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Online application
Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA) trains cadets from zero hours in Dubai on a two-year integrated ATPL course that costs USD 220,500 including VAT. Selection starts online with an application, a HireVue video interview, a psychometric assessment and a one-on-one interview, then moves to a three-day assessment in Dubai: maths, physics and COMPASS on day one, English and the Class 1 medical on days two and three. Assessment fees total AED 5,700, and new cadets start every other month. Facts checked 25 October 2026.12
Emirates Flight Training Academy selection: stages, tests and how to prepare
A two-year integrated ATPL course in Dubai for USD 220,500, with new cadets every other month and a three-day assessment.
- Training fee
- USD 220,500 including VAT for the full training period1
- What the fee covers
- The entire training programme, training materials, student visa, accommodation, uniform, three daily meals, ATPL and MCC certificates and the commercial pilot licence with multi instrument rating approved by the UAE authority; medical insurance is extra1
- Assessment fees
- AED 1,000 online assessment (psychometric test, abstract and spatial reasoning and the one-on-one interview), AED 500 for assessment day 1 (maths, physics and COMPASS) and AED 4,200 for days 2 and 3 (medical and language), payable only if you pass the first part1
- Your own costs
- Travel and accommodation for the Dubai assessment1
- Age
- 18 to 21 for high school graduates; 21 to 26 for degree holders (diploma and above)1
- Education: high school
- Minimum high school score of 80%, with Math and Physics in the last year, plus English for non-native speakers1
- Education: degree holders
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 in a scientific or engineering major1
- English
- IELTS 6.0, or TOEFL PBT 510 or IBT 65, at the time of application1
- Height and BMI
- At least 160 cm and a BMI of 29 or less1
- Medical
- GCAA Class 1 medical criteria, including an eye examination, approved by the aviation medical examiners at the GCAA and Emirates Clinic1
- Documents
- Passport valid for more than 6 months, passport photo, high school certificates with passes in English, Maths and Physics, and Ministry of Education attestation of certificates1
- Visa and nationality
- Open to international applicants and UAE residents; non-UAE nationals must be eligible for a UAE student visa; UAE nationals apply to a separate fully sponsored National Cadet Pilot Programme1
- Course length
- About 104 weeks: ground school of 50 weeks with 13 ATPL exams, single-engine flying of 43 weeks including 3 weeks of classroom instruction, multi-engine flying, advanced upset prevention and recovery training and a 2-week MCC phase; five days of training a week2
- Start dates
- New cadets are taken in every other month, so you can start at the next available date throughout the year; an offer file stays valid for 12 months1
- Application review
- Applications are reviewed within five working days1
- Career after graduation
- EFTA cadets can interview for Emirates first officer roles straight from graduation, including on the Boeing 777, and the academy notes this is not a guaranteed position; UAE nationals who complete the full course have direct entry to Emirates3
About Emirates Flight Training Academy
Emirates Flight Training Academy is a pilot training academy based in the United Arab Emirates. Emirates Flight Training Academy is part of Emirates.
What it offers: Emirates Flight Training Academy ab-initio cadet programme. The requirements section on this page covers age, education, language and medical certificate. The selection is described stage by stage on this page.
The six phases
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HireVue video interviewPractise this phase
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Online psychometric assessmentPractise this phase
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Online one-on-one interviewPractise this phase
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Assessment day 1 in DubaiPractise this phase
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Language assessment and medical in DubaiPractise this phase
Train at Emirates Flight Training Academy
One flight school has a published link with this airline. Each entry says what the link is and who states it.
Emirates Flight Training AcademyDubai, United Arab EmiratesAirline's own academyNamed by the airline and the school
Emirates Flight Training Academy at a glance
Part of Emirates- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Cadet programme
- Emirates Flight Training Academy ab-initio cadet programme (rolling as of 28 Oct 2026)1
What does Emirates Flight Training Academy ask of pilots?
- Age
- 18 to 21 for high school graduates; 21 to 26 for degree holders1
- Education
- High school score of at least 80% with Math, Physics and English; degree holders need a GPA of 3.0 in a scientific or engineering major1
- English
- IELTS 6.0, or TOEFL PBT 510 or IBT 651
- Height and BMI
- At least 160 cm; BMI of 29 or less1
- Medical
- GCAA Class 1 criteria including an eye examination1
- Flying experience
- None required1
What the Emirates Flight Training Academy offers
The Emirates Flight Training Academy is a flight school in Dubai. It takes cadets from zero flying hours through ground school to flying in a multi-engine, multi-crew aircraft. Over about two years you train five days a week, in the classroom, in simulators and in aircraft, with self-study alongside. Ground school lasts 50 weeks and ends with 13 ATPL exams. The single-engine phase on the Cirrus SR22 G6 lasts 43 weeks, starting with three weeks of classroom instruction, with around 200 hours of simulator and aircraft flying instruction, followed by multi-engine training, upset prevention and recovery training and a 2-week MCC phase in a multi-engine simulator.
Training, accommodation, meals and uniform are in one place: the academy combines flight training, ground school, accommodation and recreation under one roof. After graduation you are qualified to apply for first officer roles with international airlines, and EFTA cadets have the exclusive opportunity to interview for Emirates first officer roles straight from graduation, including on the Boeing 777. The academy notes this is not a guaranteed position.23
What it costs
The course fee is USD 220,500 including VAT for the full training period. It covers the training programme, materials, student visa, accommodation, uniform, three daily meals, your ATPL and MCC certificates and the commercial pilot licence with multi instrument rating approved by the UAE authority. Medical insurance is not included.
Before you are accepted you pay assessment fees in steps: AED 1,000 for the online assessment, AED 500 for assessment day 1 and AED 4,200 for the medical and language assessments on days 2 and 3, which you pay only if you pass day 1. If you pass every stage the three fees add up to AED 5,700. You also cover your own travel and accommodation in Dubai.1
Who can apply
There are two entry groups. High school graduates are 18 to 21 and need a minimum school score of 80% with Math and Physics in their last year of education, and English if they are non-native speakers. Degree holders are 21 to 26 and need a minimum GPA of 3.0 in a scientific or engineering major. Both groups need IELTS 6.0, or TOEFL PBT 510 or IBT 65, at the time of application. Applicants must be at least 160 cm tall with a BMI of 29 or less.
Certificates need Ministry of Education attestation, and your passport must be valid for more than six months. International applicants and UAE residents apply to the fee-paying programme, while UAE nationals apply to the fully sponsored National Cadet Pilot Programme, which uses the same age bands. You need no flying experience.1
Timeline and start dates
The academy takes in new cadets every other month, so you can start at the next available date throughout the year. If you pass the assessment, the selection team contacts you with course dates subject to availability at that time. Your file remains valid for 12 months, and the offer lets you join within one year of receiving it.
A sensible timeline is to submit the application first, because the review takes five working days and the HireVue invitation follows if you pass screening. Plan the Dubai days only when your online stages are complete, so your practice for maths, physics and COMPASS peaks on the week you travel.1
Interview preparation
Two parts of the selection are interviews: the pre-recorded HireVue video interview and the online one-on-one interview. The academy describes the psychometric assessment as a picture of leadership, decision-making, emotional stability and work attitude, so those are the qualities to show in your stories.
For the video interview, record yourself first. Aim for a calm, clear answer of about a minute: state the situation, what you did, and the result. Practise three core stories: why you want to be a pilot and why now, a time you led or organised others, and a time you made a decision under pressure. Look at the camera, not the screen, and keep the same pace from start to finish.
For the one-on-one interview, add specifics about the academy: the two-year integrated route, living and training in Dubai, and how you are preparing for demanding ground school with 13 ATPL exams. Spend the rest of your preparation time on the stages the academy lists: maths, physics and COMPASS.1
Example items
Example item 1: maths (written by our editors)
Solve for x: 3x - 7 = 2x + 5. Answer: subtract 2x from both sides to get x - 7 = 5, then add 7 to get x = 12. Check by substituting: 3 × 12 - 7 = 29 and 2 × 12 + 5 = 29.
Example item 2: physics (written by our editors)
A 1,200 kg car moves at 20 m/s. What is its kinetic energy? Answer: kinetic energy equals one half times mass times speed squared, so 0.5 × 1,200 × 400 gives 240,000 joules, or 240 kJ. With 30 multiple-choice questions in one hour you have two minutes each, so practise setting the formula up quickly.
Example item 3: abstract reasoning (written by our editors)
What comes next in the series 2, 6, 18, 54? Answer: each term is the previous one multiplied by 3, so the next term is 162. Look first for a constant ratio or difference before you test more complex rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Emirates Flight Training Academy cost?
The training fee is USD 220,500 including VAT for the full training period. It covers the training programme, materials, student visa, accommodation, uniform and meals. Medical insurance is extra, and assessment fees of AED 1,000, AED 500 and AED 4,200 are paid as you progress.
What are the Emirates Flight Training Academy requirements?
You need to be 18 to 21 with an 80% high school score, or 21 to 26 with a scientific or engineering degree at GPA 3.0, IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 510/65, at least 160 cm and a BMI of 29 or less, and to meet GCAA Class 1 medical criteria. No flying experience is needed.
What is the Emirates cadet pilot assessment?
It starts online with an application, a HireVue video interview, a psychometric assessment and a one-on-one interview. The three-day assessment in Dubai follows: maths, physics and COMPASS on day one, English and the Class 1 medical on days two and three.
What is the Emirates HireVue interview?
A short pre-recorded video interview you record and submit at your convenience. Your video is reviewed and you are told whether you move on to the psychometric assessment.
What does the COMPASS test cover at Emirates Flight Training Academy?
COMPASS is an online aptitude test with five modules: hand-eye coordination, hand-eye-foot coordination, spatial orientation, multitask management and short-term memory. It involves visualisation and the use of controls.
How long are the maths and physics tests?
Both are taken and last one hour each; the assessment consists of 30 multiple-choice theory and calculation questions.
Can international students apply, and what about UAE nationals?
International applicants and UAE residents apply for the fee-paying programme. Non-UAE nationals must be eligible for a UAE student visa. UAE nationals apply to the fully sponsored National Cadet Pilot Programme.
How long is the course and when can I start?
About 104 weeks. New cadets start every other month, and your file stays valid for 12 months after an offer.
Can EFTA graduates interview with Emirates?
EFTA cadets can interview for Emirates first officer roles straight from graduation if they meet the requirements, including on the Boeing 777. The academy notes this is not a guaranteed position. UAE nationals who complete the full course have direct entry to Emirates.
Is there a practice test for the Emirates cadet selection?
Yes. There is a practice plan for this selection with Interview preparation, Abstract reasoning, Spatial reasoning (cube folding), the personality questionnaire, Mathematics and Physics sets, six interactive tasks and English grammar and vocabulary sets.
What you get
A practice plan for this selection, stage by stage, from HireVue to the Dubai days
Interview preparation with 31 questions and tips for the video and one-on-one interviews
Abstract reasoning, Spatial reasoning (cube folding) and the Big Five personality questionnaire
Mathematics and Physics question sets for assessment day 1
Interactive tasks: Spatial orientation, Short-term memory, Arithmetic: mixed problems, Basic coordination, Advanced coordination and Multitasking
English grammar and vocabulary sets for the language assessment
Free without an account: 8-question guest sets per subject, with a free weekly set of 10 questions per subject once you register
The Pilot Pass starts at €9.99 for a week with no automatic renewal, and opens the interactive tests, the full Interview preparation, the personality questionnaire and the study, test and exam modes for the question sets
