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Flight International is increasing its coverage of the global market for employment in aerospace. In future editions, we will include interviews with figures at every level of the industry, creating a picture of the job market and how it is evolving and overviews of employment opportunities in locations around the world.

Country profile

United Arab Emirates

UAE reaps benefits of aerospace 'gold rush'

With three new start-ups and a positive gold rush of supportbusiness moving to the region,the United Arab Emirates is theplace to be for jobs in the aerospace industry.

Arinc, CAE, Boeing and Bombardier have all increased their regional presence with expanding facilities in Dubai, near the growing international airport.

The airline industry is booming too with Dubai's carrier Emirates Airline returning a second year of record profits and in the middle of a major recruitment push for flight crew and cabin staff. For the first time in years the airline faces a challenge in the recruitment market after the launch of three new airlines in the UAE in the last year.

Etihad Airways, based in federal capital Abu Dhabi, is already operating to several destinations, including London, Damascus and Beirut. It has ambitious plans to grow its fleet and network. While Etihad is a full service airline, two new low-cost carriers - Menajet and Air Arabia - have begun operations from the emirate of Sharjah, whose airport is best known for cargo operations.

Emirates serves 75 destinations in 53 countries and boasts a fleet of 67 aircraft. With 90 new aircraft on order - including the largest order for the Airbus A380 "super jumbo" - the airline expects to continue to expand at a rate of at least one new aircraft per month for the rest of the decade. Other milestones include the recent hiring of its 1,000th pilot and its 5,000th cabin attendant. The huge success of the airline has brought with it a deepening presence in the aerospace sector. The Dubai Air Show is well-established as one of the "big four" shows, along with Paris, Farnborough and Singapore.

Last year, the first JAA and FAA qualified flight training centre in the Middle East was opened in the city. The $100m facility is a joint venture between Emirates and CAE. It houses five simulators and will train up to 4,000 pilots each year.

Source: Flight International