Riyadh Air to train Saudi engineers and pilots abroad under new scholarship scheme

Riyadh Air has launched an employment-first overseas scholarship programme aimed at training a new generation of Saudi engineers and pilots, with participants hired by the airline before beginning their studies abroad.

The initiative, introduced under the ‘Employment-First’ Overseas Scholarship Programme, will begin with specialised engineering tracks in Australia, followed by a commercial pilot training pathway in the United States.

The programme forms part of the ‘Promising Path’ track within the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Scholarship Program, in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Transport & Logistics Services and the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

New scholarship trains future Saudi aviators

In its first phase, students will pursue bachelor’s degrees in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering in Australia, covering both mechanical engineering and avionics. A pilot training programme in the US is scheduled to launch next month.

Under the employment-first model, scholarship recipients will be formally employed by Riyadh Air before travelling overseas, ensuring their work experience is registered with the General Organisation for Social Insurance from the outset. The airline said this approach is designed to strengthen graduates’ professional readiness and accelerate their integration into the aviation workforce.

The programme reflects Riyadh Air’s broader strategy to develop national talent and build long-term capabilities in the Kingdom’s aviation sector, in line with Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification goals.

Nahar AlJahani, Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Business Partners at Riyadh Air, said: “The ‘Employment-First’ Scholarship Programme 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.”

Riyadh Air said additional international training pathways are expected to be introduced in future phases as it continues to expand its workforce and operational capabilities.