Landing a job as a cabin crew member is no easy feat, and getting a position with one of the world’s leading airlines is even more difficult.
But budding cabin crew have a great chance to get hired with Etihad, the national airline of the UAE and the world’s third-safest airline, as it expands its recruitment campaign.
The airline announced that it is hiring candidates from all over the world in January, with open days in Abu Dhabi and cities throughout Europe and Asia.
With travel on the up and the airline bringing back its A380 superjumbos, there are plenty of positions up for grabs, and crew are being hired in destinations such as the Philippines, Slovenia, Japan, Brazil and more.
If you love flying, are passionate about seeing the world and are considering applying, here is some inside information from captain Jihad Matta, head of crew performance and support at Etihad Airways, on exactly what the airline is looking for when bolstering its flying squad.
Why is Etihad holding recruitment days now?
According to captain Jihad, the latest recruitment drive builds on Etihad's hiring plans that started in 2021.
"We’ve actually been hiring since October 2021. In those days the world was still kind of closed, but our gut feeling was that when the world opens up, people will want to travel. When we saw an increase in travel and demand, we increased our flights and therefore the number of crew we hired and I think we ended up last year with just over an additional 1,000 crew.
"We’ve not seen that demand fade and the airline is now going through a period of growth. We added aircraft last year and we plan to add quite a lot this year, so we’re continuing on that and at least for the next six to eight months, we're actively hiring pilots, cabin crew and for other parts of the business as well."
Who can apply to Etihad's cabin crew positions?
Anyone interested in becoming a crew member must fulfil a few requirements before applying.
These include being fluent in English, having graduated high school, and having no tattoos that would be visible when wearing crew uniform.
People with previous flying experience are encouraged to apply, as are those who have worked in hospitality.
"Us and hospitality work hand in hand," captain Jihad said.
"A lot of crew might join hotels after they stop flying because they have that experience of customer relations and the same goes when we look at somebody who's worked in a hotel or theme park, they have that knowledge of customer service."
Other than that, potential cabin crew simply need to be passionate about the job.
"We want want somebody who loves flying and is passionate about it. You must be an outgoing person who loves to travel and definitely loves people. If you have all of those qualities and you can communicate well, then we've got a winning combination in a new recruit."
Do applicants need to be a certain height, age or look a certain way to be hired?
Not too long ago, cabin crew had to adhere to very strict standards regarding to height, weight and appearance and while things have evolved over the years with many airlines relaxing some of these ideals, rules still exist for cabin crew.
At Etihad, applicants need to meet the height and weight requirements set by the General Civil Aviation Authority in the UAE. This states that applicants should be 165cm tall.
However, if you’re a a centimetre out, don't let it stop you applying. “It’s something that we look at it in the interviews. The reason being that, some people might have longer arms despite being shorter. Some people might be taller, but actually their arms are short."
When it comes to age, applicants need to be at least 21, another standard set by the GCAA. On the other side of the spectrum, there’s no official upper age limit, but for applicants without flying experience, it's a case of the younger the better.
“The reality is that flying takes its toll on your body. Being younger definitely comes with that stamina to keep you going more than somebody older who has never tried it before. We would look at age versus experience to make a decision.”
All nationalities are welcome, provided applicants are fluent in English. Etihad currently employs 98 nationalities, something that it's very proud of and is keen to boost that to 100 in the coming year.
What to expect at Etihad's assessment days?
Applicants whose CVs meets Etihad’s expectations will be invited to attend an assessment day. In Abu Dhabi this will take place on January 17, with resumés being accepted on January 16.
Such assessment days consist of several activities, including an introduction to the airline from Etihad staff followed by a short informal conversation with some of the recruitment team, designed to see how applicants express themselves and communicate.
Then there's a group task which lasts about half an hour and where recruiters are looking to see applicants interact with others, use problem-solving skills, take criticism, etc.
Finally, there's a panel interview which typically takes about 45 minutes. There won’t be any technical questions about aircraft or aviation or advanced medical questions, so there is no need to try to cram for the interview the day before. However, it is a good plan to have researched the airline and the role.
What should attendees wear to Etihad’s cabin crew open day?
If invited to attend one of the assessment days, candidates are given guidance on what to wear.
For women, formal business attire, such as tailored trousers or a skirt and a shirt are recommended, with a suit jacket being a nice addition. Heels are the preferred choice for footwear and hair should be neatly tied back.
Men should wear a suit, or a smart pair of trousers, shirt and jacket with black formal footwear. They should also have a clean-shaven look.
Should applicants ask questions?
Preparing questions to ask the recruitment team during the interview is a good tip. As much as this is Etihad’s chance to ask you questions, it’s also a chance to find out more about the job.
“I always say to the recruitment team be as transparent and as open as possible. If somebody has a doubt or a question, tell them the reality.
"After all, this is not just fun, walk in the park, easy job. You will have challenges such as sleeping at night when your body doesn't want to sleep, or flying during the night. There will be different types of passengers to handle with diversions, medical issues, etc. We give out as much information as possible to prepare applicants for the reality of what's to come."
Will new recruits get to fly Etihad’s A380 superjumbos?
Etihad recently announced that it is bringing back its A380 superjumbos, the world’s largest commercial passenger jets. This has caused a flurry of excitement in the aviation world ― and in Etihad’s headquarters.
For captain Jihad, it’s a very special time. "The A380 is very dear to me personally, I'm an A380 pilot and I will hopefully be going to get our first aircraft back next month. But for crew, and guests alike, everyone loves it."
That said, newly qualified candidates will have to bide their time before they can expect to fly on the jets.
"We will not hire externally and put crew on the A380, we will keep it with our senior crew who flew on it before. But with time we will train as many people as we can on all the different aircraft types."
Can you share an insider tip for applicants?
For captain Jihad the most important thing for candidates on assessment day is to not try to be someone they are not.
“Be yourself. Be yourself and enjoy it. At the end of the day, whether you pass or fail, it's a learning experience. If you don't make it, you will get feedback from our team on why you didn't make it so you can learn from it. And if you make it and pass, fantastic.”
If successful, how long will it take until new crew are flying?
The onboarding process takes about two to three weeks for Etihad to complete medical checks, security clearances and other paperwork.
Initial flight crew training takes 42 days, during which crew will learn about the aircraft, safety measures, firefighting and emergency procedures and lots more.
Once that’s done, recruits fly on a few supernumerary flights, putting what they've learnt into practice but without being considered part of the operating crew. For the next three months, they will work on flights as inexperienced cabin crew members, progressing to fully qualified cabin crew after this period.
What perks do Etihad Airways offer cabin crew?
In addition to a monthly salary, provided housing and discounted travel, cabin crew have the chance to fly all over the world.
While layovers today are not as extensive as they were years ago thanks to the frequency of flights to many destinations, the job still gives world travellers the chance to fulfil their passion.
"No two days are the same, if you don't like routine it's great. After a few months you start finding your favourite places to fly to, knowing what to do, where to go. After about a year, you really settle in because you will have figured out how to bid for flights, how things work, how you can use your days off, how you can use our amazing staff travel benefits."
Scroll through the gallery below for pictures from Etihad Airways's crew training centre
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Foah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: RB Dixie Honor, Antonio Fresu, Helal Al Alawi.
7.30pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
EVIL%20DEAD%20RISE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELee%20Cronin%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlyssa%20Sutherland%2C%20Morgan%20Davies%2C%20Lily%20Sullivan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
What%20is%20Dungeons%20%26%20Dragons%3F%20
%3Cp%3EDungeons%20%26amp%3B%20Dragons%20began%20as%20an%20interactive%20game%20which%20would%20be%20set%20up%20on%20a%20table%20in%201974.%20One%20player%20takes%20on%20the%20role%20of%20dungeon%20master%2C%20who%20directs%20the%20game%2C%20while%20the%20other%20players%20each%20portray%20a%20character%2C%20determining%20its%20species%2C%20occupation%20and%20moral%20and%20ethical%20outlook.%20They%20can%20choose%20the%20character%E2%80%99s%20abilities%2C%20such%20as%20strength%2C%20constitution%2C%20dexterity%2C%20intelligence%2C%20wisdom%20and%20charisma.%20In%20layman%E2%80%99s%20terms%2C%20the%20winner%20is%20the%20one%20who%20amasses%20the%20highest%20score.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Queen
Nicki Minaj
(Young Money/Cash Money)
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
The Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize
This year’s winners of the US$4 million Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize will be recognised and rewarded in Abu Dhabi on January 15 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week, which runs in the capital from January 13 to 20.
From solutions to life-changing technologies, the aim is to discover innovative breakthroughs to create a new and sustainable energy future.
