If you have got ever flown on Dubai’s Emirates Airline you’ll have noticed a distinct lack of locals operating as cabin crew.
Emirates has small percentage of Emirati staff.
Just 3% are Emirati
Despite being the region’s largest airline with around 100,000 employees, Emirates only has around 3% of locals who work for them, most of whom are in management positions.
It would seem that, despite the many jobs available at the airline, locals see them as being below them in stature and rank with cabin crew staff perceived as being
nothing more than waiters and waitresses.
In fact, of Emirates more than 23,000 cabin crew, only 50 of them are Emiratis, something the oil-rich state would like to see changed.
Emirates want more locals in its cabin crew
With Associate in Nursing expected three,000 cabin crew vacancies in the coming year, executive vice-president of Human Resources at Emirates, Abdul Aziz Ali told announced at a media round table attended by
Gulf News that his goal is to hire more Emiratis.
Along with the 3,000 cabin crew jobs the airline has 120 ground crew jobs in Dubai exclusively reserved for locals. When speaking about the vacancies, set aside for locals Ali said:
“Emiratis do not want to do jobs in the low-ranking grades.
That is why we tend to ar tantalizing them to try and do jobs like cabin crew and additionally ground employees, with attractive packages and benefits.
“Cabin crew role provides the chance for Emirati men and ladies to act as ambassadors of the distinct Emirati culture abroad.
More than just a role focused on service and ensuring safety onboard, cabin crew members are primed for long and fruitful careers within the group. The diversity [of the job profile] helps us. This is why I want to encourage Emiratization of the cabin crew.”
To encourage more Emiratis to apply for jobs the airline has decided to hold promotional events at schools that highlight the perks of the job while also giving the school children a better understanding of what the job entails.
Attract Emiratis to work
Emirates is offering great pay and perks to attract Emiratis
Cabin crew salaries for Emiratis start at Dh18,000 ($4,900) per month plus a retention fee of between Dh4000 to Dh5000 ($1,090 to $1,360).
On prime of this, Emirati cabin crew will receive free accommodation, meals, and transportation.
In a bid to retain UAE nationals, the airline offers programs for career advancement, scholarships, and partnerships with government entities.
Emirates additionally offers coaching with key partners like airliner, General electrical, DHL, and Rolls Royce.
Ali said that the airlines CEO and Chairman Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has offered an open budget for attracting Emiratis to join Emirates Airline.
“This is a tremendous support from our chairman,” he said.
Will Emirates be successful in their quest to hire local staff?
While a salary of over $6,000 per month along with free accommodation, meals and transport may seem attractive to young people looking for a job that allows them to travel the world, how Emiratis will see it is a different matter.
Long-held beliefs about the social status of people who serve other people may put many young Emiratis off from applying. Some may also find that family members will try and discourage them or even forbid them from working in what could be considered, in their eyes, a menial job.
Oman Air
Oman Air has been successful in their drive to recruit Omani cabin crew with nearly a third of their flight attendants made up of locals. Of the 500 Omani cabin crew, only 50 are female, a hurdle Emirates will face during their recruitment drive.
Resources:
https://www.emirates.com
https://www.government.ae/en#/
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