King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the establishment of the National Academy of Aviation Technology, where 1,000 aircraft technicians and 350 pilots will be trained annually.

 The MoU was signed with the Economic Cities Authority, the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, the Saudi Aviation Club, the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the Ministry of Education, and the Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company (TAQNIA).

The academy’s headquarters will be its first branch located in KAEC. The academy will be able to directly enrich the local aviation market, which is expected to require 3,000 employees by the year 2023.

The second branch will be located at the Al-Thumama Airport in Riyadh, the headquarters of the Saudi Aviation Club.

“We are proud to sign this agreement initiating a fruitful collaboration with the founding partners to host the National Academy of Aviation Technology. The academy is a highly prestigious addition to KAEC, where it will provide the highest standards of vocational training to enhance and develop Saudi Arabia’s aviation workforce, thus raising the level of productivity,” said Fahd Al-Rasheed, managing director and Group CEO of KAEC.

“This motivates the continuity of construction and development, and creates more jobs for citizens in line with the objectives of the National Transformation Program 2020 and Vision 2030.”

“We are pleased to enjoy the mutual trust of our founding partners,” said Mazen Tammar, senior director-KAEC Corporate Business Development, Healthcare & Education. “KAEC is the ideal location for establishing and operating such a massive project, due to the city’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, social amenities and total housing solutions that perfectly suits the requirements of both the Faculty and trainees.”

Tammar added: “The presence of Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship (MBSC), along with Tomouh program, in addition to the National Academy of Aviation Technology, is a clear indication that KAEC is achieving its strategic goals such as supporting the education and training sector, not only in the Kingdom, but worldwide as well.” – TradeArabia News Service