Saudi Arabia is a country with a developed economy that is one of the popular tourist destinations. In recent years, the state has been developing as a center for medical tourism. Find out how the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia works, which destinations are popular for treatment, and whether the state plans to become a center for medical tourism.

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The healthcare system in Saudi Arabia is based on the Western model and uses the most modern developments for diagnosing and treating diseases. The Kingdom is home to the largest medical center in the Middle East, King Fahd Hospital. Patients from different countries, including citizens of Moldova, Ethiopia, Nepal and Uzbekistan, seek to get to local specialists. So what makes the medical sector in the country so unique? We tell you how and who is treated in Saudi Arabia.

Book a consultation with a migration lawyer to learn about the package of documents required for a trip to Saudi Arabia for treatment.

Healthcare system in Saudi Arabia

Both public and private medical institutions operate in Saudi Arabia. The level of service in them is practically the same.

- Public hospitals provide services and most medications to Saudi citizens absolutely free of charge. For an initial consultation, you need to contact a family doctor.

- Private clinics offer a wider range of treatment, but at a higher price.

The government allocates almost a tenth of the budget for healthcare, which contributes to the high level of development of the medical sector. Polyclinics with modern medical equipment are present in every administrative district, even in the most remote areas. The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia is responsible for providing medical and preventive services to the population.

There is a national immunization program for children in the country. In particular, it provides vaccinations against certain diseases: whooping cough, tuberculosis, chickenpox, hepatitis A and B, measles, polio, rubella;, mumps.

Many medications in Saudi pharmacies are available without prescriptions. But some drugs are banned or under strict control here. For example, antidepressants or sleeping pills cannot be sold in the Kingdom.

Categories of medical professionals in Saudi Arabia

There are three categories of medical professionals in the country:

- General Practitioner/General Dentist (general practitioner/dentist) – a doctor with a higher medical education, completed internship and work experience in the specialty of at least 2 years.

- Specialist (specialist) – a doctor with a higher medical education, completed internship or master's degree (or with the title of Candidate of Medical Sciences) and work experience in the specialty of at least 3 years.

- Consultant (consultant) – a doctor of the highest category.

Medical care for foreigners in Saudi Arabia

Citizens of other countries residing in Saudi Arabia have the right to use only private medical services. Also, foreigners are required to have health insurance provided by the employer. Typically, insurance policies cover the cost of basic medical services. For example, dental care may not be available. Therefore, some foreign workers additionally take out private medical insurance.

Types of medical tourism in Saudi Arabia

Medical tourism in Saudi Arabia can be divided into two categories: medical tourism and wellness tourism:

- Medical tourism involves traveling to the Kingdom to receive medical care in specialized institutions, accompanied by tourist programs in one of the cities of Saudi Arabia.

- Wellness tourism is a trip by healthy people to one of the cities of Saudi Arabia to maintain their physical and mental well-being with the help of services provided by specialized institutions.

Popular destinations for medical tourism in Saudi Arabia

Most often in the country they turn to:

- cardiologists;

- orthopedists;

- urologists;

- ophthalmologists.

Saudi Arabia also has a very developed cosmetology industry, as it is the most popular medical specialty among women. Gynecologists are in high demand in the Kingdom, as Saudi women usually give birth to many children. Therefore, obstetric departments are present in most local hospitals.

Why is it important for Saudi Arabia to develop medical tourism?

Medical and health tourism is of economic importance to the Kingdom due to the high costs of tourists during trips and the longer duration of these trips compared to other forms of tourism.

It often involves accompanying individuals on a traveler's trip and is often associated with several subsequent trips.

Is Saudi Arabia poised to become a medical tourism hub?

Historically, Saudi Arabia has been an exporter of medical tourists, with many Saudi citizens seeking advanced medical care in Western Europe, the US and the UK.

At the same time, the Kingdom’s enabling environment for health tourism is a unique qualitative advantage. Given its capabilities and the significant events it will host in the coming years, Saudi Arabia is poised to become a leading health tourism destination.

Saudi Arabia needs to create incentives for healthcare providers that encourage providers to treat local patients and international medical tourists who demand higher quality services at a relatively lower and competitive price. Legislative measures can support this ambition by establishing clear incentives for hospitals to participate in this transformational journey.

Advantages of Saudi Arabia as a medical tourism hub

Saudi Arabia’s strategy will not only be to compete on price, but also on quality of service and innovation. The main focus will be on providing the highest quality medical services, complemented by comfort and excellence in support services. This particular approach is suitable for attracting wealthy tourists looking for the best care.

Saudi Arabia’s geographical location offers significant advantages for health tourism, making it easily accessible from Europe, Africa and parts of Asia in a six to eight hour flight.

Saudi Arabia’s investments in healthcare and tourism, combined with a unique combination of medical and cultural attractions, position it as a world leader in this thriving medical tourism market.

As a reminder! Iqama is a document that allows a foreigner to live and work in Saudi Arabia. We have already told you what this permit is, what are the conditions for obtaining it, and what updates to the procedure for obtaining the document an expat needs to know about in 2025.

Photo – news.alfaisal.edu

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