A Gulf Aerospace Firm Found Talent the Industry Said Didn't Exist
Career Pro helped with staffing of a UAE MRO facility expansion before its first international client arrived.
Client Overview
A Dubai South-based maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility serving both commercial airline and private aviation clients across the Middle East and Africa. Having secured a long-term service agreement with a major African carrier in late 2024, the facility committed to a significant capacity expansion requiring a specialised technical workforce that the UAE market had never been asked to produce at this scale before.
Company Size
400 to 700 Employees
Locations
Dubai South, UAE
Growth Stage
Expansion Stage B
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Challenge
A landmark MRO contract with a major African airline created an immediate obligation to double technical headcount with GCAA-licensed engineers and certified technicians within a defined mobilisation period.
GCAA Licensing Requirement for All Technical Hires
Every aircraft engineer and technician placed had to hold a valid GCAA Part 66 licence, a credential held by a very small proportion of available candidates in the UAE.
Fleet Type Specialisation Mismatch
The incoming airline operated a mixed Airbus and ATR fleet. The facility's existing engineers specialised primarily in Boeing, creating an immediate type rating gap.
African Carrier Integration Timeline Pressure
The client contract stipulated a 90-day readiness window. Failure to demonstrate a compliant workforce within that period could trigger a penalty clause worth millions in revenue.
Competition from Global MRO Expansion
Dubai South and neighbouring facilities were simultaneously expanding, creating direct competition for the same pool of GCAA-licensed engineers from multiple employers at once.
Remote Mobilisation of International Candidates
Many target candidates were based in Europe, South Asia, and East Africa. Coordinating visa processing, licensing verification, and relocation logistics added complexity to every offer.
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Our Approach
Career Pro activated a globally scoped aviation talent search combining GCAA compliance screening, type-rating matching, and a dedicated international mobilisation support process to meet the 90-day window.
Global GCAA-Verified Candidate Database
We built a verified database of 400-plus GCAA Part 66 holders globally, cross-referenced by licence category and aircraft type rating to match the client's specific fleet needs.
Airbus and ATR Specialist Sourcing
Targeted outreach was directed at engineers with A320 family and ATR 72 type ratings based in Europe and South Asia where these specialists are most concentrated.
Compliance-Gated Screening Process
Every candidate completed a GCAA licence verification step before progressing past first interview, ensuring no offer was made to a candidate who could not legally work on the fleet.
Employer Differentiation Campaign
We positioned the client as the Gulf's fastest-growing independent MRO, leveraging the African carrier contract as a signal of elite technical credibility to attract ambitious engineers.
End-to-End Mobilisation Support
For international hires, Career Pro coordinated directly with PRO teams on visa processing timelines, ensuring no offer expired due to administrative delays outside the candidate's control.
84 Days
to achieve full technical headcount within the 90-day window100 %
of placed engineers held valid GCAA Part 66 on their start date3
Continents sourced from to fill the Airbus and ATR type rating gaps93 %
retention of placed engineers after 12 months in facilityWhat our clients say
Zarif Usaim, CEO, Dubai
7 months ago
We partnered with Career Pro to fill several key positions, and their team demonstrated deep market understanding and professionalism. Their support directly contributed to improved team performance.
Farhan, COO, Dubai
7 months ago
Helpful Team. The Career Pro team was incredibly responsive during a critical hiring phase for our operations. Their ability to quickly provide top talent helped us meet tight deadlines without compromising quality.
Fakih Sati, Head of Sales, Dubai
7 months ago
We were searching for high-performing sales professionals, and Career Pro delivered beyond expectations. Their recruiters understood our goals and provided candidates who delivered immediate results.
Utbah Basil, HR Manager, Sharjah
7 months ago
From our initial consultation to final onboarding, the Career Pro team was a true partner. Their strategic input helped streamline our hiring process and strengthen our workforce with top-tier candidates.
Additional Impact
Contract Penalty Avoided
90-day readiness clause met with 6 days to spare, protecting full contract value.
Fleet Type Coverage Achieved
Facility now certified to service Airbus, ATR, and Boeing fleets simultaneously.
Repeat Sourcing Mandate Awarded
Client retained Career Pro as exclusive aviation recruitment partner for Phase 2.
International Hire Retention Strong
Zero early exits from internationally mobilised engineers within first 12 months.
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