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Emirates vs Lufthansa

Cabin crew requirements, salary, and hiring process — Emirates and Lufthansa compared side by side, so you know exactly which one fits before you apply.

FieldEmiratesLufthansa
Base / hubDubai, UAEFrankfurt, Germany
Minimum age21+ at the time of joining18+ at the time of application, legal right to work in the EU
EducationHigh school graduate (12 years of formal education) minimumSecondary education or equivalent
English requirementFluent spoken and written English; a second language is an advantageFluent German AND good English required — this is not an English-only carrier
Tattoo policyNo visible tattoos when in uniform, including short sleeves
Swim requirementMust be able to swim unaided for 25 metres and pass a swim test in training
MedicalFit-for-flying medical clearance, no visible scars or physical impairmentsFit-for-flying medical clearance
Height / reach notesArm reach 212 cm on tiptoes, minimum height 160 cm. At least 1 year of hospitality or customer service experience.No rigid published height minimum — a functional reach test for safety equipment and overhead bins is used instead.
Basic salaryAED 4,980 basicReported base around €2,375 gross/month (full-time); part-time models around €1,579–2,177
Flying payAED 69.6/flying hour, based on an average of 80–100 hours/monthIncluded in total range below, plus a 16.3% shift allowance
Per diemTax-free per-diem on every layover, varies by destinationIncluded in total range below
AccommodationFree shared accommodation in Dubai + transport to/from the airportNot provided
Total take-homeAverage AED 11,244/month (USD 3,061) tax-free for Grade II cabin crew, all-inReported total gross monthly income €2,930–5,435 depending on seniority and flying hours
TaxUAE has no personal income tax — this is the full take-home.German income tax applies — figures above are gross.
Hiring cadenceOpen days run in multiple cities almost every monthRecruitment runs via the Lufthansa careers portal
Hiring statusActively hiring — Emirates runs the most frequent recruitment cycle of any Gulf carrier.German fluency requirement makes this a narrower applicant pool than most carriers on this list.

Figures reviewed August 2026 · confirm exact numbers on each airline’s careers page before applying.

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