The Emirates Group, one of the world’s largest aviation employers, has a significant Kenyan workforce. Here’s a look at how Kenyans feature in the group, and what it takes if you want to join them.
Key Figures & Categories
- There are approximately 114,610 Emirates employees globally. This is as of September 2024
- Kenyans that are employed by Emirates are over 1,100
- Categorization:
- Kenyan Cabin Crew: 254
- Kenyan Pilots: 41
- Nairobi-based staff (local office): 50 employees in the Nairobi office
- Nairobi is the first city in Africa and among the only ones in the world to have an Emirates World Travel Store – This is what acts as the Nairobi office.
- There are over 50,000 Kenyan nationals living and working in the UAE. We, however, think that this number is even higher
- Kenyans make up roughly 1% of the global Emirates workforce, which is a significant number when you consider the multinational scope of the company
How to Get a Job at Emirates (Cabin Crew Example)
If you’re Kenyan and thinking of joining Emirates as cabin crew, here are the typical steps and tips:
- Visit the Emirates careers website.
- The requirements include:
- Minimum age of 21 years
- There is a minimum height requirement
- Good command of English (spoken & written)
- No visible tattoos. If you have some, they must be coverable when you have the uniform on
- Full requirements list: What Are The requirements For Being an Emirates Cabin Crew?
- Prepare for selection phases:
- Online application & upload resume
- Video interview or online assessment
- Assessment day: group activities, English test, personality & safety-fit evaluation
- Emirates Hack: Tips for Acing Your Emirates Cabin Crew Assessment Day
- If selected:
- Pre-employment medical and background checks
- Training in Dubai (a few weeks)
- Begin service on global routes
The Bigger Picture for Kenyans & UAE
- Dubai and the UAE remain attractive for Kenyan talent: tax-free salaries, international career exposure, travel perks.
- Kenyans are already working in many sectors in the UAE. I have met Kenyans who work in the hospitality industry. I actually spotted one of them because of the famous Kenyan wrist band.
- Also, a lot of wealthy Kenyans are investing in Dubai’s real estate market, in an attempt to diversify their portfolio and get higher ROI.
- Related: Dubai Real Estate Opportunities for Kenyans
