Training? What training?!
To those of you who are coming out to Dubai, or hoping to, and are wondering what the training's like. In one word - minimal.
It's just enough to get you on the line, and not much more. Yes it's fairly relaxed, but not in a good way. The whole type rating, and even the simulator sessions for already typed pilots are all contracted out to CAE, who are much more interested in just making sure they get paid than how well you know the 737 and FZ's procedures. So expect just enough to get through and not a lot more. All of the aircraft systems, for example, is CBT as opposed to a classroom. I know of no-one who looked back on their training and thought "wasn't that great?!"
95% of the useful stuff I've learnt has been on the line. Our training (actually much more checking) department contains some great people, but they don't teach the type rating, and are kind of stretched when you get on line.
Most people get through CAE's type rating, because it's in everyone's best interests. But don't expect to know very much at the end of it. Especially as you're trying to settle into Dubai at the same time. That can be hard enough!