Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has identified Sri Lanka as its next recruitment destination in a global drive to attract skilled aircraft maintenance technicians, reflecting both its rapid operational expansion and growing investment in engineering capability.
The Dubai-based carrier will hold a recruitment roadshow in Colombo on 10 March, targeting experienced and aspiring workshop technicians to join its engineering division at its main hub in Dubai. The event forms part of a wider global hiring campaign aimed at onboarding 17,300 professionals across 350 roles during the airline group’s current financial year.
The recruitment initiative comes amid significant capital investment in technical infrastructure, including a US$950 million state-of-the-art engineering complex under development at Dubai World Central. The facility, which began construction in 2024 and is scheduled for completion in 2027, is expected to become one of the largest and most advanced aircraft maintenance centres in the commercial aviation sector.
Emirates’ engineering arm supports one of the world’s largest fleets of wide-body aircraft, including models manufactured by Airbus and Boeing, while also providing third-party maintenance services to around 30 other airlines. The new facility, spanning more than one million square metres, is designed to support fleet requirements into the 2040s and position Dubai as a regional centre of excellence for aviation engineering.
The Colombo roadshow will provide candidates with detailed information on career prospects, remuneration and technical roles, while offering direct engagement with Emirates’ engineering managers. Workshop technicians are responsible for maintenance, calibration and repair of aircraft components, playing a critical role in ensuring operational safety and performance.
The airline is offering tax-free salaries, profit-sharing eligibility, medical and life insurance, education allowances and concessional travel benefits, reflecting intense global competition for skilled aviation professionals. Successful recruits will join a multinational workforce in Dubai, which Emirates says offers long-term career growth and exposure to cutting-edge aviation technologies.
Industry analysts note that Emirates’ decision to recruit in Sri Lanka highlights the country’s reputation for producing technically skilled aviation personnel, as well as the airline’s need to secure talent to support fleet expansion and increasingly sophisticated maintenance requirements.
The recruitment drive also signals continued confidence in global air travel demand and underscores Emirates’ strategy to strengthen its operational backbone through sustained investment in engineering talent and infrastructure.
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