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Qatar Airways vs Etihad Airways

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

FieldQatar AirwaysEtihad Airways
Base / hubDoha, QatarAbu Dhabi, UAE
Minimum age21+ at the time of joining21+ at the time of joining
EducationHigh school graduate minimum; a diploma or degree strengthens the applicationHigh school graduate minimum
English requirementFluent English; additional languages (especially Mandarin, Arabic, or European languages) are a strong plusFluent spoken and written English
Tattoo policyNo visible tattoos in the female or male uniform, including short sleevesNo visible tattoos when in uniform
Swim requirementMust be able to swim and pass the water-safety training componentMust pass a swim assessment during training
MedicalFit-for-flying medical clearance required before a final offerFit-for-flying medical clearance required
Height / reach notesArm reach of 212 cm on tiptoes is the operative test — Qatar Airways does not publish a fixed height minimum.Reported arm reach ~212 cm on tiptoes; reported height minimum ~161 cm.
Basic salaryQAR 4,000–4,500 basicAED 4,300–4,800 basic (reported)
Flying payFlying-hour pay on top of basic, scales with seniorityFlying-hour pay on top of basic
Per diemTax-free per-diem on layoversTax-free per-diem on layovers
AccommodationFree shared accommodation in Doha + airport transportFree shared accommodation in Abu Dhabi + airport transport
Total take-homeRoughly QAR 9,000–11,500/month tax-free for junior cabin crew, all-inRoughly AED 9,500–12,000/month tax-free for junior cabin crew, all-in (reported)
TaxQatar has no personal income tax on this income.UAE has no personal income tax on this income.
Hiring cadenceOpen days run periodically across major source markets, often several per quarterOpen days run periodically, generally fewer per year than Emirates or Qatar Airways
Hiring statusRecruitment volume tracks Qatar Airways' fleet growth — check the calendar below for current dates.Etihad recruits in smaller, less frequent batches than its larger Gulf neighbours.

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

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