Emirates is hosting a series of free online information sessions for aspiring cabin crew in the United States and Australia, giving candidates a chance to learn about the role, life in Dubai, and the recruitment process from home.
Three sessions have been scheduled so far:
- Saturday 15 November – USA, 12 pm to 1 pm Eastern Time (9 am Pacific)
- Sunday 16 November – USA, 4 pm to 5 pm Pacific Time (7 pm Eastern)
- Saturday 6 December – Australia, 6 pm to 7 pm Sydney time (AEDT)
Each session lasts an hour and is open to anyone in the relevant country. Emirates says it will cover the cabin crew role, eligibility requirements, salary and benefits, training, career progression, relocating to Dubai and the recruitment process itself, with time set aside for questions to the recruitment team.
Notably, the two US sessions are pitched at opposite coasts, one at lunchtime in New York and the other in the late afternoon in Los Angeles, so candidates anywhere in the country can find one that fits. In Australia, the Sydney start time works out at 6 pm (Melbourne: 5 pm, Brisbane: 5.30 pm, Perth: 3 pm).
Why Emirates Is Doing This
The reality is that the United States and Australia are two of the hardest countries in the world to run a traditional Open Day roadshow across. Emirates typically holds Open Days in a handful of major cities, and for a candidate in Montana, Arkansas, or regional Queensland, the nearest one might be a flight and a hotel night away. That is a big commitment to make for an airline you are still only curious about.
An online session removes that barrier. It lets Emirates answer the questions that hold people back from applying, such as what the salary actually is, where crew live, and what happens to your life when you move to Dubai.
With information coming directly from Emirates, the airline is hopeful that it will nudge interested candidates towards either submitting an online application or attending a future Open Day in person.
What to Expect From the Session
If you have read our accounts of Emirates Open Days, the format will feel familiar. Expect the session to closely follow the presentation that opens an Open Day:
- An introduction to Dubai – the city, the lifestyle, and what it is like to live there as an expat
- Emirates as an airline – its scale, fleet and route network
- The package – the tax-free salary, free shared accommodation, transport to and from work, and staff travel benefits
- What Emirates looks for – the minimum requirements, and the qualities recruiters want to see in candidates
- The recruitment process – how to apply, and what happens at each stage
Worth knowing: This is an information session, not an assessment. Nobody is going to be shortlisted for taking part, and you will not be marked down later for skipping it. If you already know the Emirates package inside out and have your application ready, the session is optional. If you are still weighing up whether Emirates is right for you, it is a free, low-pressure hour well spent.
The Bit Most People Miss
Information sessions are, by design, a sales pitch. That does not make them misleading. Emirates is usually upfront about the demands of the job when you listen carefully. The problem is that many candidates do not listen carefully. The glamour of the brand can end up obscuring the less exciting details, like the fixed-term contract, the shared accommodation, the strict rules that come with living in company housing, and the reality of relocating thousands of miles from family.
So treat the session as research. Make notes. Pay as much attention to the parts that make you hesitate as the parts that make you want to book a flight to Dubai tomorrow. And keep your questions practical: what training involves, how the roster works, what happens after you apply. Use the Q&A to fill gaps in your understanding, not to put the recruitment team on the spot.
How to Get the Most Out of It
- Register in advance through the Emirates careers website, and pick the session that falls at the most convenient time for you live.
- Read up on the package beforehand so you can spend the session listening for detail rather than catching up on basics. Our Emirates cabin crew salary and benefits guide is a good place to start.
- Write down your questions before the session begins, so you are not trying to think of them on the spot.
- Decide your next step afterwards. That might be applying online straight away, or waiting for an Open Day near you. Our guide to when to attend an Emirates Open Day and when to apply online will help you choose.
If the session convinces you to apply, our Emirates cabin crew recruitment hub brings together everything you need, from the Open Day cheat sheet to what your application status means.
This page is part of our ongoing coverage of Emirates cabin crew recruitment, built from years of first-hand experience with the airline's open days and assessment process. If you're getting ready to apply, here's where to go next.
