- Students will be employed by Riyadh Air before starting overseas aviation studies, gaining early work experience.
- The program includes engineering degrees in Australia and pilot training in the United States.
- The initiative builds job-ready skills and supports long-term careers in the national aviation sector.
Riyadh Air has introduced a new overseas aviation scholarship program that puts employment first, linking global education directly to jobs. The initiative is designed to prepare Saudi students for long-term careers in the aviation industry by combining formal education, hands-on training, and guaranteed employment.
The program is part of the Promising Path track under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program. It is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
In its first phase, Riyadh Air will send selected students to Australia to pursue bachelor’s degrees in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. These programs will focus on mechanical systems and avionics, helping students gain in-demand technical skills. In the next phase, scheduled to begin next month, the airline will launch a commercial pilot training program in the United States.
A key feature of the initiative is guaranteed employment. Students will be hired by Riyadh Air before they begin their studies. Their work experience will be officially registered with the General Organization for Social Insurance, allowing them to build professional experience from day one.
Riyadh Air said the program aims to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s aviation workforce and create a steady pipeline of skilled professionals. The airline views this as a long-term investment in education, jobs, and national capacity building.
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Nahar Aljahani, Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Business Partners at Riyadh Air, said the program reflects the company’s commitment to developing Saudi talent and expanding access to world-class education for both men and women. He added that the initiative will support the airline’s goal of creating more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Through this employment-linked scholarship model, Riyadh Air is helping Saudi graduates gain global skills while improving their competitiveness in the international aviation sector.
