flydubai Cabin Crew
Dubai base and tax-free pay on a 737 network of short and mid-haul adventures most airlines never touch.
Entry · per month
$2,200–2,900
Rank 16 of 59 for entry pay
Senior · per month
$3,000–4,000
+37% to senior
Tax-free
✓ Yes
Company housing
Crew rating
7.5 / 10
Crew score rank 12 of 59
Overview
flydubai is the Emirates Group's 737 sibling and one of the smartest 'back door' routes into a Dubai flying career. Crew enjoy a tax-free salary, company-provided accommodation and Dubai residency, while flying a network that is genuinely unlike anyone else's: the Caucasus, Central Asia, East Africa, the Balkans and secondary Gulf cities, plus growing leisure routes. Many sectors are turnarounds, but the network includes a meaningful share of layover destinations too.
The job is more physically honest than glossy long-haul: multiple sectors per day on a single-aisle aircraft, quick turnarounds, and a service flow you run repeatedly rather than one long meal service. In exchange, crew sleep in their own beds far more often than wide-body colleagues, fatigue accumulates differently, and the roster gives a more predictable home life in Dubai.
flydubai's close partnership with Emirates matters for careers: codeshares, shared facilities and a record of flydubai crew successfully crossing to Emirates after gaining experience. Pay sits below Emirates — reasonable for a low-cost carrier but with real Dubai living costs if you choose the allowance over shared housing. Recruitment runs almost continuously as the 737 MAX fleet grows toward its large order book.
Salary
Basic ~AED 4,000/mo plus flying pay per sector/hour; typical totals AED 8,000–10,500 for new crew, tax-free, with accommodation provided on top. Income is tax-free at this base.
Estimates in USD compiled from public sources and crew reports; actual offers vary. Compare all airlines →
Requirements
Minimum age
21
Height / reach
158 cm min · 212 cm reach
Education
High school minimum.
Languages
Fluent spoken and written English; Russian, Arabic and Balkan-region languages are genuine advantages on this network.
Tattoo policy
No visible tattoos while in uniform; cover-ups not permitted.
Also required
Able to swim; medical fitness required; UAE residence visa sponsored by the airline.
Do you meet the requirements at flydubai?
Check your age, reach, tattoos, languages and documents against flydubai and every other airline in the index — two minutes, no sign-up.
See how these compare industry-wide on the requirements comparison page.
Base & accommodation
Dubai · Company housing
Shared furnished company accommodation in Dubai with transport to the airport; crew may later opt for a housing allowance instead, though it rarely covers a comparable solo apartment.
Roster & layovers
Roster style
Monthly rosters mixing multi-sector turnaround days with layover trips; typically 8-9 days off. More nights at home than any wide-body Gulf carrier, but early starts and split duties are the norm.
Layovers
Shorter layovers of 12-24 hours in an unusual portfolio of cities — Tbilisi, Zanzibar, Belgrade, Almaty, Male — alongside plenty of same-day Gulf and subcontinent turnarounds.
Benefits beyond the paycheck
- ★Company accommodation and transport in Dubai
- ★Tax-free salary and end-of-service gratuity
- ★Staff travel on flydubai plus Emirates interline benefits
- ★Medical insurance coverage
- ★Annual leave ticket and generous leave days
- ★Realistic pathway to Emirates within the wider group
How to apply, step by step
- 01
Submit an online application with CV and photos to specification.
- 02
Complete a recorded video interview and English assessment.
- 03
Attend an assessment day in Dubai or a roadshow city with reach test and group exercises.
- 04
Final interview with the recruitment team.
- 05
Offer, medical, background checks and visa processing before joining training in Dubai.
Career progression
Crew rating
Why crew love it
- +Dubai lifestyle and tax-free pay at a lower entry bar than Emirates
- +One of the most interesting short/mid-haul route maps in the world
- +More nights at home than long-haul Gulf flying
- +Group relationship with Emirates opens transfer doors
Watch out for
- −Multi-sector 737 days are physically demanding
- −Pay is clearly below Emirates and Qatar for similar base costs
- −Layovers are shorter and less glamorous than wide-body networks
Frequently asked questions
How much do flydubai cabin crew earn?
New crew typically take home AED 8,000-10,500 per month (about $2,200-2,900) tax-free including flying pay, with company accommodation provided. Senior cabin crew reach roughly $3,000-4,000.
Can flydubai cabin crew transfer to Emirates?
There is no automatic transfer, but both airlines sit in the Emirates Group orbit and flydubai experience is well regarded; many crew have successfully applied to Emirates after 1-2 years of flying, going through the standard Emirates selection process.
Does flydubai provide accommodation for cabin crew?
Yes — shared furnished company accommodation in Dubai with airport transport is part of the package, and crew can later choose a housing allowance instead if they prefer to arrange their own flat.
Hiring status
Rolling online recruitment and assessment days through 2026 as 737 MAX deliveries expand the network.
Compare with other Middle East airlines
EK · Dubai
Emirates
crew score
Tax-free pay, free Dubai housing and the largest wide-body network in the world.
EY · Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways
crew score
Gulf-standard tax-free pay and housing with a calmer base city and a boutique, growing wide-body network.
QR · Doha
Qatar Airways
crew score
The five-star Skytrax darling with tax-free pay, Doha housing and a service standard that opens doors industry-wide.
Preparing to apply? Start with our step-by-step hiring roadmap and interview question bank.