Arm reach is a published requirement at several Gulf airlines, and it trips up candidates who never measured. Here is what the airlines say, as we last verified it on 12 September 2026.
Which airlines publish a reach requirement
In the criteria we verified, a reach of 212 cm is listed by:
- Emirates: an arm reach of 212 cm.
- Qatar Airways: a minimum arm reach of 212 cm.
- Riyadh Air: an arm reach of 212 cm.
- Saudia: a minimum arm reach of 212 cm on tiptoes.
The criteria we verified for Etihad Airways and flydubai did not include a reach requirement, and Air Arabia’s published criteria vary by operation. The absence of a rule in our profile is not a promise that none exists, so read the airline’s own page.
Why airlines ask for it
The usual explanation is that crew must be able to reach overhead storage and safety equipment. We cannot speak for any airline’s reasoning, but the practical point is the same: it is a physical check, and preparation cannot change it.
How to measure yourself
The airline decides how reach is measured. Saudia says on tiptoes; for the others, check the airline’s wording. A reasonable way to get a reliable figure:
- Stand with your back and heels against a wall, with a helper and a pencil.
- Raise one arm straight up, stretching as far as is comfortable, on tiptoes if the airline specifies it.
- Have your helper mark the highest point your fingertips reach.
- Measure from the floor to the mark. Repeat three times and use the lowest reading.
Use the lowest figure when you decide whether to apply. A candidate who estimates and is wrong can be sent home at the check: failing the reach or height test is one of the five common Assessment Day failures in our playbook.
If you are close to the line
Do not round up. If you are within a centimetre or two, check the airline’s own page for how and when reach is measured, and be ready for the measurement to be done in person.
Next steps
Our free diagnosis asks for your measured reach only where the airline you pick publishes a rule, and flags it as something to clarify if you are unsure. See the airline pages for Emirates, Qatar Airways, Riyadh Air and Saudia.
Airlines mentioned