Saudi Universities Expand Sports Medicine Programs

Oct 27, 2026•2 min read

Saudi universities are moving to strengthen sports medicine and athlete-health education, with new partnerships and specialized programs aimed at building local expertise in rehabilitation, injury prevention and clinical care for athletes.

King Abdulaziz University and Al-Ittihad FC have agreed to cooperate across physical therapy, sports rehabilitation, clinical sports nutrition, radiological sciences, athlete performance, internships, research, lectures and injury-prevention awareness. The partnership aims to train at least 30 male and female students each year, giving them hands-on experience in a professional sporting environment.

Specialized tracks on offer

King Saud University offers a two-year sports-medicine fellowship in arthroscopy and orthopedic sports injuries at King Khalid University Hospital. The fellowship accepts roughly two to three fellows and requires completion of an accredited orthopedic residency. The university also offers a Higher Diploma in Athletic Physical Rehabilitation that includes a dedicated sports-medicine course.

In the western region, the University of Jeddah provides bachelor's programs in Movement Sciences and Health, and in Sports Training, along with postgraduate programs in physical fitness and sports management.

For the community, the expansion matters because it builds a pipeline of Saudi-trained specialists who can support both professional athletes and everyday residents who play sports. It also opens study and career paths for young men and women interested in health and performance fields.

Exact tuition and admission requirements vary by university and program, and no single nationwide 2026 fee structure or application procedure applies to sports-medicine or athlete-health programs. Students are advised to check requirements directly with each university.

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