In a move that reflects the rapid development witnessed by the health sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah Medical City in the Holy Capital recorded a new global achievement added to its impressive record, as it topped the list of Ministry of Health hospitals, achieving first place, and won fourth place at the level of all health sectors in the Kingdom, within the prestigious list of “Best Hospitals in the World for 2026” issued by the international magazine “Newsweek”.
This achievement is a culmination of efforts to improve the quality of life and raise the efficiency of medical services, as the city received an advanced rating of 88.52%, a number that reflects a strict commitment to the highest standards of quality and patient safety, and translates the unlimited support that the wise leadership gives to the health sector within the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Evaluation criteria and global ranking methodology
This ranking was not a coincidence, but rather based on a rigorous and precise scientific methodology adopted by Newsweek in collaboration with the research company Statista. The evaluation was based on several key criteria, most notably a survey of thousands of medical experts, physicians, and hospital administrators worldwide, in addition to an analysis of key clinical performance indicators (KPIs) that measure diagnostic accuracy, surgical efficiency, and infection control.
Perhaps the qualitative shift in this assessment was represented by the great reliance on the results of the (PROMs) questionnaire, which are the results measures that the patient reports himself, which puts the "patient experience" and quality of life after treatment at the heart of the assessment process, in which King Abdullah Medical City excelled, confirming its transformation towards a healthcare model based on value and actual impact.
Strategic importance and unique geographical location
King Abdullah Medical City holds immense strategic importance, transcending its status as a mere medical facility. Located in the holy city of Mecca, it serves as the primary referral hospital for pilgrims and Umrah performers, as well as the local population. The city is a specialized center for quaternary and tertiary care (subspecialties) such as open-heart surgery, oncology, and neurosciences. This designation sends a reassuring message globally about the efficiency of the Saudi healthcare system and its capacity to handle the most complex cases according to international standards.
A proven track record of accreditation and leadership
This achievement is another link in a golden chain of successes. The medical city boasts a distinguished record of accreditations, having previously been ranked among the top 250 hospitals globally in the Brand Finance report and leading medical cities in the Ministry's "Wazen" program. It is also the accredited reference hospital for nuclear and radiological emergency response and the first Saudi research facility to receive HRPP accreditation.
In terms of operational quality, the city achieved the gold level with first-class honors in pharmacy excellence for 2025, ISO 9001 certification, and accreditation of its laboratories from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), in addition to receiving the bronze award for Saudi customer experience, which confirms the integration of its administrative, medical and research system to provide a health model to be emulated regionally and internationally.
