What the Emirates cabin crew interview is like

Official requirements

This is what Emirates publishes on its cabin crew page:

• At least 21 years old.
• At least 160 cm tall and able to reach 212 cm (the job post says: on tiptoes).
• Fluent written and spoken English; other languages are an advantage. Emirates publishes no CEFR level or test score.
• At least 1 year of hospitality or customer service experience, and high school (Grade 12) completed.
• No visible tattoos in uniform, and able to meet UAE employment visa requirements.
• Living in Dubai, in crew housing, unless you are married or have immediate family in the UAE.

The stages, in order

Emirates describes the process like this; anything marked as candidate-reported is not on its pages.

• Online application with an English CV and a recent photo.
• An event invitation: open days are walk-in and assessment days are invitation-only, after an online application. Emirates says it is not offering online assessment days at the moment, and that you can reschedule or attend an event in another country.
• The recruitment day: an introduction to the role and to life in Dubai, an assessment with group activities and an online test taken at the venue, and the final interview.
• A recorded video interview: some candidates report about 3 to 5 questions with around 90 seconds per answer. Emirates does not mention it on its page.
• A 212 cm reach check and a grooming check on the day, and eliminations after each round: candidate-reported.
• Offer, medical form, visa (Emirates handles the work permit) and about 7.5 weeks of training in Dubai.

What they assess

Emirates calls the group activities your chance to shine in teamwork, communication and problem-solving. The one-to-one interview is a relaxed conversation about your motivations and your customer service experience.

In the job post, Emirates asks for a personality that shines, the ability to adapt to any situation and to make people feel at ease, and reminds you that safety is its highest priority.

Emirates does not publish the online test’s content or pass mark. Candidates describe English grammar, vocabulary and reading questions, sometimes with a short essay; the accounts do not agree with each other.

Typical questions

The kind candidates report, paraphrased:

• "Introduce yourself in about 2 minutes."
• "Why Emirates, and why cabin crew?"
• "Tell me about a difficult customer and how you handled them."
• "Tell me about a time you had to enforce a rule a customer didn’t like."
• "Tell me about a time your team wasn’t working well together."
• "What would you do with a passenger who ignores the safety instructions?"

Pay and benefits Emirates publishes

For Grade II (Economy Class), approximate and tax-free: a basic salary of AED 4,980 a month and AED 69.60 per flying hour, on an average of 80 to 100 hours a month. Emirates gives an average total of AED 11,244 a month (about US$3,061).

Plus: free shared furnished accommodation, company transport, 30 days of annual leave and a yearly ticket home, concessional travel, medical and dental cover, and an end-of-service benefit.

Tips

• Prepare your 2-minute introduction and 3 customer service stories (a difficult customer, a rule you enforced, a teamwork moment), each with the situation, what you did and how it ended.
• In the group activities, take part without taking over: listening and helping the group decide counts as much as talking.
• Answer "why Emirates?" with something concrete: living in Dubai, a crew of many cultures, the airline’s service.
• Watch out for scams: Emirates never asks candidates for money and only writes from @emirates.com or @dnata.com. "Offers" over WhatsApp or personal email are likely fraud.

Practise the Emirates interview with Entrevia

Type the role and "Emirates" as the company, and rehearse the final cabin crew interview out loud with an AI interviewer, in English. At the end you get a scored debrief and one of your own answers rewritten in clearer English, with your facts kept.

You can try a free 7-turn web demo without signing up. A free account gives you 2 full interviews. Premium, in the iOS app, costs US$11.99 a month, US$29.99 for 3 months or US$59.99 a year.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Emirates interview in English?

Yes. The whole process is in English, the CV must be in English, and Emirates asks for fluent spoken and written English.

How tall do you need to be for Emirates cabin crew?

At least 160 cm, and able to reach 212 cm (on tiptoes, per the official job post).

How much does Emirates cabin crew earn?

Emirates publishes an average of AED 11,244 a month for Grade II, tax-free: AED 4,980 basic plus flying pay, with accommodation included.

What happens at the Emirates assessment day?

An introduction to the role and to life in Dubai, group activities, an online test at the venue and the final interview.

Can I reapply if I’m not selected?

Yes, for the same role after 6 months, according to Emirates.

Does Emirates charge for the recruitment process?

No. Emirates says it never asks applicants for money transfers or payments of any kind.

Sources

• Emirates Group Careers: cabin crew (requirements, stages and FAQ)
• Emirates: official Cabin Crew job post
• Emirates Group Careers: help and support (reapplying)
• Emirates Group Careers: recruitment fraud
• Kun.uz (2026): how to become Emirates cabin crew, with candidate accounts
• SpeakShark: summary of candidate reports on the Emirates interview