Expenditures on healthcare in Saudi Arabia 2011-2027
Healthcare expenditure in Saudi Arabia has been on a steady upward trajectory, with projections indicating continued growth in the coming years. From around 49 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, spending is expected to reach over 77 billion U.S. dollars by 2027.
Hospital infrastructure and waiting times in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has a highly developed healthcare system and is continuously undergoing significant advancement. The Saudi healthcare system comprises a mix of public and private facilities, with the Ministry of Health operating the largest number of health facilities in the country. As of 2023, the Ministry of Health operated 290 hospitals, while other government departments ran 59. Efforts to enhance efficiency are evident in the reduction of surgical operating room waiting times, which decreased to an average of 6.78 days in 2022, less than half the time required in the previous year.
Among private healthcare companies in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group had the largest market capitalization. As part of Vision 2030, there has been a strong push to facilitate the growth of private sector health services in the country.
Digital health market growth in Saudi Arabia
Digitization has become a key priority for Saudi Arabia's health sector, with the number of digital health users projected to grow by around 3.1 million between 2024 and 2029. This growth has been driven by solutions ranging from preventative care enhanced by digital tools to advanced technologies used in surgery. The Ministry of Health’s Sehhaty platform enables residents to access services such as tracking health data, booking appointments, and consulting physicians.
In recent years, Saudis have embraced digital health services, reflecting a growing shift toward technology-driven healthcare solutions. Healthcare professionals have been trained to engage with health-related cases through virtual consultations, diagnosis at health facilities, and even using VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) devices for diagnosis and specialist medical procedures as part of the digital healthcare transformation.
