Skydiving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the recreational activities organized by the Saudi Aviation Club (SAC) and the Saudi Arabian Extreme Sports Federation (SAESF). It involves freefalling from planes, helicopters, or hot air balloons, paragliding, and leveraging the force of gravity.
Requirements and types of skydiving
Skydiving events in the Kingdom are held in camps, shows, and competitions, requiring safety equipment and obtaining a license before participating. The types of skydiving include tandem jumps, formation skydiving, wingsuit flying, canopy formation, and flag and smoke bomb shows.
Skydiving at SAC
Skydiving is one of SAC activities. SAC established a committee to ensure safety protocols for skydivers, regulate licensing, and form partnerships with training organizations and thinktanks to offer theoretical and practical training. SAC aims to develop skydiving practices, enhance communication between professionals and enthusiasts, support aerial sports, and participate in local, regional, and international events and competitions.
Skydiving at SAESF
SAESF launched its skydiving activities with its first camp in Dirab, Riyadh, from October 20-25, 2020, over five days with twenty-six skydivers, and was supported by the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) aviation. This was the first Saudi civilian skydiving camp and the nearest to the capital, where skydivers could see Riyadh City's landmarks while ascending in the plane and jumping from it.
The second camp for professional skydivers was held in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah at al-Mendasa Airport from March 23-28, 2021, in collaboration with the Emirate of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, SANG, and SAC, with thirty-eight skydivers participating over five days.
The third SAESF camp took place on the Red Sea coast at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) from September 15-25, 2021, with fifty-one skydivers performing 432 jumps. SAESF issued eighteen skydiving licenses and announced the graduation of the first Saudi skydiving team.
The first Saudi woman to receive a skydiving license
Razan al-Ajmi is the first Saudi woman to receive a skydiving license from the United States Parachute Association (USPA). She achieved approximately five hundred jumps within two years across the Gulf countries, Spain, France, and Russia. She is a certified skydiving instructor in the Kingdom. She conducted skydiving training (skydiving simulation) at Riyadh Season - Boulevard World 2023. She participates in training camps and skydiving competitions, representing the Kingdom globally.
Presence of skydiving at local festivals
Skydiving has a notable presence at festivals held in various provinces of the Kingdom. The Jeddah City Corniche hosted the Jeddah International Championship for Skydiving 2008, organized by SAC and Renad Arabia Group, under the supervision of the Asiania Parachute Federation and the World Air Sports Federation, with over ninety participants from nine countries: Australia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Malaysia, Jordan, Qatar, and Indonesia.
The conclusion of the ‘Red Wave-2’ mixed naval exercise in 2019, which involved naval forces from Red Sea countries in Jeddah City, featured free skydiving displays using a Super Puma aircraft.
In the same year, the General Sports Authority (now the Ministry of Sport) included skydiving competitions in Jeddah Season, held in the Obhur area, with the participation of international skydivers.
SAC skydiving team participated in the 2020 General Aviation Forum at al-Thumamah Airport in Riyadh, presenting skydiving displays.
Presence is not limited to local events; in 2017, the Special Forces skydiving team participated in celebrating the forty-sixth National Day of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Benban Airport, north of Riyadh City. As they jumped, the team raised the flags of the Kingdom and the UAE.
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