Riyadh Air has launched a nationwide cabin crew recruitment and training initiative aimed at building a long term pipeline of Saudi aviation professionals as the Kingdom rapidly expands its aviation and tourism sectors under Vision 2030.
The newly announced Nawat Cabin Crew Program will recruit and train Saudi nationals for future cabin crew positions at the airline, with selected candidates expected to formally join operations in 2027 after completing an eight month training programme.
Applications have opened online and through recruitment roadshows taking place across Saudi Arabia, beginning in Riyadh. The airline said the initiative forms part of a broader workforce localisation strategy as it prepares for large scale international expansion later this decade.
Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air plans to connect the Kingdom to more than 100 international destinations by 2030, creating substantial demand for aviation professionals across operations, engineering, hospitality and customer service functions.
The launch of the programme reflects the growing scale of Saudi Arabia’s aviation ambitions as the country invests heavily in airports, tourism infrastructure and international connectivity.
According to Riyadh Air, the Nawat initiative consolidates several employment and development pathways already introduced by the carrier to increase Saudi participation within aviation roles.
The airline said the cabin crew programme joins its existing initiatives covering cadet pilots, engineering development and graduate recruitment schemes.
Key details of the programme include:
Riyadh Air said cabin crew would play a central role in representing both the airline and Saudi Arabia to international passengers travelling through its future network.
According to the airline, the programme has been structured to align with international aviation training standards while also incorporating Saudi hospitality values into customer service delivery.
Participants will receive instruction across operational safety, technical knowledge, communication skills, language proficiency and inflight hospitality practices.
The airline said recruits would be trained to deliver what it describes as the spirit of “Hafawa”, a hospitality concept rooted in Saudi culture and designed to shape the passenger experience onboard Riyadh Air flights.
Officials said the training programme is intended not only to address staffing needs but also to create long term professional career pathways for Saudi nationals entering the aviation industry.
Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector has emerged as a major pillar of the Kingdom’s economic diversification strategy under Vision 2030, which aims to reduce reliance on oil revenues by expanding tourism, logistics and service industries.
Riyadh Air’s hiring initiative comes as the Kingdom accelerates investments across aviation infrastructure and transport connectivity.
The airline’s leadership said the Nawat programme supports broader national employment goals linked to Vision 2030.
According to Riyadh Air, the initiative is expected to contribute towards the Kingdom’s target of generating more than 200,000 direct and indirect aviation jobs over the coming years.
Nahar Aljahani, Senior Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Business Partners at Riyadh Air, said cabin crew represent a critical part of the airline’s long term operational strategy and customer experience ambitions.
The company added that the programme would help establish a sustainable national talent pipeline across multiple aviation disciplines.
Beyond cabin crew recruitment, Riyadh Air has been steadily expanding its workforce development initiatives since its launch in 2023.
The airline said its broader Nawat programmes now include:
Riyadh Air has also introduced what it describes as Saudi Arabia’s first initiative focused on employing female Saudi aircraft maintenance engineers.
The move reflects wider industry efforts within the Kingdom to increase workforce participation across specialised technical sectors historically dominated by overseas labour.
The launch of the Nawat Cabin Crew Program coincides with a period of rapid transformation across Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry.
Airlines, airport operators and aviation service providers across the Gulf region are increasing recruitment activity as travel demand rebounds and governments push large scale tourism development plans.
For Riyadh Air, cabin crew recruitment forms a key operational requirement as the airline prepares to establish itself as a major global full service carrier based in Riyadh.
The company plans to operate a modern fleet equipped with advanced cabin technology, high speed connectivity and next generation inflight entertainment systems.
Officials said future cabin crew recruits would also play a role in promoting Saudi culture and showcasing Riyadh to international travellers as the airline expands globally.
With training expected to begin later this year, the Nawat initiative signals how aviation employment is becoming an increasingly important component of Saudi Arabia’s broader economic transformation agenda.
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