The accolade celebrates the company’s advanced project management practices and its growing global leadership in operational excellence.

The award was presented during the Project Management Offices Summit 2025 held at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Riyadh. This global event brought together industry leaders, experts, and innovators to honor organizations that have achieved exceptional success in strategic project management.

Emad Al-Ghamdi, General Manager of Transformation and PMO at Saudia Holding, expressed pride in the recognition, emphasizing that the win reflects years of dedicated effort and collaboration.

He highlighted the strong support received from the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and the group’s Director General, which has played a crucial role in Saudia’s ongoing transformation.

Al-Ghamdi described the award as a reflection of Saudia’s commitment to advancing its strategic Transformation Program. He noted that the company has achieved new levels of maturity, capability, and excellence in portfolio and program management.

He added that Saudia Group has implemented advanced portfolio management tools, predictive analytics, and is preparing for AI-driven dashboards to enhance visibility, decision-making, and proactive governance. These tools ensure that every project contributes directly to the group’s long-term goals of sustainability, efficiency, and innovation.

Al-Ghamdi emphasized that the Project Management Office (PMO) plays a central role as an enabler of strategy across the organization.
The PMO ensures that each initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and national development objectives.

According to Al-Ghamdi, Saudia’s future PMO strategy revolves around three key pillars — sustainability, intelligence, and impact.
These guiding principles aim to transform the PMO into a dynamic and strategic engine that drives innovation and creates measurable value.

He further explained that the group plans to deepen its digital intelligence, expand local content, and enhance performance through technology-driven processes. This includes the adoption of data-based insights, AI technologies, and advanced governance systems to set new standards for regional PMO performance.

Looking ahead, Al-Ghamdi shared a clear vision for Saudia’s next phase of growth. “Our vision is to reach new heights and farther destinations,” he said, “making the PMO a strategic engine that accelerates transformation, empowers teams, and sets benchmarks for excellence across the region.”

He also offered guidance for emerging PMO leaders, encouraging them to lead with purpose and adaptability. He stressed that success in modern project management is no longer about control, but about collaboration, innovation, and maintaining a strong focus on organizational value.

The Global Project Excellence Awards, now in their fifth cycle, recognize both local and international organizations that demonstrate exceptional skill in project and portfolio management. The event celebrates innovation and leadership while promoting global standards in governance, accountability, and performance excellence.

Under the patronage of Badr Al-Dulami, Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Services for Roads Affairs, the summit honored 24 organizations and 15 individuals for their outstanding contributions. The event coincided with International Project Management Day, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a hub for innovation and leadership in the global project management community.

The recognition of Saudia Group underscores the Kingdom’s broader commitment to advancing national industries through innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability.

It also reaffirms Saudia’s reputation as a leader in implementing modern management practices that drive long-term success and contribute to the nation’s economic vision.

As Saudia continues its journey toward greater innovation and global competitiveness, the Strategy Excellence Award stands as a testament to its dedication to quality, transformation, and purpose-driven leadership.

With its focus on sustainability and intelligence, the group is well positioned to continue setting new benchmarks in project management excellence across the aviation industry and beyond.

The move builds on last year’s record-breaking agreement, marking another proud milestone for Saudi Arabia’s growing aviation industry.

The new aircraft will play a crucial role in enhancing global connectivity, promoting tourism, and contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.

In May, Saudia Group made history by signing the largest aircraft deal in the Kingdom’s aviation sector — a landmark purchase of 105 A320neo and A321neo aircraft.

Now, with this expansion, the group is adding 20 A330neo aircraft, further strengthening its long-term strategic collaboration with Airbus.

The signing ceremony was held at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, bringing together senior officials, diplomats, and aviation leaders.

Khaled Tash, Chief Marketing Officer of Saudia Group, said the expanded agreement reflects the airline’s commitment to connecting the world to Saudi Arabia.

He said: “Our mission has evolved beyond connecting Saudi Arabia to the world — we now aim to bring the world to Saudi Arabia.”

Tash added that the additional aircraft will enhance Saudia’s capacity to meet growing travel demand while supporting tourism, sports, culture, and business development.

The expansion also supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of transporting 330 million passengers and serving 30 million pilgrims annually.

Saudia’s strengthened fleet will help achieve these targets by enabling more routes, better passenger experiences, and improved operational efficiency.

The new aircraft will also enhance services for annual Hajj and year-round Umrah operations, extending reach into Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Flyadeal, Saudia’s low-cost subsidiary, will acquire 10 of the new A330-900neo aircraft as part of the expanded deal.

Steven Greenway, CEO of Flyadeal, said the new aircraft would allow the airline to expand globally and increase accessibility to the Kingdom for international travelers.

“These wide-body aircraft allow Flyadeal to fly longer distances — up to 12 hours — giving us access to destinations such as Manila and Indonesia,” Greenway explained.

He added that the expansion provides “flexibility, growth, and more opportunities to boost tourism and hospitality in Saudi Arabia.”

The agreement was formalized with a memorandum of understanding signed between Saudia Group and Airbus at the Toulouse factory.

The MoU was signed by Saleh Eid, Vice President of Fleet Management at Saudia Group, and Benoit de Saint-Exupery, Executive Vice President of Sales for Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

The signing represents not only a business deal but also a shared vision of growth, innovation, and long-term collaboration.

Director General of Saudia Group, Ibrahim Al-Omar, described the expansion as “a pivotal milestone” in the Group’s transformation strategy.

He said, “Today’s deal builds upon last year’s success and reflects our ongoing ambition to modernize our fleet and drive national development.”

Al-Omar emphasized that the expanded deal will create jobs, stimulate tourism, and elevate Saudi Arabia’s position as a global aviation hub.

Benoit de Saint-Exupery of Airbus praised Saudia Group’s leadership in advancing the Kingdom’s aviation goals.

“Saudia Group’s A330neo order for Flyadeal marks a key step in unlocking long-haul markets and attracting new customers,” he said.

He highlighted that the A330neo’s efficiency and comfort make it ideal for Saudia’s expanding international operations.

Deliveries of the A330neo aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2027, with all 20 new planes set to join the fleet by 2029.

The expansion aligns with the Kingdom’s vision to become a leading aviation hub, connecting more than 250 global destinations by the end of the decade.

This major development signals a promising future for Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry — one that reflects ambition, innovation, and progress.