flydubai pilot recruitment

FZ / FDB

Dubai-based low-cost airline set up by the emirate's government, operating a 100% Boeing 737 fleet to the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe from Dubai International.

flydubai fleet, hub and head office

2008

Founded

Head office

Dubai International Airport (Terminal 2), United Arab Emirates

Main hub

Dubai (DXB)

Fleet (aircraft types operated)

Boeing 737-800, 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9; Boeing 787-9 on order (its first widebodies) and a provisional Airbus A321neo order

Pilot recruitment at flydubai

flydubai offers an Ab Initio Pilot Training Programme leading to an MPL (Multi-Pilot Licence), with training at an overseas partner and then at the flydubai Flight Training centre; it is self-sponsored for non-UAE nationals. Published requirements: age 17 to 30, secondary school completed with at least 70% (or a 3.0 GPA), fluent English and the ability to obtain a UAE GCAA Class 1 medical. The 2026 intake is closed and the page says applications will reopen for 2027. Direct-entry Boeing 737 roles require an ICAO ATPL, an ICAO Class 1 medical and English Level 4: type-rated First Officers (1 500 multi-pilot hours including 500 on the 737) or non-type-rated (2 500 hours including 1 000 on multi-crew aircraft over 10 tonnes), and Captains from 5 000 hours. A 3-year training bond applies (USD 24 000 type-rated, USD 36 000 non-type-rated). There is also a Second Officer Programme and a route for UAE nationals. Check intakes and conditions on careers.flydubai.com.

Recruitment information is given as a guide only (public sources, subject to change over time): always check the current conditions on the airline's careers site.

History of flydubai

Set up in 2008 by the Government of Dubai, flydubai operated its first scheduled flights on 1 June 2009, to Beirut and Amman. It added a business class in 2013 and was hit by the worldwide Boeing 737 MAX grounding in 2019. It ordered Boeing 787-9s in 2023, its first widebodies, and in 2025 announced a provisional order for Airbus A321neos.

Pay and conditions, from public sources

Figures published by the airline, pilot unions or the press, each one dated (last update: October 2026). For information only.

Captain: AED 50,235 per month for basic salary, housing and transport allowances, plus variable flying pay averaging about AED 16,310 per month, based on 70 flying hours (careers page accessed October 2026).
First officer: AED 37,000 per month fixed (basic, housing, transport), plus average flying pay of about AED 11,410 per month based on 70 flying hours (careers page accessed October 2026).
Listed benefits: education assistance, medical insurance, end-of-service benefit, concessional tickets for family and friends, annual leave ticket, loss-of-licence income protection and an open-ended contract (October 2026).
Leave: 42 days of paid leave per year (October 2026).
Three-year training bond: USD 24,000 for B737-rated pilots, USD 36,000 for non-type-rated pilots (October 2026).
B737-rated captain: at least 5,000 hours, including 1,500 hours in command on multi-crew aircraft over 10 tonnes and 1,000 hours in command on the B737; non-rated candidates need 5,000 hours with 1,500 in command on an EFIS jet over 55 tonnes, or 6,000 hours with 1,500 in command on a jet over 50 tonnes (October 2026).
First officer: 1,500 multi-crew hours including 500 on the B737 if rated; otherwise 2,500 total hours including 1,000 on EFIS multi-crew aircraft over 10 tonnes; ICAO ATPL, Class 1 medical and ICAO English level 4 minimum required (October 2026).
Selection: online application, online psychometric tests, on-demand video interview, competency-based interview, then a technical day (simulator and medical) and a non-technical day (psychometric tests and possibly a second interview) (October 2026).

Sources read (2)

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Preparing for psychometric tests before a selection

Some pilot selections include psychometric tests. ForAllPilots does not say whether flydubai uses them, or which ones: none of the series below is presented as flydubai's.

To practise anyway, the site offers several series of exercises, included with the ATPL subscription. They are practice exercises, not official tests: ForAllPilots is not affiliated with any airline or any test publisher, and the exact rules or scoring may differ.

Blog guides to practise with

Prepare your theory: BIA, PPL and ATPL questions

Whether you are aiming for flydubai or another airline, the ForAllPilots revision bank covers the BIA, the PPL and the ATPL.

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By licence:BIA question bank (FR)PPL question bank (FR)ATPL question bank (FR)

Other airlines

ForAllPilots is an independent site: it is not affiliated with flydubai or any other airline, and publishes no job offers. To apply, go through the airline's careers site.