Airlines in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are planning to create an additional 60,000 jobs in the region.

This is according to a report by The National, which claimed the new positions are a response to rising demand for services in the region.

Rick Helliwell, carrier Emirates' vice-president of recruitment, told the news source: "It took us 25 years to get to 40,000 employees, but in the next ten years we will double that to 80,000."

The airline and fellow provider Etihad are forecast to expand rapidly over the coming decade, with Emirates' fleet expected to more than double to 300 jets by 2020.

Based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively, Emirates and Etihad Airways are anticipated to require nearly 60,000 staff during the period in question at the former and 19,000 at the latter, the newspaper explained.

Comprising seven emirates, the UAE was established in 1971 and is situated on the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, with a population of more than eight million people.

Posted by Lee Thrace