Saudi Arabia Now Has 21 WHO-Accredited Healthy Cities

Saudi Arabia has reached 21 accredited healthy cities and communities in 2026, a milestone that reflects growing investment in community wellbeing and urban living standards across the Kingdom.

The accredited locations are Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Hail, Tabuk, Madinah, Unaizah, Al-Jumum, Diriyah, Taif, Jalajil, Al-Ghat, Al-Zulfi, Riyadh Al-Khubara, Sharurah, Al-Aridah, Al-Mandaq, Abha, Muhayil Asir and Turaib. The list also includes two university communities: King Khalid University and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.

What accreditation requires

Earning the status is not automatic. Each city or community must meet 80 international standards spread across nine areas. These include community participation, cooperation between different sectors, healthcare services, the urban environment, education, overall quality of life and emergency preparedness.

In practice, that means a healthy city is measured not only by its hospitals and clinics, but by how clean and well-planned its neighbourhoods are, how residents take part in local decisions, and how prepared the city is to respond to emergencies.

For residents and expats alike, the accreditation is a signal of the day-to-day standards being targeted in these locations, from public spaces and services to safety and healthcare access. The inclusion of two university communities also shows that the model is being applied beyond traditional city boundaries, reaching campuses where large numbers of people live, study and work.

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