October 31, 2026 — For the first time in its history, Qatar Airways will allow male cabin crew to wear beards, starting November 1, 2026.
What happened
Paddle Your Own Kanoo reports the change appeared in a leaked internal memo. In a statement, the airline said male cabin crew will be able to wear “a neat and well-groomed beard” from November 1. Until now, male crew had to be clean-shaven apart from a neat mustache and were expected to carry a shaving kit. Stubble and patchy beards remain off-limits, according to a cabin crew forum post cited in the report.
Etihad has allowed beards since 2019, while Emirates still requires a clean shave apart from a neat mustache.
What it means for travelers
- Nothing changes for passengers. Gulf carriers have long had some of the strictest grooming standards in the industry, and Qatar now joins Etihad in relaxing them.
Sources
- Paddle Your Own Kanoo: Qatar Airways Will Let Male Cabin Crew Have Beards For the First Time in the Airline's History
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