Etihad Airways Highlights Emirati Talent At Mother Of The Nation Festival

Etihad Airways used its presence at the Mother of the Nation Festival to advance its Emirati talent strategy, combining public engagement, career storytelling and community support. The airline showcased future career paths for UAE nationals, highlighted partnerships with local entrepreneurs and closed its activities with a raffle that included flights to Manchester and tickets for a Manchester City FC match at Etihad Stadium.

The national airline of the United Arab Emirates is expanding initiatives that target outstanding Emirati professionals while deepening links with communities across Abu Dhabi. These efforts aim to align recruitment, training and public engagement, ensuring Emirati talent remains central to Etihad Airways’ workforce plans and to the long-term competitiveness of the UAE aviation sector.

Etihad’s UAE National Talent Strategy, created earlier this year, is built around six focused development programmes that support careers in both operational and corporate areas. These are the Cadet Pilot Programme, Cadet Technician Programme, Airport Management Programme, Bedayati Graduate Programme, MBA Graduate Programme and the Emerging Talent Programme, which targets direct hires in analytics, forecasting, business intelligence and other data-led roles.

Collectively, these structured pathways provide Emirati nationals with clear routes into specialised positions across engineering, airport operations and corporate functions. The programmes are designed to build technical expertise, leadership skills and strategic capabilities, supporting Etihad Airways’ growth and providing a steady pipeline of UAE professionals for the wider aviation ecosystem.

As part of the festival activation, Etihad premiered its UAE National Talent short film on the main stage, giving audiences a cinematic look at careers within the airline. The storyline follows two Emirati graduates travelling through Zayed International Airport on a journey to Manchester, revealing behind-the-scenes roles such as engineers, technicians, pilots, airport managers and ground operations teams.

Alongside the film, Etihad Airways created interactive community experiences aimed at families, students and other visitors, allowing different age groups to learn about aviation careers. The airline also partnered with Emirati entrepreneurs and small businesses at the event, offering space to present locally produced goods directly to festival attendees and underlining support for national talent beyond its own workforce.

Etihad Airways Emirati talent priorities explained by leadership

Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Chief People, Government and Corporate Affairs Officer at Etihad Airways, said, "We are currently experiencing one of the most ambitious chapters in Etihad’s history, having become the fastest-growing airline in the region. In 2025 alone, we expanded our fleet and launched 17 new destinations, while continuing to deliver a world-class customer experience. To sustain this momentum, we look to the brightest Emirati minds to help take growth and progress to new heights. By bringing the very best talent into Etihad, we are building strong, future-ready teams that will play a central role in the airline’s growth journey and contribute to the UAE’s continued success."

Expanding on the purpose of the festival presence, Dr. Nadia added, "Our participation in the Mother of the Nation Festival places us at the heart of the community, allowing us to engage directly with young Emirati talent and their families, offer a glimpse into what Etihad has to offer, and gain deeper insight into the needs and aspirations of both future talent and what they need as guest flying with us ." These interactions are intended to inform future talent initiatives and refine guest experience planning.

Etihad Airways’ activities at the festival, including the short film premiere, collaboration with Emirati small businesses and the Manchester-focused raffle, show how the airline links talent development with community outreach. By aligning structured Emirati career programmes with visible public engagement in Abu Dhabi, the airline continues to support national skills development while remaining closely connected to the communities it serves.

With inputs from WAM