Airline Pilot Jobs in the Middle East 2026: 11 Airlines, 8 Recruiting Now

The Gulf hires the world’s experienced pilots and trains its own citizens from zero. Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Saudia and flynas all run national cadet schemes closed to foreigners; for everyone else the doors are the experienced First Officer seat — 1,500 to 2,000 hours on multi-crew jets, often with the rating held and current — and the Direct Entry Captain seat at 5,000 to 7,000 hours. Of the 11 Middle East airlines on our board, 8 were recruiting, 7 taking First Officers and 8 taking Captains: proportionally the most Captain-friendly region on the board.

Read the type-rating clause before anything else. Etihad’s live listings in August 2026 wanted you current on the A320 or a wide-body, but it has also listed a non-type-rated 777/787 First Officer stream for pilots current on any Boeing, and pilots report a training bond. Emirates provides the rating against a USD 42,000 bond over 42 months, and both of its command routes need Airbus fly-by-wire time in command — a Boeing-only Captain applies as a First Officer. flydubai wants the 737 rating endorsed within the last 24 months and bonds the training (USD 24,000 rated, USD 36,000 non-rated, over 36 months). Riyadh Air, the start-up, wants 2,000 hours of multi-crew jet time in an operating seat and is hiring both seats on the 787 before its first commercial flights. Emirates and flydubai sponsor the residence visa (Etihad and Qatar Airways do not state their visa terms in their adverts), the medical is the local Class 1, English ICAO 4–5, and age caps are normal: under 54 at flynas, under 59 at Riyadh Air. The 2026 regional conflict closed Gulf airspace from 28 February — the UAE lifted its last restrictions in early May — and Qatar Airways has since retired its A330s and seconded some pilots short-term to RwandAir.

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Interview study guides for the Middle East airlines

One guide per airline for First Officer candidates: the airline, its selection process stage by stage, interview questions with answer guidance, and the technical knowledge the panel tests. €4.99 each, or all 10 for €19.99. Instant PDF download; no refunds once delivered.

EmiratesDirect Entry First Officer
29-page PDF · 60 interview questionsGET THE PDF · €4.99 →Etihad AirwaysDirect Entry First Officer
29-page PDF · 74 interview questionsGET THE PDF · €4.99 →flydubaiBoeing 737 First Officer
27-page PDF · 64 interview questionsGET THE PDF · €4.99 →

Who is hiring now (8 of 11)

First Officer routes (7)

Airlines in the Middle East taking First Officer applications or holding a First Officer pool at the last check.

• Emirates Recruiting
  Both command routes need Airbus FBW command time - Boeing-only captains apply as FO — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• Etihad Airways Recruiting
  Rated streams need you current on type; a non-type-rated 777/787 First Officer listing (500 h on Boeing, current on any Boeing) has also been seen, and pilots report a training bond. — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• flyadeal Recruiting
  Rated A320 First Officers (1,500 h on the A320/330, age 23–50) and Captains (4,000 h on 30-tonne-plus jets); non-rated streams for Saudi nationals — careers page
• flydubai Recruiting
  Vacancy pages live for First Officer, Captain and Second Officer; which streams are accepting applications could not be confirmed on the portal. — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• Oman Air Recruiting
  B737NG First Officers (1,500 h, frozen ATPL) and Captains, plus A330 First Officers; Captains aged 25 to under 55 — careers page
• Riyadh Air Recruiting
  B787 First Officers and Captains for the start-up flag carrier: 2,000 h multi-crew jet (operating seat only), ICAO ATPL, ELP 5, under 59 — careers page
• Royal Jordanian Recruiting
  Type-rated First Officers from 1,500 h (A320, B787 or E2 ratings accepted) and Captains, Amman-based — careers page

Captain routes (8)

Airlines in the Middle East taking Captains from outside. See the direct entry Captain page for the published minimums side by side.

• Emirates Recruiting
  Both command routes need Airbus FBW command time - Boeing-only captains apply as FO — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• Etihad Airways Recruiting
  Rated streams need you current on type; a non-type-rated 777/787 First Officer listing (500 h on Boeing, current on any Boeing) has also been seen, and pilots report a training bond. — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• flyadeal Recruiting
  Rated A320 First Officers (1,500 h on the A320/330, age 23–50) and Captains (4,000 h on 30-tonne-plus jets); non-rated streams for Saudi nationals — careers page
• flydubai Recruiting
  Vacancy pages live for First Officer, Captain and Second Officer; which streams are accepting applications could not be confirmed on the portal. — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• flynas Recruiting
  A320 Captains, rated or non-rated: 5,000 h with 2,000 h PIC on 27 t+ jets (500 h PIC on A320 if rated), under 54; type rating covered — careers page
• Oman Air Recruiting
  B737NG First Officers (1,500 h, frozen ATPL) and Captains, plus A330 First Officers; Captains aged 25 to under 55 — careers page
• Riyadh Air Recruiting
  B787 First Officers and Captains for the start-up flag carrier: 2,000 h multi-crew jet (operating seat only), ICAO ATPL, ELP 5, under 59 — careers page
• Royal Jordanian Recruiting
  Type-rated First Officers from 1,500 h (A320, B787 or E2 ratings accepted) and Captains, Amman-based — careers page

Cadet and pathway routes (8)

Routes that start before a licence, as each airline describes them. The cadet programmes page explains who pays and who is eligible.

• Emirates
  National Cadet Pilot Programme (ab-initio, UAE nationals only) - 0 hours
• Etihad Airways
  Cadet Pilot Programme - ab-initio, UAE Nationals only
• flyadeal
  Cadet Pilot — posting on flyadeal’s portal (eligibility not captured)
• flydubai
  Pilot Cadet — a cadet advert from 225 h circulated in 2026
• flynas
  Cadet Pilot Program — Saudi nationals
• Qatar Airways
  Cadet / ab-initio - Cadet Pilot Training Programme, Qatari nationals only (or applicant's mother is a Qatari National). Job page loads on the airline's own domain as of 25 Aug 2026; posting and closing dates NOT confirmed and the advert did not appear in the Pilots & Flight Operations listing.
• Air Arabia
  Air Arabia Cadet Pilot Programme — periodic
• Saudia
  Saudia Cadet Program — Saudi nationals

Requirements in the Middle East: what to expect

• Licence: ICAO ATPL; a frozen ATPL is accepted for First Officers at Emirates, Oman Air and Etihad (one Etihad listing accepts it only from UAE nationals). Licences are validated locally by the GCAA, GACA, PACA or CARC.
• Hours: Emirates 2,000 (1,000 on type) for First Officers and 7,000 for Captains; Etihad 1,500 with 1,000 on the A320, 5,500 for Captains; flydubai 1,500 multi-pilot with 500 on the 737NG, Captains 5,000 with 1,000 in command on type; Riyadh Air 2,000 multi-crew jet; Royal Jordanian and Oman Air from 1,500 rated.
• Type rating: required and current at flydubai (bonded: USD 24,000 rated, USD 36,000 non-rated), Oman Air, Royal Jordanian and on Etihad’s rated streams — Etihad has also listed a non-type-rated 777/787 First Officer stream, and pilots report a bond; provided and bonded at Emirates; provided for non-rated Captains at flynas.
• Right to work: residence visa sponsored by the airline for expatriates at Emirates and flydubai (Etihad and Qatar Airways do not state their visa terms in their adverts); cadet routes for nationals only.
• Medical and English: Class 1 of the local authority; ICAO 4 at most, 5 at Riyadh Air.
• Age: Captains under 54 at flynas, under 59 at Riyadh Air, 25 to under 55 at Oman Air.

Every airline in the Middle East (11)

• Emirates Recruiting
  Both command routes need Airbus FBW command time - Boeing-only captains apply as FO
  Licence: ICAO ATPL + Class 1 · frozen ATPL OK for FO · Hours: 2,000 h FO (1,000 on type) · 7,000 h Capt · Type rating: Provided, bonded USD 42,000 / 42 months · Right to work: UAE visa sponsored — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• Etihad Airways Recruiting
  Rated streams need you current on type; a non-type-rated 777/787 First Officer listing (500 h on Boeing, current on any Boeing) has also been seen, and pilots report a training bond.
  Licence: ICAO ATPL · frozen ATPL OK for FO · Hours: 1,500 h FO (1,000 on A320) · 5,500 h Capt · Type rating: Required (rated streams) · bond reported · Right to work: Not published — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• flyadeal Recruiting
  Rated A320 First Officers (1,500 h on the A320/330, age 23–50) and Captains (4,000 h on 30-tonne-plus jets); non-rated streams for Saudi nationals
  Licence: ICAO ATPL · IR/LPC · Hours: FO 1,500 h A320/330 · Capt 4,000 h · Type rating: A320 required (rated streams) · Right to work: Saudi work permit · NTR for nationals — careers page
• flydubai Recruiting
  Vacancy pages live for First Officer, Captain and Second Officer; which streams are accepting applications could not be confirmed on the portal.
  Licence: ICAO ATPL · Hours: 1,500 h MPA / 500 h 737 (rated FO) · Type rating: Required (rated) · bonded · Right to work: UAE visa sponsored — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• flynas Recruiting
  A320 Captains, rated or non-rated: 5,000 h with 2,000 h PIC on 27 t+ jets (500 h PIC on A320 if rated), under 54; type rating covered
  Licence: ICAO ATPL · Hours: Capt: 5,000 h · 2,000 h PIC jet · Type rating: A320 provided (Capt) · Right to work: Visa sponsored · under 54 — careers page
• Oman Air Recruiting
  B737NG First Officers (1,500 h, frozen ATPL) and Captains, plus A330 First Officers; Captains aged 25 to under 55
  Licence: ICAO ATPL / frozen ATPL (FO) · Hours: 1,500 h (FO) · Type rating: Required · Right to work: Visa sponsored — careers page
• Riyadh Air Recruiting
  B787 First Officers and Captains for the start-up flag carrier: 2,000 h multi-crew jet (operating seat only), ICAO ATPL, ELP 5, under 59
  Licence: ICAO ATPL · Hours: 2,000 h multi-crew jet · Type rating: B787 preferred · Right to work: Visa sponsored · under 59 — careers page
• Royal Jordanian Recruiting
  Type-rated First Officers from 1,500 h (A320, B787 or E2 ratings accepted) and Captains, Amman-based
  Licence: ICAO ATPL + type · Hours: 1,500 h (FO) · Type rating: Required · Right to work: Visa sponsored — careers page
• Qatar Airways Cadet only
  No mainline direct entry vacancy as of 25 Aug 2026; cadet route Qatari nationals only
  Licence: Cadet: none · direct entry not published · Hours: Not published · Qatar Exec BD-700 5,000 h · Type rating: Cadet: provided, 5-year commitment · Right to work: Qatari nationals only (cadet) — careers page
• Air Arabia Unconfirmed
  Industry boards report Captains (4,000 h) and First Officers (1,500 h) on fixed-term contracts across the UAE, Saudi and Pakistan JVs — confirm on careers.airarabia.com
  Licence: ATPL / CPL+ATPL · Hours: 1,500 h FO · 4,000 h Capt (reported) · Type rating: A320 preferred · Right to work: Visa per AOC — careers page
• Saudia Unconfirmed
  Saudia Cadet Program posting on the airline’s own portal (Saudi nationals); expatriate FO/Captain hiring reported but unconfirmed
  Licence: ICAO ATPL · cadet: none · Hours: 1,500 h FO (reported) · Type rating: Not published · Right to work: Saudi nationals (cadet) — careers page

Common questions

Which Middle East airlines are hiring pilots now? At the last check Emirates, Etihad Airways, flyadeal, flydubai, flynas, Oman Air, Riyadh Air, Royal Jordanian had live vacancies. Qatar Airways had no mainline vacancy (only Qatar Executive and helicopter roles, plus its Qatari-national cadet programme), and Air Arabia and Saudia publish requirements without a confirmable vacancy.

How many hours do you need for Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways? Emirates: 2,000 hours with 1,000 on type for a First Officer, 5,000 for Accelerated Command, 7,000 for a Direct Entry Captain. Etihad: 1,500 with 1,000 on the A320 (or current on a wide-body) and 5,500 for Captains. Qatar Airways published no mainline direct-entry vacancy at the last check.

Do Gulf airlines provide the type rating? Emirates does, against a USD 42,000 bond over 42 months. flydubai, Oman Air and Royal Jordanian require you to hold and be current on the type, as do Etihad’s rated streams; Etihad has also listed a non-type-rated 777/787 First Officer stream for pilots current on any Boeing, and pilots report a training bond there. flynas provides the A320 rating for non-rated Captains selected through its official process.

Can a foreigner join a Gulf airline cadet programme? No. The Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Saudia and flynas cadet programmes are for UAE, Qatari and Saudi nationals. Foreigners join as experienced First Officers or Captains.

Is Riyadh Air really hiring? Yes: its own recruitment portal carried a First Officer B787 vacancy at the last check, Captains are recruited on the same type, and A321neo streams are expected as narrow-body deliveries begin. 2,000 multi-crew jet hours, ICAO ATPL, Class 1, English 5, under 59.