flydubai operates 97 Boeing 737 aircraft (MAX 8, MAX 9, and NG-800) from Dubai International Airport to 140+ destinations. The airline posted record results in 2025 — AED 13.6 billion revenue and 15.7 million passengers — and is actively hiring. With 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on order for 2027 and a 150-aircraft Airbus A321neo MoU, flydubai is transitioning from a single-type narrowbody operation to a multi-fleet carrier.
What makes flydubai unique among Gulf carriers is its three distinct entry pathways — from 225-hour cadets to experienced Captains — each requiring a fundamentally different CV approach. For the full 7-stage selection process, see the flydubai assessment guide.
CV Guide Summary
- This guide covers how to format your pilot CV specifically for flydubai applications.
- How to write a pilot CV for flydubai.
- Structure your CV to highlight the specific qualifications and experience flydubai values most.
- Includes formatting templates, common mistakes to avoid, and section-by-section guidance.
- flydubai operates 97 Boeing 737 aircraft (MAX 8, MAX 9, and NG-800) from Dubai International Airport to 140+ destinations.
Three Entry Pathways, Three CVs
flydubai recruits across the full experience spectrum, but each pathway has different requirements — and your CV should be structured differently for each.
Second Officer (225 hours)
The lowest entry point into Gulf aviation. No prior jet experience required.
Your CV should emphasize flight training quality, CPL/IR with MCC, English proficiency (ELP Level 4+), and motivation for a long-term Dubai career. Include your height (160-190cm for cockpit ergonomics). USD 36,000 training bond over 5 years.
Type-Rated First Officer (1,500h MPA + 500h B737)
Lead with your B737 time and current type rating recency. The TR must be endorsed within the last 24 months. Present hours clearly: total, MPA, B737 specific (by variant — NG vs MAX matters). USD 24,000 bond over 3 years.
Non-Type-Rated First Officer (2,500h total)
Need 1,000 hours on modern EFIS multi-crew multi-engine aircraft over 10 tonnes, plus 1,500 MPA hours. Highlight your glass cockpit experience and multi-crew jet time. flydubai provides the B737 type rating. USD 36,000 bond over 3 years.
The application is entirely online through careers.flydubai.com — flydubai does not conduct walk-in recruitment events, unlike Emirates. Create a candidate profile, upload your CV and documents, and answer the screening questions for the specific pathway you are targeting.
Cover Letter Is Required
flydubai is one of the few Gulf carriers that explicitly requires a cover letter alongside your CV. Most European LCCs (Ryanair, Wizz Air) and even Emirates and Qatar do not accept cover letters in their portals. flydubai does — and leaving it out weakens your application.
For experienced pilots, your cover letter should explain why flydubai specifically — not just "a Dubai airline." Mention the fleet (B737 expertise), the route network, or the upcoming 787 transition as reasons for your interest. For Second Officer and MPL cadet applicants, the portal specifies expressing your "passion for aviation and interest in the MPL programme."
Don't confuse flydubai with Emirates
flydubai is a separate entity from Emirates — different ownership, management, contracts, and hiring processes. They share a chairman and a codeshare partnership, but that is it. Your cover letter should target flydubai specifically. Mentioning Emirates as your real goal is a fast way to get rejected.
Boeing 737 Experience
flydubai is a pure Boeing 737 operator — 68 MAX 8s, 3 MAX 9s, and 26 NG-800s (being retired). For type-rated FOs, your B737 hours are the headline number. Specify hours by variant: NG-800, MAX 8, or MAX 9. flydubai requires hours on B737-300 to -900 (NG/EFIS) — Classic 737s with analogue instruments do not qualify toward the 500-hour type requirement.
For non-type-rated applicants, B737 experience is not required — but any Boeing time strengthens your application. Present your EFIS multi-crew hours prominently with aircraft MTOW. flydubai opened its own USD 56 million Flight Training Centre in February 2025 with six B737 simulator bays, so non-type-rated pilots are trained in-house.
Training Bond & Contract
All flydubai pilot positions carry a training bond — and the terms differ by pathway. Understanding these before applying helps you make an informed decision and prevents surprises during the offer stage.
| Pathway | Bond Amount | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type-Rated FO | USD 24,000 | 3 years | Pro-rated |
| Non-Type-Rated FO | USD 36,000 | 3 years | Pro-rated |
| Second Officer | USD 36,000 | 5 years | Non-prorated — full amount due even at year 4 |
The Second Officer bond is notable: it is non-prorated, meaning if you leave at year 4 of 5, you owe the full USD 36,000. Only after completing 5 full years is the bond waived. This differs from the FO bonds which reduce proportionally over the bond period. Factor this into your career planning — many pilots use flydubai as a 5-year stepping stone before applying to Emirates, building B737 jet hours while earning tax-free in Dubai.
Professional Photo Required
Gulf carriers require a professional headshot on your CV. White background, neutral expression, business attire, no glasses. Passport-style dimensions. This is a hard requirement — CVs without photos are typically rejected at screening.
Submit as PDF
Always submit your CV as a PDF unless the airline specifically requests Word format. ATS systems can strip formatting from .docx files — tables, columns, and custom fonts often render as garbled text. Use a single-column layout with standard section headings.
flydubai-Specific Mistakes
Skipping the cover letter — flydubai explicitly requires one. No cover letter = incomplete application, same as easyJet.
Mentioning Emirates as your career goal — flydubai is a separate airline. Your cover letter should target flydubai specifically, not position it as a stepping stone to Emirates.
Including Classic B737 hours in the type total — flydubai counts B737-300 to -900 (NG/EFIS) only. Older analogue variants do not qualify toward the 500-hour type-rated minimum.
Expired type rating — TR must be endorsed within the last 24 months for type-rated FO positions. If your endorsement is older, you do not meet the recency requirement.
Applying for walk-in assessment — flydubai recruitment is entirely online through careers.flydubai.com. There are no walk-in events. Create your candidate profile and submit digitally.