Gulf carrier Emirates kicked off a two-day pilot-recruitment roadshow in the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel this morning, part of a global campaign to hire more than 1,500 flight-deck crew before the end of 2026. The Zaventem stop—scheduled at 10:00 and 13:00 today and again tomorrow—targets Belgian and EU pilots interested in fast-track command on the airline’s expanding A350 and forthcoming 777-9 fleets.
![Emirates pilot-recruitment roadshow touches down at Brussels Airport]()
For Belgian aviators eyeing a contract in Dubai, obtaining the correct work or residence visa can be as critical as acing the simulator check. VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) simplifies UAE visa applications with clear checklists, online tracking and optional courier services, freeing pilots to focus on the recruitment process rather than bureaucracy.
According to Emirates’ recruitment team, the airline offers tax-free salaries starting at AED 46,800 (€11,600) per month for captains, subsidised family housing, schooling allowances and confirmed annual-leave tickets. Brussels was chosen for its concentration of multilingual pilots and direct flight connectivity to Dubai. Emirates currently operates two daily A380 rotations between Brussels and Dubai and plans to up-gauge the afternoon service to the higher-capacity 777-9 once the type enters service. Belgium’s pilot community—hit by the collapse of regional carrier Air Belgium and downsizing at Brussels Airlines—welcomed the opportunity. Captain Sophie De Smet, previously with TUI fly Belgium, said the roadshow “opens an international pathway without leaving Europe completely, since Emirates now offers more flexible commuting contracts.” From a mobility perspective, outbound moves of skilled Belgian pilots may tighten the local talent pool just as Brussels Airlines and DHL Aviation ramp up summer schedules. Aviation HR consultants advise Belgian carriers to review retention packages, highlighting that Emirates’ offer of rapid progression to wide-body command could lure mid-career first officers away from the domestic market.
For Belgian aviators eyeing a contract in Dubai, obtaining the correct work or residence visa can be as critical as acing the simulator check. VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) simplifies UAE visa applications with clear checklists, online tracking and optional courier services, freeing pilots to focus on the recruitment process rather than bureaucracy.
According to Emirates’ recruitment team, the airline offers tax-free salaries starting at AED 46,800 (€11,600) per month for captains, subsidised family housing, schooling allowances and confirmed annual-leave tickets. Brussels was chosen for its concentration of multilingual pilots and direct flight connectivity to Dubai. Emirates currently operates two daily A380 rotations between Brussels and Dubai and plans to up-gauge the afternoon service to the higher-capacity 777-9 once the type enters service. Belgium’s pilot community—hit by the collapse of regional carrier Air Belgium and downsizing at Brussels Airlines—welcomed the opportunity. Captain Sophie De Smet, previously with TUI fly Belgium, said the roadshow “opens an international pathway without leaving Europe completely, since Emirates now offers more flexible commuting contracts.” From a mobility perspective, outbound moves of skilled Belgian pilots may tighten the local talent pool just as Brussels Airlines and DHL Aviation ramp up summer schedules. Aviation HR consultants advise Belgian carriers to review retention packages, highlighting that Emirates’ offer of rapid progression to wide-body command could lure mid-career first officers away from the domestic market.
