Compare / QR vs RX
Qatar Airways vs Riyadh Air
Two very different offers for the same job. Here is what actually separates Qatar Airways and Riyadh Air for cabin crew — pay, roster, rules and who each one suits.
Qatar Airways
QR · Doha
7.7
crew score
Riyadh Air
RX · Riyadh
7.4
crew score
Choose Qatar Airways if…
- ✓Better layovers and lifestyle (7.8 vs 6.8)
- ✓Easier life at base (7.6 vs 6.6)
- ✓Bigger network: ~170 destinations vs ~15
Choose Riyadh Air if…
- ✓Starting pay is higher — about 7% more per month
- ✓Faster progression (career 8.6 vs 8.2)
Side by side
| Qatar Airways | Riyadh Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry pay / month | $2,500-$3,300 | $2,800-$3,400 |
| Senior pay / month | $3,600-$5,000 | $3,800-$5,000 |
| Tax-free | Yes | Yes |
| Housing | Company housing | Company housing |
| Base | Doha | Riyadh |
| Type | Full-service | Full-service |
| Fleet | ~250 | ~10 |
| Destinations | ~170 | ~15 |
| Alliance | oneworld | None |
| Minimum age | 21 | 21 |
| Reach / height | 212 cm reach | 212 cm reach |
| Visible tattoos | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Language beyond English | None required | None required |
Crew scores compared
Qatar Airways
Riyadh Air
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Qatar Airways
Continuous recruitment with Open Days and invitation-only events worldwide through 2026 as the network and A321neo/777X fleet grow.
Riyadh Air
Large-scale global recruitment events running through 2026 across the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America ahead of rapid fleet deliveries.
Still torn? Let the data decide.
Tax-free money or home every night? Fast promotion or a calm roster? Seven questions, ranked against pay, lifestyle, career and hiring data.
Frequently asked questions
Does Qatar Airways or Riyadh Air pay cabin crew more?
Riyadh Air pays more at entry level: about $2,800-$3,400 a month against $2,500-$3,300. Remember to weigh tax status and housing before comparing headline figures.
Which is easier to get into, Qatar Airways or Riyadh Air?
Qatar Airways is actively hiring (Continuous recruitment with Open Days and invitation-only events worldwide through 2026 as the network and A321neo/777X fleet grow.) while Riyadh Air is actively hiring (Large-scale global recruitment events running through 2026 across the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America ahead of rapid fleet deliveries.) Requirements differ too — check both requirement pages before deciding where to spend your effort.
Qatar Airways or Riyadh Air — which is better for a first cabin crew job?
Qatar Airways scores higher overall in our index (7.7 vs 7.4), but "better" depends on what you want: money, roster, promotion speed or where you live. The reasons listed above split it by priority.