Etihad plans 7,000 new jobs as Gulf aviation keeps hiring
Etihad Airways has signalled plans to add around 7,000 employees by 2035 as it expands its fleet and network, adding to already tight competition for aviation and hospitality talent in the Gulf.
Photo: Damien Aiello (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Etihad Airways has set out a long-term growth plan that includes recruiting in the region of 7,000 additional employees by 2035, covering flight crew, engineering, ground operations and commercial roles.
The announcement lands in a market where airlines, airports and hospitality groups across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are all scaling at once.
- Recruitment spans crew, engineering, ground handling and commercial functions
- Hiring is spread across a ten-year expansion programme
- Regional carriers are competing for the same technical talent pools
Employers outside aviation feel this too. Cabin crew, guest-experience and technical maintenance candidates are being courted heavily, which pushes up expectations on pay, rostering and accommodation across adjacent sectors.
What it means for employers
- Expect longer notice periods from candidates in aviation-adjacent roles.
- Benchmark pay for technical and customer-facing staff at least twice a year.
- Shorten your own offer-to-acceptance window in competitive categories.
Related pages
Summarised by the Horizon GCC team. Original reporting: Khaleej Times
This briefing is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before acting.
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