Leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus has announced the appointment of Eid Al Qahtani as President of its new Regional Headquarters in Riyadh, effective immediately.  

In his new role, Al Qahtani brings over two decades of leadership experience. He joined Airbus as Head of Operations for Helicopters in 2022, and was named Chief Representative for Saudi Arabia in June 2024. Based in Riyadh, where Airbus has established its new headquarters to drive the growth and expansion of its commercial, defense, space, and helicopter businesses in the KSA and beyond, he will oversee Airbus KSA’s team of over 350 employees. Notably, 30 percent of the workforce comprises Saudi nationals, with the remainder representing over 30 nationalities. Al Qahtani will focus on fostering and strengthening strategic partnerships with government and market stakeholders.

Prior to joining Airbus, Al Qahtani worked with ODAS as Program Director for over four years and spent a significant part of his career at the Ministry of Defense, where he served as an engineer in the public sector.  

Al Qahtani’s academic credentials include an MBA in Information Technology and Management from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from École Polytechnique. He also holds a PMP certification from the Project Management Institute.  

Welcoming Al Qahtani to KSA’s leadership team, Wouter Van Wersch, President of Airbus International, said: “We are privileged to have Eid Al Qahtani leading our operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as President of Airbus from our new Regional Headquarters in Riyadh. Al Qahtani brings valuable insights into the country’s ambitious goals and understands the importance of developing local talent. His proven track record in successfully leading projects in the region makes him a perfect fit for this role.”  

Al Qahtani added: “I am honoured to lead Airbus from our new Riyadh Headquarters and look forward to further consolidating Airbus’ presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is one of our most strategic markets. Our aim is to continue supporting Saudi Arabia’s long-term goals while inspiring the next generation of Saudi leaders in the aerospace sector.”  

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In September this year, Airbus named Gabriel Semelas as President for the Middle East and Africa, succeeding Mikail Houari, who stepped down from the role after eight years of service.