Unfortunately, Flydubai is not currently recruiting cabin crew. The airline’s operations have been significantly affected by the regional conflict involving Iran, which has disrupted its route network and reduced flying hours across the fleet. Until the situation stabilises and the network recovers, a new recruitment round is unlikely.
That said, this guide is worth reading now. When flydubai opens applications, it does so without much notice, and the process moves quickly. Candidates who have prepared in advance are in a significantly stronger position than those who scramble when the portal goes live.
This guide covers every stage of the flydubai cabin crew recruitment process as it currently runs, updated for 2026.
flydubai in 2026: What You Need to Know
flydubai was founded in 2009 as the government of Dubai’s lower-cost carrier, operating alongside its larger sibling Emirates. In the years since, it has grown considerably, and the “low-cost” label has become increasingly inadequate to describe what it actually is.
The airline operates 97 Boeing 737 aircraft across a network of more than 140 destinations and carried 15.7 million passengers in 2025. It also posted a pre-tax profit of $591 million, marking its strongest financial result to date. Business class passenger numbers grew 19% year-on-year, and the airline is actively adding larger Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft specifically to expand its premium cabin capacity, including The Business Suite, a fully lie-flat seat with a sliding privacy door that is genuinely competitive with what you would find on many widebody aircraft.
The Emirates partnership, which occurred back in 2017, has deepened significantly in recent years. Flydubai and Emirates jointly serve 243 destinations across 103 countries, with seamless connectivity at Dubai International Airport. Crew operate within that broader ecosystem, which matters both for the passenger experience you are delivering and for your own staff travel benefits.
Insight: flydubai is frequently used as a deliberate stepping stone to Emirates. The two airlines share ownership, operate from the same hub, and have an established relationship that makes internal movement between them a realistic longer-term possibility. Whether that is your plan or not, it is useful context. Just ensure the flydubai role itself is genuinely attractive to you on its own terms.
Minimum Requirements
You must meet all of the following before applying:
- Age: At least 21 years old at the time of application
- Height: Minimum 158 cm (notably lower than Emirates’ 160 cm minimum)
- Reach: Able to reach 212 cm on tiptoes without shoes. Physically tested during selection.
- English: Fluent in both written and spoken English. Additional languages are an advantage.
- Education: Minimum high school diploma or equivalent
- Experience: At least one year in a customer service role, ideally in aviation, hospitality, or retail. International aviation experience is a specific advantage.
- Appearance: Well-groomed and professional, in line with flydubai’s grooming standards. No visible tattoos while in uniform.
- Swimming: Confident in water when wearing a flotation aid or life jacket
- Health: Must pass a UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) aeromedical examination
- Passport: Valid passport with unrestricted travel rights
- Availability: Willing to work irregular hours, including weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts
- Relocation: All flydubai cabin crew are based in Dubai. You must be willing to relocate and meet UAE employment visa requirements.
Worth knowing: The training bond is one of the most important things to understand before you apply. flydubai charges a training bond of USD 2,650 (approximately AED 9,700) for the first year of employment. This means that if you leave before completing your first year, you will be required to repay the bond. Factor this into your decision before accepting an offer.
The Application Process
flydubai’s recruitment process is fully digital in its early stages. Everything up to the assessment day is completed online. When recruitment is open, the process runs as follows:
Step 1: Online Application
Applications are submitted through the official flydubai careers website. You create a candidate profile, upload your CV and relevant documents, and answer a series of role-related questions as part of the application form.
flydubai uses an applicant tracking system to screen CVs. Keep your CV clean and ATS-friendly: no photos embedded in the document, no graphics or colour blocks, no unusual fonts. Standard headings, plain text, clear employment dates with no unexplained gaps. The character limit for work experience fields in the portal can be restrictive — prepare what you want to say in advance using a word processor before you start the application.
What to submit:
- Updated CV in Word or PDF format
- Two full-length photographs in professional business attire (6×4 inches / 15×10 cm)
- Optional: passport-sized photograph
Photo standards: Professional business attire, including jacket and tie for men. Stand facing directly toward the camera, hands at your sides, natural smile showing teeth, white backdrop.
Step 2: Online Psychometric Assessments
If your application is shortlisted, you will receive a link to complete a series of online psychometric assessments covering work behaviour, logical thinking, multitasking, and verbal reasoning. Practice questions are available before the real test begins.
The assessments must be completed promptly on receipt — do not delay. Choose a time when you are well-rested and free from distractions. Allow at least an hour. Have a pen, paper, and calculator to hand. The logical reasoning and verbal components are more demanding than many candidates expect.
Step 3: On-Demand Video Interview
Candidates who pass the assessments are invited to complete a pre-recorded video interview. You record your responses to a set of questions via a dedicated portal. This helps flydubai understand you beyond the CV before deciding whether to invite you to an assessment day.
Treat the video interview with the same preparation and presentation you would give an in-person interview. Professional attire, good lighting, quiet location, neutral background. Speak clearly, maintain eye contact with the camera, and take a moment to think before each answer rather than rushing.
For full guidance on on-demand video interviews: The Complete Guide to the Cabin Crew Video Interview
Step 4: Application Review
After the video interview, flydubai’s recruitment team reviews your assessment results and overall application against the minimum role requirements. Candidates who meet the criteria at this stage are invited to an assessment day.
Step 5: Assessment Day
Assessment days are held in locations around the world, based on the airline’s staffing needs at the time. They are invitation-only events — attend only when you have been specifically told to do so.
The day follows the standard Gulf carrier assessment format: a series of structured exercises with shortlisting checkpoints throughout. Recruiters are assessing composure, communication, active listening, and teamwork at every stage.
The day typically includes a reach test (212 cm on tiptoes without shoes), an English language test, and a group exercise. The group exercise is where many candidates make the most avoidable mistakes — trying to dominate, speaking loudest, or on the other extreme, withdrawing into silence. flydubai recruiters, like all Gulf carrier recruiters, are watching how you listen and collaborate as much as how you contribute.
For a full breakdown of assessment day preparation: How to Ace the Cabin Crew Assessment Day
Step 6: Final Interview
Candidates who pass the assessment day exercises are invited to a final interview, typically on the same day. The interview lasts 25 to 40 minutes and is competency and behaviour-based.
You will need specific, real examples from your work history for each question. The SOAR method (Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result) keeps answers structured without sounding rehearsed: SOAR to Success at Your Cabin Crew Final Interview
Common question types at the flydubai final interview:
- Tell me about a time you delivered excellent customer service under pressure. flydubai operates a fast-paced, high-turnaround operation. Composure under pressure is non-negotiable.
- Describe a time you worked effectively as part of a multicultural team. flydubai crew represent over 100 nationalities. Cultural adaptability is not optional.
- Give an example of a time you had to adapt quickly to an unexpected change. Regional flying involves disruptions, diversions, and last-minute schedule changes. How you handle unpredictability matters.
- Why flydubai specifically? Know the fleet. Know the Emirates partnership. Know the route network and what it means to be based in Dubai. A candidate who cannot give a specific answer to this question does not progress.
Step 7: Central HR Approval and Medicals
Successful candidates from the final interview have their full file reviewed by the central HR team in Dubai. This is typically a relatively quick process. You will then be required to complete a full GCAA aeromedical examination and background check before a formal offer is made.
Training
flydubai cabin crew training takes place in Dubai and covers Safety and Emergency Procedures, first aid, service delivery, and brand standards. Training is paid — you receive a training allowance throughout. Once training is complete, you are based in Dubai and begin line flying.
Note the training bond: USD 2,650 (approximately AED 9,700) applies in year one. If you leave before completing your first year, this amount is recoverable by the airline.
How to Apply
flydubai is not currently accepting applications. Monitor the official careers portal and sign up for job alerts to be notified when a new round opens.
Check the flydubai careers portal at careers.flydubai.com
For everything you need to prepare in the meantime:
