Young Saudi cadres ... complete the new Founder's airport

November 13, 2019

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen on the development of man and its surroundings.  The idea is to build the Kingdom’s citizens and develop their capabilities. This is an extension of an ambitious development plans initiated by the Kingdom, since its inception by the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud (may God rest his soul). The prosperous era continued under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz  (may God protect them both).

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) believe in the importance of the harmony between the people development and space in which they reside in.  So when establishing the new King Abdulaziz International Airport project in Jeddah Governorate, made sure to rely on Saudi competencies and qualify national cadres with the best available methods and standards.

A number of Saudi male and female engineers working on the new King Abdulaziz International Airport project spoke about the work they have done in this mega project. This project recount the numerous success stories of the male and female engineers who worked in one of the largest airport construction project in the region. GACA has been able, since the start of the project to train those engineers extensively in order to build distinguished Saudi engineering competencies that will contribute effectively to the service and development of GACA projects that reflect positively on the Kingdom’s national economy.

At the outset, Eng. Rabie Asali spoke of his thanks and appreciation to GACA, which gave him the opportunity to work in this mega project, which is considered one of the largest engineering projects in the Middle East.  Asali went on to say, “Thanks to Allah, I was one of the first young Saudi engineers who joined the airport project since the beginning. There was a training program that included (50) Saudi engineers who were readied and qualified at the new King Abdulaziz International Airport project. I feel a lot of pride in my work in a project that bears the name of the country’s Founder, King Abdul Aziz, (may God bless his soul). This project is considered the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques and a pivotal airport connecting East and West.  Within its boundaries, lays a huge terminal covering an estimated area of (810) thousand square meters. The airport will serve (30) million passengers annually. We are talking about large numbers, which will be written in the history books of mega Saudi projects”.

Asali went on to say, “when talking about the new King Abdulaziz International Airport project from the technical point of view, this project served as a university that equips every engineer to work in any projects that serves Saudi Arabia in the future. We as young Saudi engineers put all our energy and our concern for the success of this project in coordination with all parties that served and assisted in this project and worked together as a team”.

Asali pointed out to the great experiences that the Saudi engineers gained in this project and said, "Today we gained an administrative and supervisory experience on engineering projects. This in addition to the experience of dealing and coordinating with several entities. Not all these elements are found in many projects. The new King Abdulaziz International Airport project provided me with the practical experience, which will always be a medal of honor placed on our curriculum vitae for those who participated in the project.  Furthermore, the greatest honor was to meet the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud  (may Allah protect him) and document this moment in a group photo with him, which was taken on the day of the inauguration Terminal (1) at the new King Abdulaziz International Airport.

For her part, the first female architect to participate in the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport project, Eng. Ghaida Al Shehri, expressed her pride and happiness for working in this mega national project.  She talked about the first to participate in the implementation of this great national edifice. She went on to say, "I joined GACA within a project management team at the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport Development Project. One of my tasks at the project was to supervise the work of the implementation of Terminal (1), as well as to supervise the implementation of commercial retail area that covers an area of 28 thousand square meters, in addition to supervising the implementation of the Executive Office in Terminal (1), which covers an area of (3400) square meters.

Al Shehri added, “My job as an engineer was to supervise the implementation of the 120 rooms’ airport hotel, and lounges for airliners. During my work, I have gained many skills in project management and teamwork to find technical solutions and accomplish the work as required in timely manner. Our ultimate goal is to upgrade all the airports of Saudi Arabia to the best and highest international standards. Al Shehri wanted to send a message to the Saudi female engineers, "the future is bright and success is in our hands as active members of society and involved in achieving the vision of our beloved homeland".

For his part, Eng. Abdulrahman Al Wafi, an electronics engineer, in the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport Terminal 1, said that they have received the support and attention of all officials at GACA.  Those officials responsible for the project gave us as Saudi youth full confidence and trust to get the job done.  Al Wafi went on to say, “the size of the airport makes anyone with an engineering degree dream of working at the new King Abdulaziz International Airport project.  One of our job objectives at the airport is to supervise and follow up on the existing works in the project and to coordinate the work with all the operating entities”.

Al-Wafi pointed out that they have received intensive rounds of training seminars during which they were trained to supervise the work of airports and the operation and project management. This reflected on their abilities and efficiency to manage any future project in addition to their vast experience in the field of electronic airport systems. This experience an engineer can only find them in certain projects such as airport projects.

Eng. Hassan Ghawati, a civil engineer who worked on the new King Abdulaziz International Airport project since 2013, and was among the Saudi engineers that GACA had readied them in the airport project as part of a program to train young Saudi engineering cadres. Al Ghawati went on to say, "I thank God, and I am honored to participate in writing a new achievement for Saudi Arabia (the new King Abdulaziz International Airport). This great edifice is an outstanding architectural masterpiece and the Kingdom's gateway to the world. I think we are fortunate to join and work on this mega project".

Al Ghawati pointed out that they have received a distinguished qualification within an integrated engineering program and intensive field training courses for Saudi engineers. He praised the role of the GACA in supporting and attracting young engineering cadres to work in this giant project.

He added, “The new King Abdulaziz International Airport project is not only a passenger terminal project, but a multi-utility project that includes power stations, aircraft fuel depo and information technology center. There are several modes of transportation such as, trains, buses and cars.  Aircraft parking area, air traffic control tower and modern systems used in the project.  This in addition to Terminal 1, which is regarded as a giant multi-story travel Terminal”.