With more than 7,000 team members deployed across the UAE aviation sector, Dulsco People provides personnel for customer service, ground handling, engineering, technical support and management. As airports expand and the need for qualified personnel grows, the company is investing in training and workforce development to meet the requirements of its aviation clients.
For Averil Nivsarkar, Head of Aviation Operations at Dulsco People, the priority is not simply to provide more personnel, but to ensure employees have the skills and training required for their responsibilities.
“Our clients need people they can depend on, especially in an industry where operations run around the clock and there is little room for disruption,” she says.
Dulsco People, the workforce arm of Dulsco Group, supports both passenger-facing and operational functions.
Maintaining service standards requires employees who understand their responsibilities and can perform their duties in an environment where delays or staffing shortages can affect airport operations.
Nivsarkar says, “Growth is not just about providing more people; it is about making sure they have the right skills, support and training to do their jobs well.”
Aviation Training and Technology
Dulsco Group is on track to deliver 50,000 aviation training sessions over a four-year period ending in 2026. The training is intended to support the UAE’s expanding aviation sector by preparing personnel for different operational responsibilities, with particular attention to skills and safety requirements.
The group is approved to deliver 36 regulatory and client-authorised training programmes and manages more than 100 courses covering over 85 aviation roles. Much of this training is conducted at the Dulsco Training Academy, located at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) in Dubai South.
Training remains important in an industry where employees must follow established operating procedures, maintain safety standards and keep their qualifications current. With technology and working practices changing, employees also need opportunities to update their knowledge and skills.
“Aviation roles are becoming more specialised,” Nivsarkar notes, “and employees need ongoing training to keep pace with new technologies, procedures and safety requirements.”
Technology is another area of investment for Dulsco Group. Over the next 12 to 24 months, the company is developing an AI-supported Aviation Learning Management System with a Connected Safety Net to improve the administration and monitoring of employee training.
The system is designed to simplify training administration, certification records and compliance monitoring.
It is also intended to improve workforce readiness and provide aviation clients with clearer information about employee qualifications and training requirements. For operators managing personnel across different aviation functions, keeping track of certification validity and training completion can involve considerable administrative work.
The proposed system would make this information easier to monitor without relying on separate files and spreadsheets, particularly when preparing for compliance checks and audits.
Dulsco is also working to reduce water consumption in ground operations. Through a collaboration with Assured Aviation Services, the company offers dry-washing solutions for ground service equipment.
The process provides an alternative to conventional washing methods and delivers significant water savings. Water conservation is particularly important in the UAE, where airports and aviation service providers face growing pressure to meet environmental targets while maintaining their operational requirements.
Workforce Requirements and Industry Challenges
Recruiting and retaining qualified personnel remains one of the main challenges facing the aviation industry, according to Nivsarkar.
“One of the biggest challenges is finding and retaining people with the right skills as the industry continues to grow”, she says. Passenger and cargo volumes are increasing, airports are expanding, and operators must maintain schedules even when demand changes or unexpected disruptions affect their operations.
This makes recruitment, training and employee retention particularly important. Airlines, airports and aviation service providers need personnel with the appropriate qualifications, while existing employees must be prepared to meet changing technical, operational and safety requirements.
The industry’s efforts to operate more sustainably also place additional demands on workforce skills and working practices.
“We believe the answer starts with investing in people: giving employees the right training, creating opportunities to develop their skills and building strong partnerships between aviation operators and service providers”, says Nivaskar.
Nivsarkar believes these measures can help the industry manage growth “without losing sight of safety, service quality or employee well-being.”
Dulsco People supports its aviation clients through workforce deployment, employee training and competency development. Safe working practices and better oversight of training also form part of its approach to maintaining operational standards while meeting staffing requirements.
Regional Expansion Plans
The UAE remains the principal market for Dulsco People’s aviation business, although the wider group has an established international presence.
“The UAE is the heart of our aviation business,” Nivsarkar says. Across its broader people and environmental services businesses, Dulsco Group employs more than 25,000 people and serves over 3,700 clients in 80 markets.
The company intends to build on its UAE experience while assessing opportunities in other countries. Any expansion will depend on client requirements, local operating conditions and its ability to maintain consistent service standards.
Major airport development plans across the UAE and GCC are expected to increase demand for qualified aviation personnel.
While new terminals and airport facilities can be developed over several years, preparing employees with the necessary skills and certifications also requires advance planning.
“As airports expand, the need for skilled and well-trained people will grow alongside the infrastructure,” Nivsarkar observes.
Dulsco People intends to have trained personnel available when new airport facilities begin operations, allowing it to support clients as their workforce requirements increase. The wider GCC is a potential market for expansion, given the investment in airport infrastructure, tourism and logistics.
Beyond the GCC, Dulsco People is assessing opportunities in other growing aviation markets, including countries where Dulsco Group already operates in different industries. These markets could provide opportunities for workforce solutions and specialist aviation training.
However, expansion decisions will depend on customer demand, regulatory requirements, potential partnerships and the company’s ability to maintain its existing standards.
“Our priority is sustainable expansion that builds on our UAE experience and delivers meaningful value to aviation clients,” Nivsarkar says.
India’s Role in Aviation Recruitment
India is a key recruitment market for Dulsco Group, with the majority of its workforce coming from the country.
“Our view of India is very positive, particularly as a source of aviation talent,” Nivsarkar says. “Our experience has reinforced our confidence in the depth, diversity and capabilities of its talent pool.”
She also recognises India’s growing importance in international aviation as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation sectors.
For Dulsco People, the emphasis is on maintaining its recruitment relationships in India and providing career opportunities across its operations. These opportunities will depend on the workforce requirements of its aviation clients in the markets where the company operates.
Dulsco Group’s aviation operations and employee welfare initiatives have received recognition through several awards.
At the Customer Happiness Awards in 2022 and 2024, Dulsco Group won Team of the Year. In 2024, it received Gold for Customer Happiness Team of the Year, recognising the Dulsco People aviation team’s support of dnata and airport operations during severe weather emergencies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
In 2025, Dulsco People received the Best Well-being Support in the Travel/Aviation Industry award at the Mentl Awards. In 2026, Dulsco Group achieved a 5-Star rating in Taqdeer’s award cycle, which recognises excellence in labour relations, fair employment and workforce well-being.
The group also earned the EcoVadis Gold Medal, placing it among the top 5% globally for ESG performance, following an earlier Silver rating. It was additionally recognised in the gold category of a UAE federal award for corporate social responsibility, ESG and sustainable business impact in 2026.
For Nivsarkar, maintaining strong relationships with aviation clients remains important as the company considers opportunities in other markets.
“Successful partnerships are built on trust, consistency and a clear understanding of what clients need,” she says. “Aviation operations are complex, so it is important to work closely with customers and adapt as their requirements change.”
With further airport development planned across the UAE and GCC, Dulsco People intends to continue investing in training, technology and workforce development while assessing opportunities in other aviation markets. Maintaining a qualified workforce and meeting the operational requirements of its clients will remain central to those plans.
Also Read: Tracking Technology for Airport Operations
Pranav Doshi is a Dubai-based communications and public affairs professional, Director, GCC & India at Advanced Business Events, and Middle East contributor to Aviation Jeta.
