From Cadets to Cockpits: 77 Pilots Graduate From Emirates Flight Training Academy

On 16 December 2025, Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA) celebrated the sixth graduation ceremony welcoming 77 newly qualified cadet pilots into the global aviation workforce at its purpose-built campus in Dubai South.

Hosted at the academy’s aviation training complex near Dubai International Airport (DXB), the graduation was attended by The Emirates Group’s senior leadership, cadets from the UAE National Pilot Cadet Programme and international cadets from 15 nations, plus family members and faculty. The graduation came only a day after the airline introduced amenity kits highlighting endangered species.

EFTA Graduation Ceremony 2025: Highlights and Significance

EFTA’s sixth graduating class reflects sustained investment in pilot talent development amid historic industry pilot shortages and heightened demand for long-haul services worldwide. During the ceremony, 77 cadets “earned their wings,” symbolizing both technical proficiency and readiness to enter professional aviation roles.

Key details of the cohort include:

• 52 cadets from the UAE National Pilot Cadet Programme (NCPP), the nation’s flagship route to developing Emirati aviation talent.

• 25 cadets hailing from 15 different countries, underscoring EFTA’s international footprint.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum addressed graduates, highlighting the ceremony as a foundation for global aviation leadership:

“Our graduates will now proudly wear their wings, connect the world, uphold the highest standards of safety and service, and shape the world of aviation. Each one of our graduates today is a testament to potential and perseverance. Together, they represent our commitment to building a steady stream of aviators who will carry Dubai’s vision to the skies. Congratulations, graduates – you have made us proud.”

Earlier this year, the airline had expressed its desire to “hire over 550 pilots this year, expanding its elite team of 4,600 aviators”. The following table breaks down the numbers:

Some Cadets of EFTA were Rewarded

During the graduation, five cadets were honored for exceptional achievement and dedication:

• Abdulrahman Alnuaimi

• Falah Alhosani

• Giada Macario

• Shaheer Bhatti

• Saeed Abdulla (most diligent)

These recognitions underscore high performance standards within EFTA’s rigorous curriculum, which integrates leadership development and advanced flight training. Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum remarked how the graduation ceremony symbolizes “the setting of a stronger foundation for global aviation and a promise that its future rests in the hands of committed, capable, resilient leaders“.

Here are the details of Emirates Flight Training Academy:

Category	Details
Location	Dubai South, Dubai World Central (DWC), United Arab Emirates
Year launched	2017
Founding entity	Emirates Group
Student eligibility	UAE nationals and international cadets
Prior flying experience required	None
Campus scale	Equivalent to 200 football fields
On-campus accommodation	Private studio apartments
Residential amenities	Swimming pool, gym, recreation rooms
Commute requirement	Zero travel; fully residential campus
Number of ground classrooms	36 modern classrooms
Classroom technology	Two 86-inch touchscreens per classroom
Training software provider	Boeing (bespoke systems)
Flight simulators	6 full-motion simulators
Air traffic control	Independent on-site ATC tower
Runway length	1,800 metres
Total training aircraft	32 aircraft
Single-engine fleet	20 × Cirrus SR22 G6
Multi-engine fleet	5 × Diamond DA42 NG
Aerobatic aircraft	2 × Gamebird GB1
Jet training aircraft	5 × Embraer Phenom 100EV

EFTA Training Program Structure and Methodology

EFTA’s curriculum is designed to produce pilots capable of operating modern airliners at the industry’s highest standards. It combines four pillars:

• Academic training in ground classrooms equipped with interactive technology;

• Simulator instruction using full-motion devices that replicate real flight conditions;

• Live flight training through a structured progression from single-engine to multi-engine aircraft;

• Leadership and decision-making development to prepare pilots for real-world operational complexity.

EFTA cadets progress from entry with no flight experience to readiness for airline service. Upon graduation, national program cadets typically proceed toward type ratings on Emirates’ fleet, while international cadets may pursue diverse commercial aviation pathways.

Emirates is the largest operator of the Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft to date, and also operates the Airbus A350 XWB, the aircraft type that is deployed in the longest non-stop flights in the world, as well as the longest one-stop flights in the world.

In Pictures: The World’s 10 Longest One-Stop Flights in 2025

Here’s a look at Emirates current fleet:

Broader industry context and comparison

EFTA’s sixth graduation underscores a global trend: flight training institutions expanding to address a projected pilot shortage. Across the world, airline cadet programmes seek innovative solutions to sustain the talent pipeline.

Such initiatives are needed as there is a projected global need for 633,000 new pilots over the next two decades, with Europe alone needing 119,000 pilots. This is one of the reasons why manufacturers such as Airbus have also opened up flight training, with this developer of a helicopter that climbed to the top of Everest having a training network of 21 locations.

Why Helicopters Can’t Fly to the Top of Mount Everest

All in All

Emirates Flight Training Academy’s sixth graduation represents a pivotal addition to the global pilot pipeline, with 77 cadets poised to impact commercial aviation. Whether the cadets will serve Emirates itself is something we do not know.