The Growing Market for Pilots: Jobs in UAE
The aviation and tourism industries are expanding like never before in the world and UAE is no exception. This has led to the enormous need for professional pilots, which is why now is a good time to get into the field of aviation.
This was emphasised by Capt Abdulla Al Hammadi, divisional vice president at Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA): "Of course, more pilots are needed – in the UAE and abroad. That’s because the demand for travel is tremendous and that the aviation industry and the economy here are on a rise."
A Thriving Career Path
There are no better opportunities for growth than in the field of aviation, Al Hammadi adds. "Nowhere on the globe will there be enough pilots. Aircraft is one of the fastest and most exciting fields on Earth and as a pilot you get promoted at a high rate. College students and high school graduates can get a great job as an aviator,’ he said.
There is a global pilot shortage, and the consulting company Oliver Wyman projects an 80,000-pilot shortage by 2032. Only in the Middle East will the demand for air travel expand the most quickly beyond North America, leaving the region short of 3,000 pilots by 2023 and 18,000 by 2032.
Emirates Flight Training Academy: The Future of Aviation?
EFTA is leading this pilot shortage. The academy is very well-connected with industry stakeholders and airlines within and outside the GCC in order to offer employment to students. "We’re all for it when it comes to getting the right match, working with the right people in the right place," said Al Hammadi.
Training fees at EFTA start at $181,650 (Dh666,000), including high-tech training gear, accommodation, meals, uniforms and certificates. The full kit ensures that cadets are prepared for the aviation workforce.
Rewarding Careers with Emirates
The biggest airline in Dubai, Emirates, offers high-paying packages to its pilots. First officers make between Dh26,000 and Dh34,000 per month with housing, leave and allowances for education. Such attractive benefits are what make Emirates one of the most desired airlines to work for.
Celebrating Success
This is EFTA’s fifth graduation ceremony attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline & Group, among other executives. Out of the 85 cadets who graduated, 67 were UAE citizens and 18 international students.
It was a demanding training course — some 113 weeks of instruction totaling more than 1,100 hours on the ground and 270 in the air. There were notable cadets such as Humaid Al Hammadi, Abdulla Raeisi, Alessandro Muffolini and Sarah Shah who took home first prizes for their performances.
EFTA has educated 271 top pilots since its creation 10 years ago. As a launching pad to the academy, it recently added an Advanced Diploma in Pilot Licensing Training (Aeroplane) after being recognised as an Accredited Training Provider (ATP) by UAE National Qualifications Centre (NQC).
Future-Ready Training
EFTA is not about size, it’s about quality. ‘We’re all for more but we didn’t set out to cadet-populate the academy. Instead, we’d want to be training with all the best of them, more face-to-face time, and looking after each and every cadet," Al Hammadi said. This is about getting cadets ready for the big time in aviation.
Your Roadmap to a Successful Career!
Flying is so big and demand for pilots so it has never been more exciting to consider becoming a pilot. It is the best training destination in the UAE that has never been better for aspirants pilots.
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