Emirates Flight Training Academy Graduates 77 New Pilots

Emirates Flight Training Academy Marks Sixth Graduation with 77 New Pilots

After months of structured training, 77 cadets graduated at the sixth graduation ceremony of the Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA), marking another step in the academy’s role in developing pilots for Emirates and the broader aviation industry. With this cohort, EFTA has now graduated more than 300 cadets since its inception.

The ceremony was led by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group. He said the graduation reflects the academy’s focus on building a steady pipeline of skilled pilots who will contribute to aviation’s future while upholding safety and service standards.

Senior leadership from the Emirates Group, along with graduates, their families, friends, and EFTA faculty, attended the event.

Of the 77 graduates, 52 are part of the UAE National Pilot Cadet Programme (NCPP), and the remaining 25 are from 15 other nationalities. Over the past five years, most EFTA graduates have progressed to flying or to further training on Emirates’ widebody fleet.

The NCPP is a long-running initiative to develop Emirati pilots. The Emirates Group sponsors cadets in the programme and, after graduation, follows a defined pathway toward flying with Emirates upon completion of aircraft type ratings.

EFTA’s training model combines academic instruction, simulator-based learning, flight training, and leadership development. The academy works closely with the National Pilot Cadet Programme and Emirates’ flight training division to ensure alignment with operational requirements and airline standards.

During the ceremony, five cadets were recognised for their performance during the year: Abdulrahman Alnuaimi, Falah Alhosani, Giada Macario, and Shaheer Bhatti. Saeed Abdulla received recognition for diligence.

Located at Dubai South, EFTA’s campus includes on-site accommodation for cadets, along with recreational facilities designed to support focused training. The academy spans approximately 200 football fields and features 36 classrooms, six full-motion flight simulators, an independent air traffic control tower, and a dedicated 1,800-metre runway. Classrooms are equipped with touchscreen systems running training software developed by Boeing.

Launched in 2017 at Dubai World Central, EFTA trains both UAE nationals and international students using a fleet of 32 training aircraft, including the Cirrus SR22 G6, Diamond DA42NG, Gamebird GB1, and Embraer Phenom 100EV.