Saudi Arabia leads region with 21 WHO-certified healthy cities
Saudi Arabia strengthens its regional lead as the number of its WHO-certified healthy cities rises to 21, reflecting progress toward Vision 2030 goals.
Key Takeaways
AISaudi Arabia continues to lead the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region in the number of cities certified as healthy by the World Health Organization, with the total now reaching 21. This milestone highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to building sustainable cities that prioritize human health and quality of life, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to create a vibrant society enjoying sustainable well-being.
This rapid progress is the result of efforts by the Ministry of Health, the General Ministerial Committee for Health in All Policies, and broad collaboration among various government entities. Their unified approach has transformed healthy city standards into institutional and developmental practices. The certified cities have met 80 international criteria across nine main areas: community empowerment for health and development, intersectoral cooperation and partnerships, community information centers, skill development and capacity building, health services, urban environment, emergency preparedness and response, education, and support for small projects.
With 21 cities now certified, including the latest additions of Abha, Mahayel Asir, Tareeb, and King Khalid University City, Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in creating urban environments that better support prevention and physical and mental health. This has been achieved by empowering communities, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, developing health services, enhancing emergency readiness, and improving the urban environment, further establishing the Kingdom as a leading international model in this field.
The Ministry of Health’s Healthy Cities Program is the first WHO collaborating center in the region and the fourth worldwide. Working with government partners, the program shifts health from being a service provided within facilities to an integrated approach that encompasses planning, education, the environment, and all aspects of daily life, thereby improving quality of life and fostering healthier, more sustainable communities.