Riyadh Air has launched its First Officer Scholarship Program with Guaranteed Employment, creating a new pathway for Saudi nationals to train, qualify, and return home prepared to operate the airline’s Boeing and Airbus fleet as First Officer Pilots.

Delivered as part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, the initiative is implemented in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Transport and Logistics, as well as the General Authority of Civil Aviation. Through the program, selected candidates will pursue a bachelor's degree (BSA) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the USA, one of the world's largest fully accredited private universities specializing in aviation and aerospace. Upon graduation, the candidates will have the opportunity to work with the world’s newest global airline, Riyadh Air. With a focus on elegance, excellence and obsessive attention to detail, the new pilots will be working in an environment that is a testament to the future of flying.

As part of Riyadh Air’s commitment to supporting long-term career pathways, both male and female accepted students will be employed prior to departure, ensuring their professional experience is registered with the General Organization for Social Insurance and supporting readiness from day one.

Applications and full eligibility criteria for the scholarship are available on the MoE portal.

Captain Ziad Albaiz, Acting Vice President of Flight Operations at Riyadh Air, said: "The First Officer Scholarship Program with Guaranteed Employment is part of our commitment to developing national human capital in the aviation sector and directly supports the Kingdom’s Saudization objectives. It is a key pillar in developing and empowering young Saudi men and women by providing them with world-class education, culminating in practical experience. This will have a positive impact on the development of the aviation sector in the Kingdom, contributing to the company's goal of creating more than 200,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly, under Vision 2030."

This program forms part of Riyadh Air’s broader commitment to developing national capability through a range of talent initiatives, including the Kingdom’s first program dedicated to employing Saudi female Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, specialized scholarship pathways for Mechanical and Electronic Avionic Engineers, and the Nawat graduate program, as well as the “Hire to Train” program, both aimed at preparing graduates to join the corporate departments at Riyadh Air preparing them through intensive training leading to employment. Together, these efforts represent the airline’s long-term investment in the future of the Kingdom’s aviation sector.

Riyadh Air Launches Overseas Scholarship Program for Saudi Nationals to Become Fully Qualified First Officer Pilots