Amman, Oct. 7 (Petra) – Deputizing for HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), Royal Jordanian Vice Chairman and CEO Samer Majali on Tuesday sponsored the launch of the sixth edition of the National Aviation Cybersecurity Competition (META CTF), organized by Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) in collaboration with Royal Jordanian and its training arm, the Jordan Airline Training and Simulation (JATS), and supervised by the PSUT Cyber Security Club (CSC). Thirty teams from 13 Jordanian universities took part.
The competition, held at Queen Alia International Airport, featured a series of advanced technical challenges, including network penetration, cryptography, digital forensics, and other specialized cybersecurity topics.
The event was attended by PSUT President Wejdan Abu Elhaija, JATS Chairman Fawzi Al-Mulki, a number of cybersecurity and aviation experts, and a wide audience of university students and their supervisors.
In a speech delivered on her behalf by Nabil Al-Fayoumi, RSS Vice President for Technology, Princess Sumaya said that the partnership between PSUT and Royal Jordanian "embodies the belief that quality education extends beyond classrooms, connecting youth with real-world challenges that build their professional and technical capabilities in today’s rapidly evolving world." She added that for 35 years, PSUT has placed students at the center of the learning process, fostering an environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. "Our students and graduates now lead in technology fields and achieve remarkable results in global competitions such as IEEE, ACM, CPTC, and CTF," she noted.
"This is not merely a university competition," the Princess said, "but a clear national message that Jordan is confidently advancing toward the future through strong partnerships between our national universities and leading institutions foremost among them Royal Jordanian, whose openness to cooperation and capacity building we deeply value. This effort extends beyond cybersecurity to the broader goal of developing aviation systems and strengthening their resilience against threats." She stressed that holding the competition in this strategic facility "Jordan’s gateway to the world" highlights the importance of cybersecurity as a pillar of national and economic security and a guarantee of continuity for vital sectors, especially aviation, a lifeline of global connectivity and economic activity. The Princess emphasized that true achievement lies in fostering a culture of lifelong learning, since "excellence in a rapidly changing age belongs not to those content with yesterday’s knowledge, but to those committed to continuous development and to keeping pace with emerging technologies including artificial intelligence tools and agents." Royal Jordanian CEO Samer Majali highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership with PSUT as part of the airline’s commitment to engage with the academic sector, prepare and integrate youth into the job market, and enhance Jordan’s regional and international standing.
He said holding the competition at JATS the airline’s training and simulation arm reflects Royal Jordanian’s investment in training, research, and integrated technical and cybersecurity systems. "Here, aviation, education, technology, and cybersecurity converge under one roof to transform vision into advanced training programs, practical solutions, and direct impact on operational safety and passenger trust," Majali said.
He added that Royal Jordanian prioritizes IT and cybersecurity, creating a comprehensive and sustainable digital security ecosystem supported by a clear digital transformation strategy to enhance operational efficiency. The company is also executing a fleet modernization plan to reach 41 new aircraft and expand its route network to 60 global destinations.
PSUT Cyber Security Club President Ahmad Obeidat said the club designed the cybersecurity challenges and oversaw the competition’s content, registration, and coordination. PSUT, he noted, had successfully hosted four previous editions of the event.
The joint team from PSUT and Jordan University of Science and Technology won first place. Team members were Mohammad Al-Rifai, Ali Khalil, Ayoub Al-Khasawneh, and Bashar Al-Azza. The PSUT team of Hamza Abdel-Mahdi, Ziad Al-Sharif, Khaled Abu Sair, and Ayham Al-Sarkhi placed second, while the Applied Science Private University team Mohammad Al-Qudah, Ahmad Massad, Ahmad Jarwan, and Hamza Al-Habbabseh came third.
The event also featured two expert panels: one on threat detection and response and another on air traffic control cybersecurity, aimed at raising awareness of the vital role of cybersecurity, information technology, and engineering in driving and safeguarding national development and modernization plans.
At the close of the ceremony, Majali, accompanied by Abu Elhaija, presented awards to the winning teams, commending the efforts of organizers and participants and urging youth to continue striving for excellence and innovation in this vital field.
//Petra// AF
