Working for the Emirates: a Dream of Many Pilots
One of the most common questions we get a Aerocadet from many international applicants is “Which program do I need to take in order to become an Emirates pilot?” And it makes sense to aspire to become an Emirates pilot, even if you are not from UAE: Emirates are known for hiring international pilots from various countries and backgrounds. Almost all passports are accepted. Flying with Emirates, one of the world’s most prestigious airlines, is not just a job; it’s a career that offers unmatched prestige, advantages, and benefits. The allure of piloting for Emirates stems from its reputation as a global leader in the aviation industry, its modern fleet, and its hub at the crossroads of the world, Dubai. In this articles we will talk about that pilots need to be eligible to become Emirates pilot, and which of our programs would be optimal for the purpose. Remember: becoming Emirates pilot is not just one pathway – there are several. And we will present them all to you here.
Being a pilot for Emirates is synonymous with prestige. This Dubai-based airline is renowned for its commitment to industry-leading standards, luxurious services, and a rapidly expanding network of global destinations. Pilots who wear the Emirates uniform carry a badge of honor that represents excellence in aviation skills, safety, and passenger service. Pilots are part of a team that has won numerous awards from aviation bodies and consumer travel organizations. This recognition contributes significantly to the prestige of its pilots, who are regarded as among the best-trained and most proficient in the industry.
Pilots at Emirates have opportunities to fly state-of-the-art aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and the latest versions of Boeing 777. These are some of the largest and most technologically advanced passenger aircraft in operation. The experience of handling such sophisticated jets enhances a pilot’s credentials and career prospects exponentially. Emirates serves over 150 destinations across six continents, offering pilots a chance to see the world. This extensive network exposes pilots to a variety of airspaces, weather conditions, and cultures, making their flying experience incredibly diverse and enriching.
The advantages of being an Emirates pilot extend beyond the cockpit. The airline offers a lifestyle and professional environment that is hard to match, influenced heavily by its location in Dubai, a vibrant cosmopolitan city known for its high quality of life and cultural diversity.
Needless to say that most qualified pilots with a full ICAO ATPL and at least 2000 hours on a jet, apply for employment with Emirates. But very few get in. This is because Emirates prefers pilots who hold ATPL licenses from the western countries and have work experience in the safety-oriented environment.
The Salary Breakdown
The salary of Emirates pilots varies significantly based on factors such as rank (e.g., Captain vs. First Officer), years of experience, and the type of aircraft they are qualified to fly. Below is a detailed analysis of the salary ranges and components for Emirates pilots, converted to USD for clarity.
Basic Salary
The base salary is the core of the pilot’s income and varies by position.
- First Officer: Typically starts from about $6,000 to $8,000 USD per month.
- Captain: More experienced pilots, such as Captains, can earn a basic salary ranging from $11,000 to $16,000 USD per month.
Housing Allowance
Emirates offers either a housing allowance or company-provided accommodation. The housing allowance can be substantial, approximately:
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- First Officer: Around $3,800 to $4,000 USD per month.
- Captain: Around $5,200 to $5,500 USD per month.
Additional Flight Per-diem
Pilots are paid additional allowances based on flight hours and layover payments. This typically adds approximately:
$200 to $250 USD per hour flown, depending on the seniority and the routes.
Education Allowance
Emirates provides an education allowance for children of pilots, which can significantly offset the cost of schooling in Dubai. Such allowance normally cover tuition in some of the best private day or boarding schools in the country.
End of Service Benefits & Performance Bonuses
Additional such benefits are accumulated on an annual basis, contributing further to the overall compensation package. They are subject to the airline’s financial performance and individual performance criteria.
Total Earnings
- First Officer: Total compensation for a First Officer can range from approximately $120,000 to $150,000 USD annually, including all allowances and flight pay.
- Captain: For a Captain, the total compensation can be significantly higher, ranging from about $180,000 to over $250,000 USD annually, considering all salary components and additional benefits.
Tax-free Heaven
The tax-free nature of the salary in the UAE is a major benefit, effectively increasing the purchasing power of the earnings compared to countries where income is taxed. The competitive salary, combined with comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, travel benefits, and retirement savings plans, makes the overall compensation package for Emirates pilots one of the most attractive in the aviation industry. The Emirati pilots pay 0% in taxes in the UAE.
Subject to their own country’s policies, most Emirates pilots are able to keep their whole salary to themselves. For example, the UK citizens who work for Emirates do not have to pay any taxes to the UK government. However, the US pilots get a break on the first $150,000 USD of their annual wages, but have to pay taxes on the rest of their earning. This system makes disposable income of most pilots who work for Emirates higher than the earnings of many domestic pilots in the EU and the US, who have to pay between 25% and 40% in taxes.
How to Get Hired
Applying to become a pilot with Emirates Airlines involves a rigorous and competitive process designed to select candidates who not only meet high technical standards but also embody the customer service excellence that Emirates is known for. The application and interview process for pilots typically includes several stages, each designed to assess different competencies and skills.
Application Process
Applying to become a pilot with Emirates Airlines involves a rigorous and competitive process designed to select candidates who not only meet high technical standards but also embody the customer service excellence that Emirates is known for. The application and interview process for pilots typically includes nine of the following stages, each designed to assess different competencies and skills.
1. Online Application
Candidates begin by submitting an online application through the Emirates Group Careers website. This application requires detailed information about their education, flight experience, and certifications. Applicants must meet specific minimum requirements, such as:
- A valid ICAO ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), preferably from a Western country.
- A minimum number of flying hours (the exact number depends on the type of aircraft and previous positions, typically around 2,000 jet hours on any aircraft with MTOW above 30 tonnes, and over 2500 total flight hours, including piston training aircraft.)
- Fluency in English, both written and spoken, with ICAO-5 or higher certificate.
- High school diploma or higher.
2. Document Submission
If the initial application is accepted, candidates are asked to submit further documentation, including a detailed log of their flight hours, copies of their licenses, medical fitness certificates, and references from previous employers.
3. Initial Screening
The first phase of the interview process might involve a telephone or video interview to assess the candidate’s communication skills and preliminary suitability for the role.
4. Assessment Day
Candidates who pass the initial screening are invited to Dubai for an Assessment Day, which includes several components:
- Group Exercises: These are designed to assess teamwork, leadership skills, and problem-solving abilities.
- Psychometric Testing: Various tests evaluate cognitive abilities and personality traits.
- Technical Interviews: Detailed interviews with senior pilots and hiring managers focus on the candidate’s technical knowledge, understanding of aviation regulations, and situational judgement in flying scenarios.
- Simulator Assessment: Candidates undergo a flight simulator test to evaluate their flying skills, adherence to standard operating procedures, and ability to manage in-flight emergencies.
5. Final Interview
The final stage of the interview process is a more in-depth interview, often with senior management. This interview assesses the candidate’s fit with the Emirates culture, long-term career aspirations, and their potential to contribute to the airline’s success.
6. Medical Examination
Candidates who successfully pass all the above stages are required to complete a comprehensive medical examination to ensure they meet the health standards required for professional pilots.
7. Background Checks
Emirates conducts thorough background checks, including verification of employment history, educational qualifications, and any criminal records.
8. Contract Offer
Successful candidates are then offered a contract, which outlines the terms of employment, salary, benefits, and relocation details if necessary.
9. Joining and Training
New pilots undergo an extensive training program that includes company orientation, specific aircraft type training, safety and emergency procedures, and cultural integration sessions. Training can last several months before new pilots are finally assigned to active flight duties.
The interview process takes there days. It is very comprehensive and designed to ensure that only the most qualified and fitting candidates join the team. It reflects Emirates’ commitment to safety, customer service, and operational excellence. Prospective applicants are advised to prepare thoroughly at each stage to improve their chances of success.
The Main Pathways to Emirates Career
As of 2025 (we update this article regularly) the entry-level application into Emirates is for non-type-rated first officers (see details), which requires competitive qualifications, as described in the previous section: 2000 hours on a jet, plus a full, unrestricted ATPL from a developed country. There are two main pathways to become eligible:
- Building jet time in a starter-level airline, world-wide:
This opportunity is available for pilots seeking to gain the required 2,000 hours of jet experience with an entry-level airline of their choice, such as IndiGo (for Indian pilots), Wizz Air or Ryanair (for EU passport holders), Copa Airlines (for South and Central American students), and others. This route is a practical option that may help you meet the minimum qualifications to apply as a Non-Type Rated First Officer (NTR FO) with Emirates.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider. Gaining flight experience with an airline in a developing country—especially one with a poor safety record—could make your application to Emirates less competitive and, to some extent, less desirable. Emirates favors pilots who have completed their training and gained prop or jet experience in developed countries such as the U.S., Canada, or EU nations.
- Building jet time in Canada:
Canada offers a unique immigration pathway that benefits flight school or college graduates. Those who complete at least two years of internship while working on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) can apply for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class program, which has a high approval rate for qualified applicants.
This pathway allows pilots to legally work for entry-level Canadian airlines (Porter, Jazz Aviation, WestJet, etc) to accumulate the required jet hours on any aircraft heavier than 20 tonnes. Once they reach 2,000 hours, they become eligible to apply for a First Officer position with Emirates. Their applications will be highly competitive, as their jet experience will have been gained in a highly developed country with an exceptional safety record—precisely the kind of background Emirates prioritizes.
- Building jet time at Emirates’ ULCC – FlyDubai: another pathway for Emirates FO application is via FlyDubai second officer program for type-rated pilots with no jet experience. This program was launched by FlyDubai in 2024, and became one of the very popular ways to “get your foot through the door” of Emirates, as FlyDubai is a fully-owned subsidiary of this airline. Pilots who competitively apply for employment with FlyDubai need to have an unrestricted ATPL from a developed country, and a Boeing B737NG type rating. Such credentials could be obtained in the most cost-effective manner by taking our FPAP-EU program in the EU, getting a restricted EASA ATPL, building 1500 hours during the highly-paid 2-year flight instructor internship phase, then coming to the US for 3 weeks to add-on unrestricted FAA ATPL and a B737 type-rating, then applying for employment with FlyDubai.
Which Flight Training Program is Optimal?
Please remember: the optimal flight training program to become an Emirates pilot needs to be able to produce competitive unrestricted ATPL-holder resume, not just basic CPL+200 hour requirements. Therefore, such program has to be integrated with a pilot internship and a career development program in the United States, EU or Canada, which will fit the Emirates preference to hire pilots from the western flight training background. The reason why Emirates wants pilots with the Western licenses and with Western mentality, is because this guarantees that the licenses were obtained honestly, no bribery was involved, like it often happens in the developing countries, pilots have developed excellent CRM (crew resource management) and ADM (aeronautical decision making) skills, are very professional, safety-oriented aviators.
Such flight training programs have to encompass the first stage – which is the flight training itself; the second stage – which is the pilot internship; and the third stage – which is the further pilot career development where pilots are able to obtain entry-level First Officer position in the local airlines in order to build at least 2000 hours of jet flight required by Emirates.
United States
United States can offer Flight Training, integrated with internship, but the internship is limited to two years, and there is very little chance to to continue internship in the Airlines in order to build the Jet time. For that, graduates will be to apply for the elusive EB-1A visa, which has low approval rate, because it required that pilots prove an “exceptional ability” to the US immigration officials, which is not easy. So, this option is the least recommended for those who want to become Emirates pilot.
(See the full difference outline between the United States and Canada flight training here >>>)
Canada
Unlike the United States, Canada not only offers the opportunity for internship immediately after training under the PGWP, but also allows graduates to apply for the Canadian permanent residency after two years of internship, and enter the Canadian Airline employment in order to build the jet flight time. Of course, besides working foe Emirates, pilots who are able to get approval or Canada PR can also stay in Canada and become professional pilots at Air Canada. That’s another option to consider.
Therefore, Canada FPAP-C program would be recommended for the International students from the developed, or higher-tier developing countries, who are not particularly price-concerned and consider career in Canada just as much as a career at Emirates.
(Check out our integrated Canadian program here >>>)
European Union
Unlike the United States and Canada, Aerocadet’s EU program offers several unique benefits: low of cost of training, highly-paid pilot internship, and almost Zero visa rejection rate. More and over, this program allows pilots to earn two ATPL licenses: EASA ATPL (frozen) – which is a restricted European license, and FAA ATPL full, with B737NG command type rating – which is an unrestricted American ATPL. Both licenses are ICAO, and having them both of pilot’s resume, plus 1500 hours flight time as FI in EASA airspace, plus a command B737 type rating from the US – will make their resumes extremely competitive!
Therefore, our FPAP-EU program in Romania would be the recommended for the cost-conscience applicants from the low-tier developing countries, who have high rate of student permit rejections for Canada or the US, and want to take the FlyDubai pathway into the Emirates Career.
(Check out Aerocadet’s integrated program in the EU here >>>)
Questions? Comments?
Hopefully, we’ve successfully broken down the “How to Become an Emirates Pilot?” topic into its essential elements, providing you with a clear and comprehensive answer.
If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to us at info@aerocadet.com or schedule a free personal consultation call here >>>
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About the Author:
Russ Sherwood is an airline captain and a line check pilot at a major US airline flying the A320/321 fleet. He has logged over 9000 flight hours and holds airline, commercial and flight instructor pilot licenses issued by the FAA (US), CAAC (China) and DGCA (Indonesia). Russ is also a lead aviation career development consultant for Aerocadet.