Saudi aviation surpasses localization goals, boosts women in leadership

29/04/2025 03:32 AST

Saudi Arabia's aviation industry exceeded its 2024 Saudization target, reaching 14,317 national employees - 124 percent of its 2025 goal - as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to become a global aviation hub.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation said women hold 17 percent of leadership roles across airports, airlines, and ground services.

The initiative is part of a broader labor market strategy to boost Saudization, a program launched in 2011 to increase domestic employment in the private sector through industry-specific quotas.

It has helped reduce Saudi unemployment from 12.8 percent in 2018 to 7.1 percent by mid-2024, surpassing the Vision 2030 goal of 8 percent. The Kingdom has set a new target of 5 percent unemployment by 2030.

In an official release, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, GACA's president, noted that the authority had succeeded in its "Saudization of Aviation Jobs" initiative, achieving notable results in 2024.

He emphasized that this progress reflects the depth and inclusiveness of the Vision (2030) and embodies the Kingdom's comprehensive development across all sectors, the release added.

His comments coincided with the release of the 2024 annual report on Saudi Vision 2030, which showed that the Kingdom had achieved 93 percent of its strategic goals over the past nine years.

According to the annual report, Saudi Arabia's airports handled 128 million passengers in 2024, marking a 45.8 percent increase since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, while air cargo volumes topped 1.2 million tonnes.

GACA president stated that the authority achieved 100 percent of its key performance indicators and initiatives under the Vision Realization Programs. Saudi Arabia ranked 17th globally in the International Air Transport Association's Air Connectivity Index - surpassing the 2024 target by two ranks.

According to the press release, GACA, during the 1445 Hajj season, launched the Kingdom's first aerial taxi trial and granted licenses for cutting-edge aviation technologies.

"Several new terminals were opened, and expansions were made to various regional airports as part of the Kingdom's efforts to adopt future-forward solutions and enhance sustainability in air transport," it added.

The GACA chief further highlighted the sector's advancements since the launch of the National Aviation Strategy, including the privatization of airports, the development of King Salman International Airport, the establishment of Riyadh Air, and the ordering of 548 new aircraft. a

Arab News