Saudi Arabia is raising its profile on the world health stage, with two of its largest cities, Jeddah and Madinah, becoming the first in the Middle East with populations over two million to earn the World Health Organization’s “Healthy City” accreditation. The milestone is part of the Ministry of Health’s wider “Healthy Cities Program,” which aims to improve quality of life through better services, sustainable development, and community-led initiatives.
The recognition follows the implementation of more than 80 international evaluation criteria across nine key areas, from healthcare access to environmental sustainability. In Madinah, human-centred urban design has improved pedestrian access to the Prophet’s Mosque and enhanced the city’s visual identity, while Jeddah’s efforts have focused on promoting an active lifestyle and expanding public health services.
Madinah was re-accredited as a “healthy city” by the WHO at the beginning of August, reaffirming its place as one of the Middle East’s leading urban centres for health and wellbeing. Scoring 80 points across WHO’s comprehensive evaluation, the city is now recognised as the second-largest “healthy city” in the region, just behind Jeddah.
Saudi healthcare is also making its mark in the research arena. A pioneering study by King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center on robotic liver transplantation was named one of the ten most influential research papers of 2024 by the American Society of Transplantation. Meanwhile, seven Saudi hospitals have been ranked in Brand Finance’s Global Top 250 Hospitals 2025, underscoring the Kingdom’s growing competitiveness in world-class medical care.
These achievements align with Saudi Vision 2030’s “A Vibrant Society” and “A Thriving Economy” goals, which place health innovation and community wellbeing at the heart of national development. Together, they signal the Kingdom’s ambition to improve quality of life for residents, while being both a regional leader and a global destination for advanced, sustainable healthcare.
