His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Salman, Chairman of the Saudi Space Commission and Chairman of the Saudi Aviation Club, has announced today that the second edition of the successful Saudi International Airshow will be held in Riyadh in February 2021.
The second show is expected to be double the size of the first and will add three dedicated feature areas: Space / Satellite, UAV/ Robotics and Aviation Training. The event will be held under the patronage of HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman who was the first member of a royal family to become an astronaut, and the first Arab to fly in space.
The Space sector at Saudi International Airshow will provide the perfect opportunity for the international space community to meet. Saudi Space Agency has already signed major partnerships including a joint statement between Saudi and Russian State Space Corporation in the fields of manned space flight and global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) as announced during the visit of the President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation in October 2019.
Saudi Arabia has a long history in space and satellite activity, with much of this activity emanating from the King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology (KACST). The newly created Saudi Space Agency will likely coordinate and produce Saudi Space policy and strategy across the civil, commercial, and military sectors in cooperation with other Saudi government ministries and agencies. The Space Agency will likely also be the focal point for all Saudi international space cooperation.
The drone sector continues to be a key growth factor in creating next generation technology and the Saudi International Airshow will provide the opportunity to network with the global UAV community and learn about related technology solutions.
Saudi International Airshow will also promote aviation to future generations and focus on the latest trends, training and recruitment within the aviation industry. Empowering the youth by providing the environment and opportunities for them to flourish in the Kingdom is key to achieving Vision 2030.
Saudi International Airshow is part of the Vision 2030 program and the aviation sector will play an essential role in the diversification and expansion of the Saudi economy.
Saudi International Airshow, to be held from 16 to 18 February 2021 at Thumamah Airport, Riyadh, is the only aviation and aerospace exhibition of its kind in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will welcome exhibitors and delegates from across the world. Thumamah Airport is located 35 minutes from King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and is dedicated solely to the exhibition.
Saudi Airshow hosts a mix of business, general, commercial aviation and aerospace exhibitors on a 100,000 sqm static area which accommodates more than 80 aircraft ranging in size from single-engine and executive jets to commercial wide-body aircraft. The show offers chalets located next to the runway to enable manufacturers to present their entire range of aircraft and to facilitate demonstration flights. In addition, two exhibition halls host more than 450 booths and international pavilions where exhibitors will showcase a full range of aviation and aerospace services and products.