'Job Hunters, This Is Your Boarding Call': Aviation Giant to Hire Over 17,000 Worldwide — From HR to Cabin Crew

The Emirates Group has launched a large-scale global recruitment campaign aimed at hiring more than 17,300 professionals during the financial year ending March 2026. This strategic initiative supports the Group's continued global expansion and aligns with Dubai's Economic Agenda D33, which seeks to solidify the emirate's role as a world-class transport and tourism hub.

Global Campaign Targets 150 Cities

Job opportunities will be offered across both Emirates Airline, the world's largest international airline, and dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider. The campaign will span more than 150 cities, with over 2,100 recruitment open days scheduled worldwide. These events provide job seekers with rare access to one of the most respected and recognisable names in global aviation.

Emirates Group to Hire Over 17,000 Employees

The Dubai-based aviation conglomerate intends to increase its workforce by nearly 14 per cent, bringing total employee numbers to approximately 138,000 by the end of March 2026. This hiring surge follows a year of record-breaking financial performance, including profits of £4.62 billion ($6.2 billion) for the 2024–2025 fiscal year.

With expanding operations and ambitious digital transformation goals, the Group is seeking highly skilled professionals to help maintain and enhance its industry-leading standards. According to HR Asia, the campaign has already attracted significant global interest, with more than 3.7 million applications submitted in the past year.

Leadership Commits to Long-Term Growth

Speaking about the initiative, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, said the recruitment effort is rooted in both Dubai's Economic Agenda and the company's forward-looking vision.

'The Emirates Group's people strategy is anchored in Dubai's Economic Agenda D33 and our own projected growth and expansion,' he said. 'We're seeking world-class talent to fuel our bold ambition, redefine the future of aviation, and continue our commitment to innovation and excellence.'

Hundreds of Roles Across Aviation and Travel

According to DJS Aviation, the recruitment campaign encompasses more than 350 distinct roles across a wide range of business functions. Emirates Airline is looking to hire cabin crew, pilots, aviation engineers, commercial and sales professionals, IT experts, human resources and finance staff, customer service representatives, and catering specialists.

Concurrently, dnata aims to bring on board more than 4,000 new employees to support its cargo handling, inflight catering, and ground operations. These positions range from entry-level opportunities to senior management roles, with global open days designed to attract candidates from diverse backgrounds. Special recruitment events targeting UAE nationals will also be held in Dubai.

What Positions Are Available?

According to DJS Aviation, the aviation group's hiring effort spans 350 roles across multiple disciplines. The Emirates Airline will recruit cabin crew, pilots, aviation engineers, commercial and sales professionals, IT experts, HR staff, finance officers, customer service teams, and catering specialists.

Concurrently, the Dubai National Air Travel Agency (dnata) looks to hire more than 4,000 personnel focused on cargo handling, catering, and ground operations.

Opportunities range from entry-level positions to senior management roles, with global recruitment open days designed to attract diverse candidates. Events targeting UAE nationals will be held in Dubai alongside open days worldwide. This broad spectrum of vacancies reflects the Group's need to staff every facet of its fast-growing aviation and travel operation.

Recruitment Drive Builds on Recent Momentum

This hiring drive builds on the Group's recent momentum. Between 2022 and 2025, Emirates Group recruited more than 41,000 new employees, bringing its total workforce to 121,000 by July 2025. Of these, nearly 27,000 were operational hires. During the 2023–24 financial year alone, the workforce grew by 10 per cent, reaching 112,406 staff members.

Emirates Group Remains a Top Global Employer

Emirates Group is widely regarded as one of the world's most desirable employers, thanks to its people-first culture, generous tax-free salaries, attractive leave entitlements, world-class travel benefits, and comprehensive training and development programmes. The size and success of its recruitment efforts reflect not only the company's sustained growth but also its strong positioning as a global aviation leader.

A Career Opportunity on a Global Stage

As Emirates opens its doors to thousands of new employees, job seekers around the world have a rare opportunity to join an iconic brand at the forefront of international travel and innovation. This recruitment campaign is about more than simply filling positions—it represents a long-term investment in the future of aviation, driven by a commitment to excellence and the pursuit of world-class talent.