Emirates has promoted Hanan Mohammed Jawad and Bakhita Al Mheiri to captain positions on its Boeing 777 fleet. Both pilots advanced through the airline's National Cadet Pilot Programme and have received their fourth stripe this year.
The promotion of Hanan and Bakhita introduces the first Emirati female captains at Emirates, following years of flight experience accumulated since their initial entry into the program. Hanan has logged 9,253 flying hours over her career, while both pilots have spent several years as First Officers.
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May 09, 2026
"Receiving my fourth stripe is a proud milestone, but I don’t see it as the destination. This is just the beginning, I don’t believe the sky is the limit. The path to command is built over time, and my years as a First Officer prepared me for this moment," Hanan Mohammed Jawad said.
"My journey at Emirates has been deeply influenced by the mentorship and guidance I received from exceptional training captains and leaders throughout my flying and command journey. Their experience, professionalism, and willingness to share knowledge and experience not only strengthened my technical and leadership skills but also shaped me personally by teaching me the value of responsibility, discipline, and continuous learning," Bakhita Al Mheiri said.
The Emirates Group launched the National Cadet Pilot Programme in 1993 to provide a training and career path for UAE nationals. The program includes theoretical and practical training at Emirates’ Flight Training Academy and has produced pilots who moved into command, training, and management roles within the airline and the UAE aviation sector.
Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President Flight Operations, Hassan Alhammadi, stated, "At Emirates, we have always committed to developing our UAE Nationals as part of professional workforce. The cadet pilot programme remains vital in providing a path to young men and women to pursue professions as commercial pilots at Emirates, supporting our future pilot requirements."
As of June 2026, Emirates operates a fleet of 144 Boeing 777 aircraft, in addition to 116 Airbus A380s and 22 A350-900s.
