Riyadh Air’s newly announced ‘Employment-First’ Overseas Scholarship Program aims to launch several scholarship tracks, starting with two specialized paths for engineers in Australia, followed by a pilot training program in the United States.
The initiative falls under ‘Promising Path’, one of the tracks within the ‘Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Scholarship Program, in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Transport & Logistics Services and General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). This strategic step aims to develop national competencies and train & develop a new generation of specialists in the aviation sector.
The program will introduce several global training pathways, with the initial phase focusing on sending scholarship students to Australia to study towards Bachelor’s degrees in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, covering both Mechanical Engineering and Avionics (Electronics). Next month, Riyadh Air will launch a Commercial Aviation training opportunity in the United States.
In line with Riyadh Air’s commitment to supporting students' career progression, the participants will be employed before embarking on their scholarships. This ensures that their years of experience are registered with the General Organization for Social Insurance, enhancing their professional readiness from day one.
The program’s launch is part of Riyadh Air’s continuous efforts to empower national talent and provide the Kingdom’s young and vibrant workforce with essential skills and knowledge, representing an even greater long-term investment in the future of the Kingdom's aviation industry.
Nahar AlJahani, VP of Talent Acquisition and Business Partners at Riyadh Air, stated: “The ‘Employment-First’ Scholarship Program is a part of our commitment to developing national human capital and enabling Saudi youth - both men and women - to access world-class education. Its impact will reflect positively on the development of the aviation sector in the Kingdom, contributing to the company's goal of creating over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs”.
With these programs, Riyadh Air continues to play a part in building a promising future for Saudi citizens and enhancing the competitiveness of our graduates in the global aviation industry.
Launching in 2025, Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia’s new world-class national carrier. Created with an authentically native, bold and modern vision with digital innovation at its core, it is set to welcome a new era of travel.
Wholly owned by the PIF, Riyadh Air is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 in shaping the future of aviation and enhancing connectivity to and from the Kingdom. Riyadh Air blends advanced technology with warm Saudi hospitality, setting new standards for seamless, guest-centric travel.
With a modern fleet of 182 aircraft, premium cabins and innovative technology, Riyadh Air is set to connect passengers to over 100 global destinations by 2030.
