Saudi Arabia sees 31% drop in drowning deaths since adopting national prevention policy
Saudi Arabia has reduced drowning fatalities by 31% since 2021, saving SAR 1.33 billion and supporting Vision 2030 health goals.
Key Takeaways
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Integrated national efforts to prevent drowning in Saudi Arabia have led to a 31% reduction in drowning deaths since the adoption of the National Drowning Prevention Policy in 2021 through the end of 2025. These efforts have also helped avoid an estimated economic burden of around 1.33 billion Saudi riyals (SAR), supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to improve life expectancy at birth.
This achievement coincides with Saudi Arabia's annual observance of World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, following Cabinet Resolution No. 44 dated 13/1/1447H, which approved the Kingdom's adoption of this day.
The decision reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to protecting lives and promoting water safety, and demonstrates its approach of making prevention a shared responsibility across government sectors, in line with the "Health in All Policies" concept and the Health Sector Transformation Program under Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia has developed a comprehensive national system for drowning prevention, led by the Public Health Authority (Weqaya) through the Permanent Joint Committee for Drowning Prevention, with the participation of 13 government entities. The aim is to unify efforts, enhance coordination, and direct evidence-based preventive interventions toward the most at-risk groups and locations, resulting in tangible outcomes in saving lives and improving public health.
The impact of this national system has also reached the international stage. The Public Health Authority (Weqaya) presented Saudi Arabia's experience at the World Health Assembly meetings in Geneva in 2026 under the theme: "From Decision to Results: A Practical Model for Implementing Drowning Prevention Efforts."
Saudi Arabia highlighted the transformation of policies into concrete results through governance, data utilization, and cross-sectoral collaboration, supporting global efforts to reduce drowning-related deaths and injuries.
Guidelines for community protection and pool safety
On the community level, the Public Health Authority (Weqaya) emphasized the importance of adhering to water safety guidelines to ensure everyone's safety. Key recommendations include: continuous supervision of children in or near water, never leaving them unattended, securing pools with proper barriers and gates, swimming only in designated areas, following lifeguard instructions and warning signs, monitoring weather conditions before engaging in water activities, and ensuring both adults and children acquire basic swimming skills.
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Saudi Arabia continues to develop its drowning prevention system, enhance data-driven preventive interventions, and expand partnerships among relevant entities, reinforcing the sustainability of these achievements and establishing the Kingdom as a global model in saving lives and promoting community safety.