Emirates has announced the opening of a new dedicated cabin crew space housed within the main Emirates Group Headquarters campus in Dubai. As the airline continues to recruit thousands of new cabin crew annually, the new ‘Crew Zone’ center will provide a dedicated space for cabin crew to meet, prepare for flights, as well as relax and socialize.
According to the airline, the Crew Zone is “a purpose-built space for crew with a contemporary, open plan design that is available on a 24/7 basis, with seamless services offered throughout. From educational workshops to tech zones and support, a beauty and wellbeing hub, an interactive lounge area, and many other support services specifically designed for cabin crew.”
The new Crew Zone represents the culmination of nine months of planning and construction and represents an investment of AED 3 million ($810,000) toward cabin crew wellbeing. With space for up to 200 crewmembers at a time, and providing seven different zones, the Crew Zone has been built on the ground floor of the Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai close to Dubai International Airport (DXB), the airline’s main operational hub.
The airline states that the new area aims to provide Emirates’ crew with “a welcoming area to grab a coffee and snack while finalizing inflight reports, seek advice from stakeholders and colleagues, attend workshops on both professional and personal topics, have a consultation at the Beauty Hub, collect documents and devices, or unwind and recharge with colleagues.”
“Highlighting Emirates’ commitment to employee wellbeing and development, the dedicated zone supports professional growth for valued crew members and aims to promote a sense of community between the crew and other departments.” the statement adds.
Seven separate areas
The seven zones of the Crew Zone separate the space into distinct areas of activity. The Emirates Crew Engagement Zone is an open-plan, multifunctional area dedicated to connecting crew with Emirates’ newest initiatives, product launches, in-person training, and workshops. Interactive screens and real-time calendars showcase scheduled events, which crew can book to attend using their phones.
“Empowering cabin crew to take charge of their own learning journey, there are many activities to choose from, from new menu launches and new service standards to health and fitness workshops. This zone is also a meeting point for tours and visits to other Emirates facilities like Emirates Flight Catering, Bustanica, as well as workshops on topics like Safety, Security, and Medical Training,” states the airline.
Elsewhere, there is the Emirates One Device Hub which offers crewmembers 24/7 support with the Emirates’ One Device program. Dedicated to simplifying work processes through innovation, the One Device program leverages Apple products, with Emirates cabin crew receiving an iPhone or iPad Air configured with custom Emirates apps to improve and streamline passenger service onboard.
The Crew Lounge is a space created with relaxation in mind, featuring comfortable lounge seats and tables. In the lounge, “crew can take a moment to recharge, enjoy a coffee, finish their flight reports upon landing, or catch up with colleagues,” says the airline.
Meanwhile, the Emirates Facilities Distribution Service offers a one-stop destination for dropping off and collecting documents that crew require like visas and regulatory documents, as well as picking up new devices. The Crew Computer Zone features a zone of new monitors, high-speed internet, and individual workstations, tailored to support crew digital needs, from finishing tasks to booking personal flights and printing documents. In the Crew Connect Services area, staff provides 24/7 operational support to cabin crew, answering queries and receiving requests about, among other things, rosters and leave in person, by phone, or by email.
Lastly, the Crew Zone contains the Emirates Beauty Hub. Originally launched in 2023 and open five days a week, the Beauty Hub offers “an immersive experience with an in-house team of consultants and products for sale. Cabin crew can book personalized appointments to learn about make-up applications, nutrition, fitness, skincare, and haircare tips, or attend the complimentary group events and masterclass series,” says the carrier.
With the investment in the new Crew Zone, Emirates has certainly hung a flag to the mast in terms of what airlines can provide in terms of support facilities for their crews. With over 22,000 cabin crew members currently employed by the airline, the facility is certainly likely to be well-used.
