Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 22, 2025

First Saudi women to train as air traffic controllers in a foreign country graduate from Massey University

First Saudi women to train as air traffic controllers in a foreign country graduate from Massey University

They are the first to women to take part in a partnership between Saudi Arabia and Kiwi company Airways International to train air traffic controllers.

The first Saudi Arabian women to train as air traffic controllers outside the Muslim kingdom have graduated in New Zealand.

They and 30 of their countrymen celebrated the completion of their studies at Massey University in Palmerston North on Thursday.

They are the eighth class the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has sent to New Zealand for air traffic control training as part of an 11-year partnership with Kiwi company, Airways International.

When Deema Seddiq, 20, told her mother four years ago she wanted to be an air traffic controller, her response was it would be impossible.

Seddiq wouldn’t accept that, and what her mother didn’t know then was the GACA would go on to hire its first women air traffic controllers in 2019 as part of their government’s reforms to expand women’s freedoms and participation in the workforce.

Tradionally, it has been rare for Saudi women to work outside the home, and they were only granted the right to drive cars three years ago.

Seddiq said that conversation with her mother came after she watched the 2017 science-fiction thriller 2:22.

The main character was an air traffic controller, who narrowly saved two planes from crashing at the start of the movie. Seddiq was fascinated by it and decided she wanted to do the same job.

Despite her mother’s doubts, she kept researching the vocation and found a scholarship to train in New Zealand. It comprised a year studying English followed by a gruelling 12-month air traffic control course.

“It feels nice [to live my dream], it wasn’t an easy thing and to be one of the first women to do this feels really great.”

Seddiq said as much as she has enjoyed New Zealand, she couldn’t wait to see her proud family in person.

The hardest part of the last two years had been living away from them, and learning to live independently for the first time in her life.

Seddiq said her class became like a family, but it wasn’t quite the same.

“My religion means I can’t touch boys, and sometimes I just needed a hug. That’s when the other girls and my homestay family were a big help.”

Saudi Arabia is an ultraconservative Muslim kingdom and heavily restricts what women are allowed to do, although there have been several reforms granting more freedoms in recent years.

In 2019 the government ended an internationally criticised guardianship policy that treated women as the legal equivalent of children – such as requiring women to have a male relative consent to get a passport.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation has trained and employed women as air traffic controllers since 2019, but until now they’ve only been allowed to train within their own country.


The Saudi royal ambassador to New Zealand, Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, was at the graduation. He said the four young women’s achievements were an important milestone amid ongoing reforms.

Hopefully they would be an inspiration for other women and young people to participate in similar programmes in the future, he said.

Alsuhaibani said in the past, Saudi Arabia believed its women had to be sheltered from the outside world, but those attitudes were changing.

The kingdom was opening up, including allowing tourists into the country. More women were working in government roles, and 20 per cent of the Shura Council, the King’s formal advisors, were now women.

“And now we have this vision for 2030, to empower our young women to participate more in Saudi society.”

The Saudi government has set a goal to increase the number of working women from 22 per cent of the workforce to 33 per cent over the next decade.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
×