Few industries capture the spirit of globalisation as vividly as aviation. Yet the sector is facing a growing paradox. Demand is surging – particularly across the Asia-Pacific region where passenger volumes are expanding faster than almost anywhere else – while the supply of skilled labour is struggling to keep pace.
The consequences are already visible: aircraft grounded for lack of qualified engineers, flight delays attributed not only to weather or airspace restrictions but also to crew shortages, and airlines competing aggressively for talent in ways that drive up costs and strain margins.
For the Gulf, this challenge is not a distant warning – it is a present and pressing issue.
The region’s airlines and airports are positioning themselves at the forefront of global connectivity, with Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi among the busiest international hubs in the world. Ambitions to grow further – whether by expanding fleets, deepening intercontinental networks or investing in advanced air mobility – rest on one indispensable foundation: people. Without a resilient and future-ready workforce, even the most visionary strategies risk faltering.
Asia-Pacific’s labour strains illustrate how quickly growth can outpace human capital planning. According to the International Air Transport Association, the region will require nearly half a million new aviation professionals – pilots, cabin crew and maintenance engineers – over the next 20 years. Yet training pipelines remain underdeveloped, retirement rates are accelerating and the Covid-19 pandemic exodus of experienced staff has left deep scars. In some markets, attrition is compounded by competition from technology sectors offering higher wages or more predictable lifestyles.
This is not only a numbers problem but also a capability issue. Advanced aircraft systems demand new digital and technical competencies. Sustainability imperatives – such as sustainable aviation fuels and electric propulsion – will require expertise that sits at the intersection of aerospace engineering, data science and energy systems. Without sufficient investment in training, the skills gap will widen precisely at the moment when industry transformation is most urgent.
At first glance, Gulf carriers appear insulated. Flagship airlines offer competitive compensation, operate from high-quality hubs and retain global brand appeal. But beneath the surface, familiar warning signs are emerging. Flight schools in the region are operating near capacity, experienced crew are often poached by competitors in Asia or Europe, and the demographic composition of the workforce remains narrow. Reliance on expatriate labour – while historically effective – may expose vulnerabilities if other regions intensify recruitment or impose retention incentives on their own nationals.
Moreover, the Gulf’s ambitions are uniquely exposed. Large aircraft orders are in place, new terminal expansions are coming online and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 explicitly positions aviation as a driver of economic diversification. These strategies assume the availability of tens of thousands of skilled professionals. If Asia-Pacific’s experience is any guide, supply constraints can derail even the most carefully constructed growth narratives.
The Gulf has an opportunity not merely to avoid Asia-Pacific’s pitfalls but to set a global benchmark for workforce resilience.
Three imperatives stand out. First, invest in indigenous talent pipelines. Aviation academies and technical training centres need expansion on a scale commensurate with fleet growth. Partnerships with universities, scholarships for aviation degrees and early-stage Stem outreach will build a pipeline of local pilots, engineers and data specialists. Critically, training must evolve from traditional flight and maintenance curriculums towards digitally enabled, sustainability-focused programmes.
Second, focus on retention and employee experience. One lesson from the Asia-Pacific is that attrition is not driven by pay alone. Work-life balance, career progression and organisational culture play decisive roles. Structured career pathways, mental health support and recognition programmes can significantly improve retention. The Gulf’s carriers, already known for service excellence, can extend that ethos inward to their employees, making aviation a career of choice rather than a temporary stopover.
The Gulf has an opportunity not merely to avoid Asia-Pacific’s pitfalls but to set a global benchmark for workforce resilience
Third, embrace diversity as a strategic lever. Aviation remains male-dominated, particularly in technical and cockpit roles. Gender diversity is not simply a matter of equity – it directly expands the available talent pool. Targeted recruitment, mentorship networks and visible role models can accelerate change. In parallel, harnessing the potential of underrepresented nationalities within the Gulf can reduce overreliance on a narrow expatriate base.
Addressing workforce fatigue cannot rest with individual airlines alone. Regulators, educational institutions and private operators must act in concert. Governments can incentivise investment in training infrastructure, align visa policies with strategic labour needs and support research into future aviation skills. Airlines can collaborate on shared academies or simulator facilities to maximise capital efficiency. And the industry as a whole can launch awareness campaigns to elevate aviation as a prestigious and rewarding career path for Gulf youth.
The aviation industry often measures progress in terms of fleet size, route networks or passenger volumes. Yet the most decisive competitive advantage lies in something less tangible: the resilience, expertise and engagement of its people. The Asia-Pacific’s labour shortages should serve as a cautionary tale. The Gulf still has the time and resources to act decisively – by grooming local talent, investing in holistic training and broadening participation.
In doing so, the region can not only protect its aviation ambitions but also demonstrate that, in an industry built on technology and capital, it is ultimately human capital that determines who soars and who stalls.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo%20permanent%20magnet%20synchronous%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo-speed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E625hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E456km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh737%2C480%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
World%20Food%20Day%20
%3Cp%3ECelebrated%20on%20October%2016%2C%20to%20coincide%20with%20the%20founding%20date%20of%20the%20United%20Nations%20Food%20and%20Agriculture%20Organisation%2C%20World%20Food%20Day%20aims%20to%20tackle%20issues%20such%20as%20hunger%2C%20food%20security%2C%20food%20waste%20and%20the%20environmental%20impact%20of%20food%20production.%20%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
'Young girls thinking of big ideas'
Words come easy for aspiring writer Afra Al Muhairb. The business side of books, on the other hand, is entirely foreign to the 16-year-old Emirati. So, she followed her father’s advice and enroled in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s summer entrepreneurship course at Abu Dhabi University hoping to pick up a few new skills.
“Most of us have this dream of opening a business,” said Afra, referring to her peers are “young girls thinking of big ideas.”
In the three-week class, pupils are challenged to come up with a business and develop an operational and marketing plan to support their idea. But, the learning goes far beyond sales and branding, said teacher Sonia Elhaj.
“It’s not only about starting up a business, it’s all the meta skills that goes with it -- building self confidence, communication,” said Ms Elhaj. “It’s a way to coach them and to harness ideas and to allow them to be creative. They are really hungry to do this and be heard. They are so happy to be actually doing something, to be engaged in creating something new, not only sitting and listening and getting new information and new knowledge. Now they are applying that knowledge.”
Afra’s team decided to focus their business idea on a restaurant modelled after the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Each level would have a different international cuisine and all the meat would be halal. The pupils thought of this after discussing a common problem they face when travelling abroad.
“Sometimes we find the struggle of finding halal food, so we just eat fish and cheese, so it’s hard for us to spend 20 days with fish and cheese,” said Afra. “So we made this tower so every person who comes – from Africa, from America – they will find the right food to eat.”
rpennington@thenational.ae
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Company%20profile
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
HOW TO WATCH
Facebook: TheNationalNews
Twitter: @thenationalnews
Instagram: @thenationalnews.com
TikTok: @thenationalnews
Results
Stage 4
1. Dylan Groenewegen (NED) Jumbo-Visma 04:16:13
2. Gaviria (COL) UAE Team Emirates
3. Pascal Ackermann (GER) Bora-Hansgrohe
4. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal
General Classification:
1. Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 16:46:15
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3. Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:35
4. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5. Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
