Aircraft
By Staff Writer, Halal Incorp
The anticipated growth of domestic aircraft production in Saudi Arabia is set to surge by 126% over the next two decades, as revealed by the head of an international organization committed to advancing women in aviation.
Speaking at the Saudi Airport Exhibition in Riyadh on December 19, Mervat Sultan, President of the Middle East chapter of Women in Aviation International, outlined that the Kingdom’s aviation sector is poised to generate SR82 billion ($21.86 million) by 2037, accompanied by the creation of 1.2 million jobs.
Aircraft
Sultan emphasized the pivotal role women are expected to play in this sector, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification strategy aimed at enhancing female participation in the workplace.
She attributed Vision 2030 as a catalyst for ambition and a transformative force in the Kingdom’s aircraft production landscape.
During a panel discussion on women in aviation, Sultan commended the efforts of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for fostering the involvement of women in the workforce.
Vision 2030, she stated, serves as a cornerstone for inclusivity, paving the way for a new era in aviation that offers unprecedented opportunities for Saudi women.
The projected growth, characterized by “endless possibilities,” underscores the pressing need for collaboration between governmental entities and the private sector, Sultan noted.
She stressed that both public organizations and commercial companies must integrate educational and training initiatives for women, ensuring their readiness for participation in the industry.
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Sofia Mateou, Associate Professor of Aviation Management at Prince Sultan University, shared during the forum that the institution plans to contribute to this transformation by introducing an aviation program.
She highlighted a significant shift in the last five years, with Saudi Arabia witnessing substantial improvements in female workforce participation, particularly in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Mateou emphasized the importance of educational institutions adapting to the goals of Vision 2030, focusing on preparing women to become lifelong learners and facilitating their entry into careers that were historically inaccessible to them.
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Nesreen Kashgari, Director of Talent Acquisition at Saudia Technical, underscored the vital role of the private sector in cultivating the next generation of female talent in aviation.
Saudia Technical, a subsidiary of Saudia Academy, is set to launch the first female technician program specializing in avionics in January.
Kashgari is actively engaging with universities and schools to recruit female talent, clarifying pathways to careers in the sector. She noted the openness of certain universities, such as King Fahad Petroleum University and King Abdulaziz University, to women pursuing aerospace and aeronautical engineering.
Mateou reinforced the need for collaboration between educational institutions and the industry to adapt curriculums to evolving industry needs and regulatory changes, ensuring the seamless integration of women into the workforce.
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