Flydubai has expanded its workforce in 2023 as part of its growth strategy, adding 900 new employees, which accounts for an increase of 12.3% compared to the previous year. This brings the total number of staff to over 6,600 across various departments.
According to official data obtained, the airline has recruited 148 pilots this year, raising its total number of pilots to 1,368. The number of flight crew members has reached 2,551, coinciding with the acquisition of new aircraft and the expansion of its destination network.
The airline has confirmed that recruitment efforts will continue in the coming months, aligned with the delivery of 12 new aircraft this year, aimed at enhancing its capacity to broaden its flight network and meet the growing demand for its services.
This initiative is part of the airline’s strategy to sustainably develop its fleet while ensuring that its human resources are prepared for an expanding operational scale.
Between April and August 2025, Flydubai received seven new aircraft, increasing its total fleet to 93. By the end of the year, the fleet is expected to exceed 95 aircraft serving a network of 135 destinations in 57 countries.
Flydubai continues to attract more Emirati talents to the company, having brought in a selection of young Emirati professionals in its efforts to employ local youth and enhance nationalization initiatives by placing skilled professionals in appropriate roles across various departments.
In line with its commitment to strengthen local competencies, Flydubai launched a pilot training program this year in collaboration with several global aviation training institutions.
The program is aimed at Emirati youths over the age of 17 and high school graduates, providing all necessary training to qualify them as certified commercial pilots. This initiative seeks to meet the increasing demand for commercial aviation over the coming years and underscores the company’s investment in developing local abilities.
Training Program
Additionally, the airline announced the opening of applications for a training program for aircraft maintenance engineers starting in September 2025 for Emirati high school graduates.
This four-year program is fully sponsored and managed by the maintenance and engineering department at Flydubai, as part of national efforts to develop local competencies.
The objective of the program is to equip Emirati youth with the technical skills and practical experiences necessary to embark on a successful career in the aviation sector, while providing participants the opportunity to obtain certification as licensed engineers and technicians from the General Civil Aviation Authority.
These initiatives reflect Flydubai’s dedication to investing in the national workforce and creating career opportunities for Emirati youth, addressing the needs of the growing aviation sector, and supporting the nation’s vision for developing local talents and skills. This also aligns with its ambitious strategy to continue growing and expanding while ensuring its employees are ready for an unprecedented future in fleet and route expansion.
