• Riyadh Air signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Prince Sultan University, one of
the regions leading universities to empower and enable youth within the aviation sector
• State-of-the-art Riyadh Air simulator center to be built on Prince Sultan University
campus
• Simulator center will be a part of wider collaboration with the University to empower
Saudi youth within the aviation sector.
Riyadh Air has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Prince Sultan University (PSU) as part of wider initiatives to prepare the next generation of
leaders within the Saudi Arabian aviation sector. The MoU will see Riyadh Air build its first
simulator center on the University’s Riyadh campus where future pilots will be trained in
readiness to join Riyadh Air following their graduation.
In addition to building world-class facilities to assist in the future development of the Kingdom’s
aviation sector, Riyadh Air and PSU will collaborate to provide exciting learning opportunities for
students who aspire to pursue a career in commercial aviation. Short-term vocational training
programs will be offered for pilots, cabin crew and ground crew in addition to more skill-specific
programs across the airline ecosystem, including finance, legal, IT, HR, and project management.
Riyadh Air will also work alongside PSU to build long-term academic programs. The programs
will offer rich learning opportunities, where PSU students can opt in through a graduate
program and provide a pathway towards a career in a wide range of aviation roles.
Peter Bellew, COO of Riyadh Air, said: “We believe that investing in the future of the aviation
industry is vital for the joint success and growth of Riyadh Air and the Kingdom. Our
collaboration with Prince Sultan University marks another step in Riyadh Air’s efforts to offer
unique learning platforms for local youth as they look to choose and develop their careers. This
program aims to create more jobs within Saudi Arabia, ensure sustainability, and qualify Saudi
youth by launching initiatives that enable them to join the job market and contribute to the
growth and competitiveness of the sector.”
Dr. Ahmed S. Yamani, President of PSU, remarked on the occasion: “The collaboration between our University and Riyadh Air comes from a mutual interest and care for the development andenrichment of the students who are interested in careers in the aviation sector.
Prince Sultan University prides itself on its graduate students that study at our university, whichis ranked first Kingdom-wide in regard to employment after graduation. Our faculty staff takes.
pride in the variety of programs and learnings available at PSU and in our strides towards
achieving Saudi Vision 2030 launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
The MoU was signed in a ceremony at Prince Sultan University in Riyadh in July and comes as part of Riyadh Air’s ongoing knowledge-sharing initiatives, with the airline recently launching its first graduate program.
Fresh graduates enrolled in the program receive training from experts in
the field, both from Riyadh Air and from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association of the world’s airlines.
They will also get hands-on experience by rotating in
seven different departments at Riyadh Air.
The establishment of Riyadh Air is part of the Kingdom’s strategies to unlock the capabilities of promising sectors that can help drive the diversification of the local economy, adding USD20billion to non-oil GDP growth, and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs, supporting the industry’s global competitiveness in line with Vision 2030.
About Riyadh Air:
Riyadh Air is a world-class airline owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Launched in March 2023, the airline will be a digitally-led, full service airline that adopts the best global sustainability and safety practices across its advanced fleet of aircraft. Riyadh Air will equip its aircraft with the most advanced, state-of-the-art features with innovative, best-in-class cabin interiors and experiences, including next generation digital in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity solutions. Riyadh Air will connect guests to over 100 destinations
around the world by 2030 through offering an exceptional guest experience with an authentic, warm Saudi hospitality at its heart.
