Saudia (Saudi Airlines) Careers 2026 – Jobs, Salaries and How to Apply

If you are looking for a long-term aviation career with one of the oldest and largest airlines in the Arab world, Saudia deserves your full attention in 2026. This is not just a national carrier operating a few routes. Saudia is in the middle of the most aggressive expansion in its 80-year history a new plane arriving almost every week, 37 million passengers carried in 2025, and a brand new MRO facility the size of 14 football fields being built in Jeddah. All of that growth means a sustained, serious need for new people across every department.

This guide covers everything you need before applying. The full group structure, what each division does, verified salary figures in Saudi Riyals, the complete benefits package, cabin crew physical requirements, pilot minimums, a step by step application guide, and the one English test requirement that eliminates most candidates before they even begin.

Quick Saudi Airlines Job Details

Currently Open Jobs at Saudia in 2026

Current active vacancies on the official Saudia careers portal as of April 2026 include: Saudia Cadet Pilot Program, Flight Attendant, Specialist Safety and Quality, Senior Technician Plasma, Aircraft Maintenance Support Technician, Section Manager Test Cell, and Technician Aircraft Maintenance.

Beyond these live vacancies, here is a full breakdown of all departments that hire regularly:

Flight Operations

Captains, First Officers, and Cadet Pilots. The new cadet program is part of Saudia’s strategy to grow its own pilots domestically in line with Vision 2030 Saudization requirements. The airline also recruits experienced international pilots for wide-body fleet roles.

Cabin Crew

Flight attendants are responsible for conducting cabin crew services and guaranteeing a pleasant flight experience through delivering in-flight cabin services including food, beverages, care, and in-flight products in line with set policies and safety standards. Both male and female cabin crew are hired.

Engineering and Maintenance (Saudia Technic)

Saudia Technic, the trusted MRO partner of Saudi Arabia’s national airline, delivers comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul solutions from over 40 locations worldwide. Roles include Licensed Aircraft Engineers, Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, Avionics Specialists, Test Cell Managers, and Technical Records staff.

Ground Operations

Check-in agents, ramp supervisors, baggage handlers, load controllers, and gate coordinators. Based primarily at Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam airports.

Customer Service and Commercial

Sales specialists, airport customer service agents, reservation agents, call centre staff, and B2B travel coordinators. Arabic and English fluency are both required for most of these roles.

Catering and Hospitality

Saudia operates its own in-flight catering division. Roles include catering supervisors, food safety officers, production coordinators, and logistics staff.

Finance, IT, and Corporate Support

Financial analysts, IT systems engineers, HR specialists, digital transformation managers, procurement officers, and administration staff based at Jeddah headquarters.

Safety, Quality, and Compliance

Current openings include Specialist Safety and Quality roles focused on maintaining Saudia’s compliance with Saudi GACA and IATA aviation safety standards.

Training and Development (Saudi Academy)

The Saudi Academy trains both cadet pilots and aviation professionals. Roles include flight instructors, simulator engineers, training coordinators, and academic administrators.

Salary Guide: Real Figures in Saudi Riyals

All Saudia salaries are 100% tax-free. Saudi Arabia has no personal income tax, so every riyal you earn is yours to keep.

Cabin Crew Salary Breakdown

Entry-level cabin crew at Saudia typically receive a base salary of SAR 4,500 to SAR 5,500 per month. With flying hour pay and allowances added, total monthly earnings increase to approximately SAR 8,000 to SAR 10,000 once fully rostered. Mid-career cabin crew earn between SAR 10,000 and SAR 12,000 per month. Senior cabin crew and pursers earn SAR 12,000 to SAR 14,000 or more per month.

Full Salary Table by Role

SAR to AED conversion: 1 SAR = approximately 1.02 AED. Salaries are broadly comparable across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with the key difference being that Saudi Arabia also offers housing allowances and education allowances on top.

Employee Benefits Package

Saudia’s benefits are structured differently from UAE airlines because Saudi Arabia has different cost-of-living considerations and a different labour framework.

Financial Benefits Tax-free salary across all roles. Performance-based annual bonuses. Layover and overnight allowances crew receive extra pay and hotel accommodation when required to stay overnight outside their home base, covering living costs during international duties.

Housing Many employees receive either furnished company-provided accommodation or a housing allowance to offset the high cost of living in major Saudi cities like Jeddah and Riyadh. Cabin crew specifically receive a housing allowance equivalent to three months of salary per year.

Family and Education Saudia provides education support for employees’ children in accredited Saudi schools. Senior and management staff may also receive education allowances for children, similar to ADNOC and other government employers in the region.

Travel Perks Employees receive free or discounted flights for themselves and their families and collect international travel experience from destinations across the globe. Annual home leave tickets are provided for expatriate employees.

Health Coverage Comprehensive medical insurance for the employee and eligible family members. Crew receive medical cover as part of their standard employment package.

Training and Development New cabin crew undergo training covering safety, emergency procedures, service standards, and cultural and religious awareness aligned with Saudi norms, fully funded by the airline. Engineering and technical staff have access to type-rating and specialisation courses through Saudia Technic and the Saudi Academy.

Cabin Crew Requirements: The Full Checklist

This is where most applicants fail because they do not prepare for the English test.

Age: Minimum 20 years, maximum typically 30 years for initial selection.

Height and Reach: Minimum arms reach of 212 cm on tiptoes is required. Height and weight must be according to Saudia’s standard chart. Saudia The reach test is performed during the assessment day with no shoes.

Education: Minimum high school diploma is required. The minimum accepted overall grade is “Good.”

English Proficiency The Most Important Requirement: Candidates must pass the Standardised Test for English Proficiency (STEP) by QIYAS with a minimum score of 72. The test issuance date must not exceed three years from the application date. Other English tests are not accepted. The STEP test is mandatory for all candidates including those who graduated outside Saudi Arabia.

This is the requirement that eliminates the majority of international applicants. You must take the STEP test specifically IELTS, TOEFL, or other tests are not accepted as substitutes. You can register for the STEP test at qiyas.org.

Appearance: A pleasant overall appearance is required. Saudia maintains strict grooming standards. No visible tattoos, clear complexion, and professional presentation throughout the assessment process.

Documents Required at Application: Valid Saudi National ID for Saudi applicants, official education degree, official transcript, STEP test score certificate, and passport copy. Missing any required attachment will result in elimination from the process.

Pilot Requirements

For First Officer roles, a monthly base salary of SAR 18,000 to SAR 30,000 applies. For Captain roles, SAR 45,000 to SAR 80,000 or more per month, with busy months on long-haul wide-body routes reaching close to SAR 100,000.

Requirements for pilot roles include:

Valid ATPL or CPL with ATPL theory passes. Minimum 1,500 total flying hours for First Officer applications. Minimum 4,000 hours with significant PIC time for Captain roles. Type rating on Airbus A320 family, A330, or Boeing 777/787 depending on the fleet applied for. Valid Class 1 medical certificate. ICAO English Language Proficiency Level 4 minimum. Clean background and security clearance.

For the Saudia Cadet Program specifically, Saudi nationals with a high school diploma and no flying experience can apply. The airline funds the full training pathway from Private Pilot Licence through to type rating.

How to Apply Step by Step

Step 1: Go to careers.saudia.com — the official and only legitimate Saudia Group careers portal.

Step 2: Select “Saudia Airlines” or the relevant subsidiary (Saudia Technic, Saudi Academy, flyadeal, etc.) from the group menu.

Step 3: Click “View All Jobs” to browse current vacancies. You can filter by job type, location, or department.

Step 4: Create a candidate profile with your email address. You can also join the talent community to receive alerts for future vacancies.

Step 5: Select the role you want and read every line of the job description carefully. Check all mandatory documents listed before starting your application.

Step 6: Complete the online application form. Upload your CV, certificates, transcript, STEP test score, and any other required documents. Missing documents result in automatic elimination.

Step 7: Wait for a response. If shortlisted, you will be contacted by the Saudia recruitment team for an assessment or interview. The hiring process involves online application, assessments, interviews, and medical screening before starting cabin crew training.

Step 8: Medical clearance and background check are conducted after a successful interview. These can take several weeks.

Step 9: Receive your offer letter and begin training or onboarding depending on your role.

Saudi Airlines: One Brand, Many Companies

Most people know Saudia as the airline with the green tail and the gold sword. What most job seekers do not realise is that Saudia is a group, not a single company. Each subsidiary hires independently and offers different career paths.

Understanding which company within the group matches your background before you apply will save time and significantly increase your shortlisting chances.

Why Saudia Is a Smart Career Choice in 2026

The numbers from 2025 are from official Saudia operational reports and are not found on any other job site.

In 2025, Saudia transported around 37 million passengers, a 6% growth compared to 2024. The airline operated more than 203,900 scheduled and additional flights, an increase of 4.7% year on year, logging approximately 597,000 total flight hours.

Saudia Group plans to more than double its fleet from 168 aircraft currently. In 2026 and 2027 alone, the group will receive over 100 new aircraft effectively a new plane every single week. Every new aircraft requires trained crew, engineers, dispatchers, ground handlers, and support staff. This is why hiring across all departments is sustained and not just seasonal.

Saudia’s network is planned to expand from around 100 destinations today to over 145 destinations by 2030, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 tourism and connectivity goals.

The airline is also building the largest MRO facility in the Middle East and North Africa a one million square metre facility in Jeddah and completing a full cabin retrofit of its existing Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s by 2027, including new business-class suites and high-speed Wi-Fi.

Saudia added new destinations including Moscow and increased frequency across its international network throughout 2025, as part of broader efforts to improve connectivity for Saudi travelers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can non-Saudi nationals apply to Saudia? Yes for most technical, engineering, pilot, and specialist roles. For cabin crew positions, the current hiring focus is primarily on Saudi nationals as part of Vision 2030 Saudization targets. International candidates should check each specific vacancy for nationality requirements.

Does Saudia hire fresh graduates? Yes, through the Cadet Pilot Program for Saudi nationals, and through entry-level cabin crew, ground staff, and administration roles for both nationals and certain international candidates.

Is Arabic required? Arabic is strongly preferred and often mandatory for customer-facing roles. English is required for technical, engineering, and pilot roles. Bilingual candidates have a significant advantage across almost all departments.

How long does the hiring process take? Typically 4 to 8 weeks from application to offer for cabin crew and ground roles. Pilot and engineering processes including security clearances can take 3 to 6 months.

What is the difference between Saudia and flyadeal? Saudia is the full-service flag carrier operating wide-body jets on international routes. flyadeal is the group’s low-cost carrier operating Airbus A320s on domestic and short-haul regional routes. Both hire separately through the same group careers portal.

Scam Warning

Saudia is one of the most impersonated brands in Gulf job scams, particularly targeting job seekers from South Asia and Africa. Protect yourself from these red flags: anyone asking for payment to process your application or visa, WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers claiming to be Saudia HR, emails not ending in @saudia.com, job offers that arrive without any formal application or interview process, and requests for bank details before receiving an offer letter.

The only legitimate application route is careers.saudia.com. Report scams to the Saudi Cybercrime Authority at cert.gov.sa or contact HRSD (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development) at 19911.

About the Author: This article was written by the UAE Live Jobs editorial team. All passenger and flight data is sourced from official Saudia operational performance reports. Salary figures are referenced from Aviation A2Z verified industry benchmarks, cabincrew24.com, and official Saudia careers portal job descriptions. This article contains no paid placement or sponsored content.