UAE aviation jobs: Sanad to recruit 1,000 staff, Etihad outlines major hiring plans

Dubai: Aviation hiring in the UAE is accelerating, with major employers signalling large-scale recruitment and long-term investment in skills at the country’s first civil aviation career fair.

Sanad - a provider of aircraft engine Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) solutions, Etihad Airways, along with other industry players, used the General Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) inaugural career fair to shed light on the growing demand for technical, engineering and data-led roles.

The comments come as passenger traffic rebounds to unprecedented heights and aviation investment continues to rise.

According to the GCAA - the UAE's civil aviation body - more than 13,000 people registered for the event, which brought together 27 aviation stakeholders, including Abu Dhabi Airports, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Airbus, and others.

Omar bin Ghaleb, Deputy Director General of the GCAA, said the career fair was the first event of its kind in the UAE, bringing 27 aviation stakeholders under one roof.

Registrations crossed 13,000, highlighting strong appetite among young Emiratis and residents for aviation careers.

“People targeting aviation now know exactly where to apply,” he said. “It gives clarity on the variety of roles available.”

Pilots, ATCs, engineers remain in demand

According to bin Ghaleb, core aviation roles will remain in demand despite technological change.

Air traffic controllers, pilots, ground engineers and aerospace specialists continue to form the backbone of the industry, while newer fields such as air mobility, air taxis, aerospace law and AI-driven operations are emerging rapidly, he explained.

Post-Covid travel demand has also rebounded faster than expected, with IATA data showing passenger traffic recovering earlier than forecast.

Sanad offers 1,000 jobs in 2026

Sanad confirmed it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the GCAA to strengthen collaboration on talent development and recruitment.

According to Ebraheem Budebs, Group Head of Human Resources at Sanad, the partnership is designed to expose job seekers – particularly Emiratis – to careers in engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), one of aviation’s most regulated and skills-intensive fields.

“This partnership gives us the opportunity to showcase the career paths we offer, whether for direct employment, internships, apprenticeships or graduate training,” Budebs said.

Sanad currently employs around 800 people across its engine MRO operations and plans to grow to 1,000 employees by the end of this year, driven by new long-term contracts from global aircraft engine manufacturers.

New Sanad facility to create up to 2,000 jobs

Beyond immediate hiring, Sanad revealed ambitious long-term plans that could significantly boost aviation employment in Abu Dhabi.

A new engine MRO facility, now in early development, is expected to be ready for induction by Q4 2028. Once fully operational, it could employ between 1,500 and 2,000 people over the next decade.

“This is a facility we are building from scratch,” Budebs said. “As we induct more engines, we need more highly skilled people from across the world.”

Sanad already works with partners including Safran, Pratt & Whitney and GE, maintaining four different engine types, and employs staff from more than 40 nationalities.

What roles will dominate hiring?

While corporate and support roles remain important, Sanad said the future of aviation employment will remain overwhelmingly technical.

Around 80 per cent of MRO jobs are hands-on technical roles, such as engine assembly, disassembly, inspection, cleaning and specialised repairs. The remaining 15–20 per cent are support and corporate functions, including supply chain, safety, quality, finance and human capital.

“These technical roles are the backbone of the industry,” Budebs said. “Five years from now, the number of jobs increases, but the ratio remains the same.”

Etihad targets 1,200 hires in five years

Etihad Airways said the career fair aligns closely with its Emiratisation strategy.

Fatima Al Hammadi, Senior Manager for HR Business Partners and National Development at Etihad, said the airline aims to recruit 1,200 Emiratis over five years, with around 200 roles already secured for this year.

The airline is hiring across a mix of fresh graduates and experienced professionals, with strong demand for data scientists, airport management specialists, cadet pilots and aircraft technicians as the fleet expands.

“We’re shifting from transactional to data-driven operations,” she said. “There is huge demand for people who can analyse large volumes of data.”

Job seekers come to UAE

For many job seekers, the fair reinforced the UAE’s status as a global aviation hub.

Omran Albalushi, an aviation professional who has worked with Etihad and Qatar Airways, said the UAE’s airport expansion plans and long-term vision drew him back to the country.

“When I saw the news about the biggest airport in the world, I knew this was the right time,” he said.

Anupama M Augustine, an aeronautical engineer visiting from India, said the UAE offers far more attractive pay and career prospects despite India having a larger pool of aviation graduates.

“There is much more scope in aviation here,” she said.