- The program cultivates aerospace career awareness, hands-on skills and industry connections
AMMAN, Jordan, Oct. 13, 2026 — Amideast and Boeing [NYSE: BA] marked the successful completion of the inaugural AeroSTAR program, which introduced 216 high school students from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates to a broad range of career pathways in aviation and space.
The AeroSTAR program helps students aged 15 to 18 make informed choices about post-secondary education and careers and connects them with mentors and employers in the aerospace industry.
“AeroSTAR is our proactive investment in building a robust local talent pipeline, sparking an early interest in aviation careers and equipping the next generation with the skills to lead our industry forward,” said Wael Zaoud, Boeing managing director for the Middle East and North Africa. “As the regional fleet is expected to double over the next two decades, Boeing anticipates a need for 236,000 new aviation professionals in the Middle East and 75,000 in Africa during that period”.
Following a rigorous curriculum that included a 60-hour learning experience blending industry-specific knowledge with soft skills and mentorship, a national pitch competition and a regional capstone camp, students demonstrated measurable growth in professional confidence. More than 90% of participants reported a stronger interest in aviation and space careers as a result of the program.
“AeroSTAR demonstrates how powerful it is for young people to connect directly with industry professionals and experience the world of aviation and space firsthand”, said Ambassador (ret) Greta C. Holtz, president and chief executive officer of Amideast. “Meeting people doing these jobs, visiting workplaces and seeing the range of careers available helped participants imagine possibilities they may not have considered before. Together, Amideast and Boeing are committed to giving more young people the exposure, connections and real-world experiences that can help them see and pursue new options for their futures.”
AeroSTAR culminates in Jordan
The program ended with an AeroSTAR Camp in Amman on October 9–12, where winning teams from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and the UAE gathered for project presentations, career orientation workshops and site visits. These included a visit to Queen Alia International Airport, hosted by Airport International Group (AIG) under the partnership agreement between AIG and Amideast, and a visit to Joramco, the Amman-based aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility and engineering arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE). Students gained a rare behind-the-scenes look at airport operations and explored world-class aircraft maintenance facilities.
What’s next
Recruitment for the next cohort of AeroSTAR begins in October 2026. Students in participating countries will be able to apply via their local Amideast website.
In its second year, the program will expand to engage more young people, providing exposure to aerospace careers and the practical skills to embark on this journey.
