Seven airlines
Cabin crew requirements for seven Gulf airlines
Each airline publishes its own criteria. We check them against its careers pages and show the date we last verified them.
Independent preparation. Not affiliated with any airline.
| Code | Airline | Hub | Published requirement | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EK | EmiratesDubai | DXB | 21+ years | Last verified Sep 12, 2026 |
| EY | Etihad AirwaysAbu Dhabi | AUH | 21+ years | Last verified Sep 12, 2026 |
| QR | Qatar AirwaysDoha | DOH | 21+ years | Last verified Sep 12, 2026 |
| RX | Riyadh AirRiyadh | RUH | 21+ years | Last verified Sep 12, 2026 |
| SV | SaudiaJeddah | JED | Last verified Sep 12, 2026 | |
| FZ | flydubaiDubai | DXB | 21+ years | Last verified Sep 12, 2026 |
| G9 | Air ArabiaSharjah | SHJ | Last verified Sep 14, 2026 |
Most recent verification Sep 14, 2026
01Home bases
Six cities, seven airlines
What cabin crew requirements are
Cabin crew look after passengers and safety on board. An airline sets minimum criteria that every applicant must meet before an application can move forward. These are the requirements.
Airlines publish them on their own careers pages. Skywing compares seven Gulf airlines and shows the date we last verified each one.
- Eligibility. Whether you meet an airline’s published minimum criteria, such as age, height or arm reach, education, languages and documents. If you do not, an application usually cannot move.
- Arm reach. How high you can reach with one arm, measured in centimetres. Some airlines list a minimum, for example 212 cm, and others list none.
At a glance
Requirements side by side
The main published requirements of each airline. Each row shows the date we last checked it against the airline's own criteria.
| Airline | Age | Height | Arm reach | Education | Language | Relocation and visa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EmiratesLast verified Sep 12, 2026 | 21+ years | 160 cm minimum | 212 cm minimum | High school or higher | Fluent English | UAE employment visa |
| Etihad AirwaysLast verified Sep 12, 2026 | 21+ years | 163 cm minimum | Not listed | High school or higher | Fluent English | Not listed |
| Qatar AirwaysLast verified Sep 12, 2026 | 21+ years | Not listed | 212 cm minimum | High school or higher | Fluent English | Relocation to Doha |
| Riyadh AirLast verified Sep 12, 2026 | 21+ years | 160 cm minimum | 212 cm minimum | High school or higher | Fluent English | Relocation to Riyadh · Saudi employment visa |
| SaudiaLast verified Sep 12, 2026 | Not listed | Not listed | 212 cm minimum | High school or higher | Not listed | Saudi National ID |
| flydubaiLast verified Sep 12, 2026 | 21+ years | 158 cm minimum | Not listed | High school or higher | Fluent English | Relocation to Dubai |
| Air ArabiaLast verified Sep 14, 2026 | Varies | Varies | Not listed | High school or higher | Fluent English | Not listed |
How to read the table
The table has one row per airline and one column per requirement. Each cell is a label and a value. For example, under Height, the cell “160 cm minimum” means the airline asks for at least 160 cm.
- A value. The airline publishes one rule, and the cell shows it.
- Varies. The rule depends on the operation, the base or your experience.
- Verify. The airline does not list the requirement in the criteria we track, or our copy is more than 90 days old. Do not rely on it.
- Last verified. The date under each airline name is when we last compared its row with the airline’s own careers page.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways. The airline names stay in view.
02Airlines
The seven airlines
Open an airline to see its requirements, how applications run and what you can prepare.
01EK
Emirates
Dubai (DXB)
Last verified Sep 12, 2026
02EY
Etihad Airways
Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Last verified Sep 12, 2026
03QR
Qatar Airways
Doha (DOH)
Last verified Sep 12, 2026
04RX
Riyadh Air
Riyadh (RUH)
Last verified Sep 12, 2026
05SV
Saudia
Jeddah (JED)
Last verified Sep 12, 2026
06FZ
flydubai
Dubai (DXB)
Last verified Sep 12, 2026
07G9
Air Arabia
Sharjah (SHJ)
Last verified Sep 14, 2026
How airline requirements differ
The seven airlines ask for different things. In the criteria we have verified:
- Age. Most of the seven publish a minimum age. The Saudia criteria we reviewed state no age limit. Air Arabia’s limits depend on the operation you apply to.
- Height and arm reach. Minimum height differs by airline. Some airlines publish an arm-reach requirement, and some publish only one of the two.
- Education and English. A high-school education or equivalent is common. Saudia adds a minimum overall grade and a recent STEP by QIYAS score.
- Experience. Some airlines ask for a year of customer-facing experience. Others state no minimum.
- Appearance and fitness. Several airlines rule out visible tattoos in uniform. Some ask you to swim with a flotation device. Several mention a medical or fitness requirement that Skywing’s diagnosis cannot certify.
- Relocation and visas. Several airlines expect you to relocate to their base city and to qualify for the local employment visa. Saudia asks for a valid Saudi National ID.
Requirements change. Confirm them on the airline’s careers page before you apply. Each airline page shows when we last verified its criteria, and the table asks you to verify when that date is old.
Open days and invite-only days
Airlines select crew at events. Each airline decides which format it uses, and the format can change.
- Open day. A recruitment event that candidates who meet the criteria may attend, usually after registering in advance. The airline announces it on its own careers page.
- Invite-only assessment. A selection event you can attend only after the airline has invited you, usually after your online application passed screening.
- Assessment Day. A day of selection where the airline observes you in person. A typical day has a welcome briefing, a group exercise, individual tasks such as English and reach checks, then interviews, but the schedule differs by airline and event. Recruiters watch how you work with others, not only what you say.
Skywing does not track vacancies, open days or recruitment events. An airline page never means a job is open.
What pay and entitlements mean
Pay is only part of an offer. Entitlements are what a job offer lists besides basic pay, such as accommodation, transport or allowances. They differ by airline and contract, so read the offer itself.
- Allowances. Extra amounts a source may state, for example per night away from base.
- Probation. A first period of employment during which the airline reviews your work. Its length and conditions are set in your contract.
Skywing shows a pay figure only when it has a named source and a verification date. Where no calculator appears below, we have no sourced figure yet and we show none.
Independent from every airline
Skywing Careers Academy is an independent career-preparation service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or partnered with any airline. Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Riyadh Air, Saudia, flydubai, Air Arabia and all other airline names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the airlines candidates apply to. Skywing cannot guarantee interviews or job offers.
08FAQ
Questions about the airlines
Does Skywing check whether I meet an airline’s requirements?
Yes. The free diagnosis starts with eligibility questions for the airline you target. Eligibility means whether you meet the airline’s published minimum criteria, such as age, height or documents. Requirements can change, so we flag anything we cannot confirm for you to check with the airline. We never guess.
Which airlines does Skywing cover?
Eligibility checks cover Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Riyadh Air, Saudia, flydubai and Air Arabia. Full preparation guides exist for Emirates, Etihad Airways and Riyadh Air. For the other airlines, Assessment Success uses a verified stage brief: a short guide to your stage, based on your actual invitation. We never substitute another airline’s guide.
What if some of my eligibility facts are unclear?
We leave unclear facts unresolved. Your result separates what we know from what still needs checking. It can tell you to clarify one point with the airline before you spend time or money on preparation.
What if I was previously rejected by an airline?
A past rejection puts you in the Reapplication stage. Most Gulf airlines set a cooldown, a waiting period of typically 3 to 6 months, before you can reapply. We check your cooldown status and review what happened in your earlier application or interview, without guessing. Then we help you build new, honest evidence before you reapply.
Can I buy Emirates Cabin Crew Preparation on its own?
No. Emirates Cabin Crew Preparation is not sold on its own. It is one of the airline guides included at no extra cost with Assessment Success and Full Support when you target Emirates.
The airline has not replied. Does that mean I was rejected?
Not automatically. Silence does not prove a rejection, and we do not guess what it means. Your result will say what to do next, and that can be to wait.
Is Skywing affiliated with an airline or a recruiter?
No. Skywing is an independent preparation service. We are not an airline, recruitment agency or employer, and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by any airline. The airline makes every recruitment decision.
Does Skywing know how airlines score candidates?
No. We use the information available to us and do not claim confidential access to airline scoring systems. Airline requirements and recruitment processes can change.
