Emirates unveils plans to hire 20,000 staff ahead of aircraft deliveries
Cabin crew, pilots and engineers among roles to be filled
DUBAI – Emirates is set to recruit nearly 20,000 operational staff by the end of the decade as it accelerates expansion plans tied to new aircraft deliveries and network growth.
The hiring push reflects sustained travel demand into and out of Dubai and the airline’s preparations to launch new destinations while increasing frequencies on existing routes.
The announcement was made by Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer at Emirates, during a media roundtable at the airline’s headquarters in Dubai. Al Redha said the airline’s recruitment strategy is closely aligned with the pace of fleet growth and route development.
As additional aircraft join the fleet, Emirates plans to deploy them across both new and established markets to strengthen capacity and connectivity. The airline continues to scale up its operational footprint in response to demand seen across its global network.
Expansion plans
“We continue to hire to meet our needs as we will receive more aircraft, which will be deployed to new destinations or current routes to increase frequency,” Al Redha said. He added that from now until the end of the decade, Emirates expects to recruit close to 20,000 operational staff to support these plans.
The recruitment drive is designed to ensure operational readiness as the airline marks up requirements linked to fleet expansion and network growth. New aircraft deliveries are expected to play a central role in Emirates’ next phase of development, enabling the carrier to strengthen its presence in key markets while opening additional routes.
Roles available
Vacancies will span a wide range of operational roles across the airline. Positions to be filled include cabin crew, pilots, engineers, technicians and airport staff, reflecting the scale of hiring required across both in-flight and ground operations. Emirates has historically recruited across multiple international markets to support its diverse workforce and global operations.
In addition to international recruitment, Al Redha said Emirates continues to place emphasis on developing local talent. The airline has special programmes aimed at attracting more Emirati nationals into various operational and technical roles, supporting national workforce participation within the aviation sector.
Emirates workforce
Emirates Group had a total workforce of 124,000 employees at the end of the 2024-25 financial year, underlining the scale of its operations across aviation, travel services and related businesses. The planned recruitment over the coming years represents a significant addition to this workforce as the group prepares for long-term growth.
Al Redha also highlighted the airline’s strong operational momentum, noting that Emirates Group recorded very good performance in the first half of its 2025-26 financial year. He said demand for travel to and from Dubai remains high across all destinations, supporting continued investment across the business.
On the back of this demand, Emirates is investing across multiple areas of its operations. These include enhancements both in the air and on the ground, such as catering services, aircraft accessories and ground infrastructure.