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At the end of August 2026, a cohort of 26 Saudi female aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) graduated from an inaugural 30-month aircraft maintenance engineering diploma for Riyadh Air.
CEO Tony Douglas explained, “Riyadh Air is an airline that will challenge perceptions while representing the modern, dynamic Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Diversity and inclusion are an important pillar of our business, and introducing young women to the technical side of our airline demonstrates that we are serious about creating an airline that meets the expectations of Vision 2030.”
The media coverage has been widespread. However, this story is far from normal. While all-female engineering cohorts remain rare globally, this milestone also marks a structural shift in Middle Eastern aviation. Riyadh Air’s initiative is a pioneering effort.
Let’s take a look at the bigger picture, the background, future objectives of the programme, and, for students who are interested in becoming aircraft maintenance engineers, how they can be part of this initiative.
Nawat: Building a Domestic Aviation Workforce
To understand the significance of this graduation, one must look at Riyadh Air’s human capital strategy, “Nawat“.
The newly graduated female engineers are part of the maintenance track — a partnership between Riyadh Air, the Colleges of Excellence (CoE), and the International Aviation Technical College (IATC) at King Khalid International Airport, accredited by Aviation Australia Riyadh College (AARC). This program ensures a steady flow of skilled professionals to maintain the airline’s fleet.
As Nahar Al-Juhani, Senior Vice President of Talent Acquisition, noted, investing in local talent remains central to Riyadh Air’s development and supports Saudi Vision 2030 goals to establish the Kingdom as a global aviation hub.
Designing an All-Female Cohort
For decades, the commercial aviation maintenance sector has lacked gender diversity. Globally, women currently make up approximately 3.0% of licensed aircraft maintenance engineers.
Riyadh Air identified this disparity, recognising it as both a social challenge and an operational bottleneck. To overcome historical barriers, address this shortage and build local expertise from the ground up, Riyadh Air created the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Programme.
Colleges of Excellence CEO Engineer Ayman bin Mustafa Al-Abdullah expressed the institution’s pride in this initiative, stating, “We are proud to support this pioneering batch of female trainees in the field of aircraft maintenance engineering in partnership with Riyadh Air.”
Riyadh Air Welcomes First All-Female Engineering Graduates
In a deliberate move, Riyadh Air launched its first engineering intake as an all-female cohort to offer a supportive environment, break down traditional gender barriers in aircraft maintenance, and set high performance standards.
To guarantee world-class technical delivery, trainees follow a curriculum aligned with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards and officially certified by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) under GACAR Part 147 and Part 66 guidelines.
This framework ensures all theoretical instruction and practical airframe apprenticeships meet domestic and international requirements.
A Riyadh Air Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the production line inside Boeing’s assembly facility. Handout: Riyadh Air.
After 30 months of theory and hands-on training, 26 technicians graduated in August 2026. The trainees shared the program’s personal impact, with one noting, “From the moment I applied, I felt proud… just going through the experience made me realise what was possible.
” Another added, “Riyadh Air feels like a family… we genuinely feel like part of the company.” The carrier’s active engagement fostered a strong sense of belonging
Perhaps most importantly, this initiative is not a one-off public relations exercise. Dedicated female streams will continue alongside mixed-gender cohorts to maintain a steady talent pipeline for the airline’s long-term workforce demands.
How to Join the MRO Programme
To support its fleet growth, Riyadh Air and its partners use a rigorous multi-stage selection process to recruit top Saudi talent for the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Programme. Prospective candidates for future intakes must meet strict standards to qualify.
Candidate Prerequisites
Before entering the evaluation pipeline, applicants must meet the following baseline criteria:
Eligibility: Female Saudi nationals aged 18 to 23.
Education: Recent high school graduate (within 5 years), ideally from the scientific track.
GPA: Minimum 85.0% cumulative GPA.
Testing: Minimum score of 65 on the Qiyas General Aptitude Test GAT, plus completed Tahsili Subject Achievement Test.
English Proficiency: At least CEFR A2 level for comprehension of technical documentation.
Enrolment Phases & Selection Pathway
The five-phase selection sequence includes:
Application Submission: Candidates submit academic credentials, test scores, and ID records online via the Colleges of Excellence (CoE) and International Aviation Technical College (IATC) admission portals.
Academic Screening: Automated checks verify GPA, track, and test score requirements.
Technical & Aptitude Testing: Shortlisted applicants complete digital testing at the IATC King Khalid International Airport facility, completing mechanical spatial reasoning and English language evaluations.
Interviews: For qualifying candidates, joint panel interviews conducted by Riyadh Air talent acquisition executives and IATC engineering faculty assess candidate aptitude and motivation.
Medical & Contract Execution: Successful candidates complete GACA medical clearance and sign the training agreement.
The selection sequence and diversity metrics for Riyadh Air’s Nawat maintenance track. Chart: Aljaweea, sources: Riyadh Air; SPA; IATC.
Onboarding
After signing their contracts, trainees receive full tuition sponsorship and a monthly allowance throughout the 30-month program. Upon graduation and GACA licensing, they transition directly into full-time roles in Riyadh Air’s engineering division.
Shaping the Future of MENA Aviation
To maintain long-term workforce demands for its aircraft and future fleet growth, Riyadh Air will continue running all-female streams alongside mixed-gender cohorts to ensure long-term female representation across its engineering division.
Will other airlines follow this example and adopt similar programs? If so, this could mark a turning point for women in MENA aviation.
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