High school graduate minimum |
| English requirement | Fluent spoken and written English; a second language is an advantage | Fluent spoken and written English |
| Tattoo policy | No visible tattoos when in uniform, including short sleeves | No visible tattoos when in uniform |
| Swim requirement | Must be able to swim unaided for 25 metres and pass a swim test in training | Must pass a swim assessment during training |
| Medical | Fit-for-flying medical clearance, no visible scars or physical impairments | Fit-for-flying medical clearance required |
| Height / reach notes | Arm reach 212 cm on tiptoes, minimum height 160 cm. At least 1 year of hospitality or customer service experience. | Reported arm reach ~212 cm on tiptoes; reported height minimum ~161 cm. |
| Basic salary | AED 4,980 basic | AED 4,300–4,800 basic (reported) |
| Flying pay | AED 69.6/flying hour, based on an average of 80–100 hours/month | Flying-hour pay on top of basic |
| Per diem | Tax-free per-diem on every layover, varies by destination | Tax-free per-diem on layovers |
| Accommodation | Free shared accommodation in Dubai + transport to/from the airport | Free shared accommodation in Abu Dhabi + airport transport |
| Total take-home | Average AED 11,244/month (USD 3,061) tax-free for Grade II cabin crew, all-in | Roughly AED 9,500–12,000/month tax-free for junior cabin crew, all-in (reported) |
| Tax | UAE has no personal income tax — this is the full take-home. | UAE has no personal income tax on this income. |
| Hiring cadence | Open days run in multiple cities almost every month | Open days run periodically, generally fewer per year than Emirates or Qatar Airways |
| Hiring status | Actively hiring — Emirates runs the most frequent recruitment cycle of any Gulf carrier. | Etihad recruits in smaller, less frequent batches than its larger Gulf neighbours. |