I've been told to wait till 2018 !!!
Alpha said my UAE residency entry permit was refused the first time. They told me I could reapply in couple of months.
Today I pressed them for a definitive date and they said next year.
Well I guess everything happens for a reason.
I have friends flying for Air Arabia, the situation is not very good, there are too many FO without contracts, any new cadets after 1500hours will not receive contracts, there are delays in the Sims, some students had to wait a very long time before commencing their flight training.