Meet Captain Huda Al Musallami, the UAE’s first Emirati woman training captain
She will train and qualify pilots to the highest safety standards
ABU DHABI – Etihad Airways Captain Huda Al Musallami has made aviation history by becoming the first Emirati woman to qualify as a training captain in the UAE.
The milestone places her in a new role where she will train and qualify pilots while helping shape the next generation of aviation professionals. Her achievement comes as the UAE marks Emirati Women’s Day, highlighting the growing role of Emirati women across the aviation sector.
Captain Huda is now entrusted with training pilots to the highest standards of safety and professionalism, extending her career from flying aircraft to preparing those who will take to the skies after her.
From pilot to trainer
Captain Huda’s aviation career began in 2003, giving her more than two decades of experience in the industry. She joined Etihad Airways in 2014 and progressed through the airline’s flight deck ranks, moving from First Officer to Captain in 2023.
In 2026, she qualified as a Type Rating Instructor, adding another significant achievement to her aviation career. She currently holds a type rating on the Boeing 787 and has accumulated more than 10,000 flying hours.
Her experience extends across several aircraft types. Before focusing on the Boeing 787, Captain Huda flew the Airbus A330, Airbus A340 and Boeing 777, building experience across Etihad’s wide-body fleet.
Her professional qualifications also include a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management and a Master's degree in Business Management and Information Systems.
The move into training has given Captain Huda responsibility for pilots with different nationalities and levels of experience. During the first months of her new role, she has trained pilots from a range of backgrounds, helping them meet the standards required to operate safely and professionally.
For Captain Huda, the position carries significance beyond her own career. She described becoming the first as an opportunity to create a path for other Emirati women to follow.
“Being the first means stepping forward before there is a path to follow,” she said, adding that her aim was to ensure she was “not the last” by opening opportunities for more Emirati women to advance.
A wider workforce
Dr Nadia Bastaki, Chief People, Government and Corporate Affairs Officer of Etihad Airways, said Captain Huda’s achievement demonstrated what can be achieved when talent, determination and opportunity come together.
She said the milestone had widened the horizon for Emirati women in aviation, while Captain Huda’s new responsibilities would allow her to pass on high standards to pilots who will shape the industry’s future.
According to Etihad, Emirati women currently represent 75 percent of all UAE nationals in the airline’s workforce. Their roles extend across the business, including positions on the flight deck and in senior leadership.
The airline said Captain Huda’s achievement forms part of a broader effort to create opportunities for Emirati women to develop careers across aviation and take on leadership responsibilities.
Shaping future pilots
Captain Huda’s new role shifts her focus from accumulating flight experience to passing that expertise on to others. As a training captain, she is responsible for preparing pilots and qualifying them against the standards required for their roles.
Her experience across the Boeing 787, Airbus A330, A340 and Boeing 777 gives her a broad operational background to draw upon in the training environment.
Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, was established in Abu Dhabi in 2003 and operates passenger and cargo services across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America.
The airline has continued to develop its Emirati workforce across operational, technical, corporate and leadership roles, with women forming a significant share of its UAE national employees.
Captain Huda’s appointment adds another first to that progression, placing an Emirati woman at the centre of pilot training and qualification within the UAE’s national airline.