The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continued to strengthen its leading position in the regional and international medical landscape, with 2025 witnessing a new accolade for national talent. The Council of Arab Health Ministers announced that Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Bahammam, Professor and Consultant of Chest Diseases and Sleep Medicine at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, won the "Arab Physician" award for 2025 in the category of "Scientific Research and Innovation.".
Details of the coronation and achievement
This announcement was made during the 63rd regular session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States, where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially recognized as the winner in both the first and second categories of the award. Dr. Bahammam was selected based on the recommendation of the Technical Advisory Committee, in recognition of his distinguished career, which has contributed significantly to the establishment and development of the field of sleep medicine in the Arab region, and his innovative research programs that have enriched the global medical literature.
Global scientific career
This recognition is not a coincidence, but rather the culmination of decades of dedicated work. Dr. Bahammam founded the first academic research center for sleep medicine in the Kingdom in 2002 and currently serves as the director of the University Center for Sleep Medicine and Research. Earlier this year, he achieved a global milestone by ranking sixth worldwide among leading scientists in the field of sleep medicine, according to the ScholarGPS platform, thanks to his publication of over 400 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and his authorship of approximately 10 reference books.
Reflecting the Kingdom's Vision 2030
This victory directly reflects the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Program, which focuses on investing in human capital and supporting the research and innovation ecosystem. This support has manifested in the significant strides made by Saudi universities and research centers, positioning the Kingdom as a leading research destination in the Middle East. This achievement coincides with other successes, including the Saudi healthcare system winning 19 medals at the 2025 Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, and healthcare facilities winning 9 international awards for customer experience.
Regional importance of sleep medicine
Dr. Bahammam's research is of strategic importance to public health in the Arab world, as sleep medicine is closely linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity—health challenges facing most Arab countries. The treatment and research protocols developed by Dr. Bahammam contribute to improving quality of life and reducing the economic burden of these diseases, making his experience a model for developing Arab health policies.
It is worth noting that the Kingdom plays a pivotal role in the Council of Arab Health Ministers, not only through winning awards, but also through leading health security and epidemic control initiatives, and transferring its expertise in digital health transformation and governance to sister countries, which strengthens the system of joint Arab action.
