Saudi Health System Wins 27 Global Awards in 2026

Saudi Arabia's health sector has recorded a strong run of international recognition in 2026, earning four international accreditations, 27 global awards, and more than 17 international certificates since the start of the year. These achievements are sector-level milestones and involve no fees, applications, or steps for members of the public.

Among the year's main accreditations, the National Health Command and Control Center at the Ministry of Health and the Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) were each designated as World Health Organization collaborating centers. The Council of Health Insurance "Dhaman", through its innovation lab "Ibsar", was accredited by the Global Innovation Institute as a certified innovation lab, while the Dammam reference laboratory at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority received international quality accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025.

Awards and certifications

The 27 global awards went to health-sector entities across digital health, innovation, quality, and institutional performance. More than 17 international certificates were issued to the Ministry of Health, the Council of Health Insurance, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, NUPCO, and the Health Holding Company, mainly under ISO standards covering IT service management, business continuity, information security, and quality management. NUPCO and the Council of Health Insurance together received 13 ISO certificates across several management and IT domains.

These recognitions reflect standards applied at institutional level, such as ISO 9001, ISO 15189, and JCI, implemented through internal projects and external audits. Locally, several major hospitals hold CBAHI accreditation valid through 2026, including King Saud Medical City in Riyadh (valid to 21 August 2026) and King Salman Hospital in Riyadh (valid to 4 December 2026).

For residents and expats, the takeaway is practical: the improvements signal continued investment in the quality, safety, and digital readiness of hospitals and health services across the Kingdom.

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