SAUDIA Group Concludes Successful Participation in World Defense Show 2022

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) Group has successfully concluded its participation at the World Defense Show 2022 on Wednesday. Held from the 6–9 March under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and honored with a visit by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, with oversight from the General Authority of Military Industries, the prestigious event attracted industry experts, senior officials, and executives of major defense contractors from across the world.

SAUDIA was represented at the show by Saudi Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI), the group’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) arm, and Prince Sultan Aviation Academy, its world-class training facility. The two subsidiaries showcased their latest products and services in commercial and military aviation and aviation training, as well as how they are contributing to the prominent national achievements of the Kingdom’s defense industry and economy.

SAEI highlighted their development of its MRO Village in Jeddah, which services both commercial and military aircraft with the goal of localizing aircraft maintenance, services, and repair expenditure within the national economy by 2025. In developing the project, the company relied on its vast knowledge and experience in offering a full range of services to military logistics aircraft and SAUDIA’s entire fleet of commercial aircraft.

Prince Sultan Aviation Academy showcased the broad scope of its training programs for pilots, co-pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers, all of which are delivered to the highest international standards. The academy is deeply involved in nationalizing jobs in the Kingdom’s aviation sector by providing training for pilots and air traffic controllers, with the long-term aim of localizing the sector to be run entirely by Saudi nationals. The academy also offers state-of-the-art flight simulator training for SAUDIA and other airlines.

His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA, thanked the Kingdom’s leadership for their support of the national defense industry, the localization of military manufacturing, and the recruiting of more international contractors, all of which have brought added value to the Kingdom’s economy and provided jobs for young Saudi talent at every level.

His Excellency stressed that SAUDIA Group has achieved new heights in solidifying its national and global presence as a driver of the national economy and an enabler of Saudis to help build their country through its efforts in the aviation industry, in line with its role as the ‘Wings of Vision 2030’ and a key contributor to bringing about a comprehensive socio-economic paradigm shift.

World Defense Show 2022 featured virtual displays of integrated defense technologies and seminars on the next generation of defense systems, some of which were dedicated to emerging national and international defense companies. The challenges facing the sector and innovation in defense technology were some of the topics discussed at the show, which provided an outstanding platform for participants to interact with key players from the global defense industry.