Saudi Arabia leads MENA region with 21 WHO-certified healthy cities

Saudi Arabia has emerged as the leading country in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region for the number of cities certified as healthy by the World Health Organization, with a total of 21 cities recognized. The announcement coincides with World Cities Day, observed annually on October 31.

The list of accredited healthy cities includes Jeddah, Alkhobar, Hail, Tabuk, Madinah, Unaizah, Aljumum, Diriyah, Taif, Jalajil, Alghat, Alzulfi, Riyadh Al-Khubara, Sharurah, Al-Aridah, Al-Mandaq, Abha, Mahayel Asir, Turaib, King Khalid University, and Princess Nourah University.

The Kingdom is home to the two largest healthy cities in the Middle East—Jeddah and Madinah—marking a significant achievement in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of building a vibrant society with a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

The report noted that cities received certification after meeting 80 international standards across nine key areas, including community empowerment, intersectoral collaboration, community information centers, skills development, health services, urban environment, emergency preparedness, education, and support for small enterprises.

The transformation was made possible through the integration of efforts by the Ministry of Health and the Ministerial Committee for Health in All Policies, alongside various government agencies, as part of a national approach that elevates health within development policies. The report emphasized that building healthy cities is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the health sector to include urban planning, education, environment, and community services.

The Ministry of Health’s Healthy Cities Program exemplifies the Kingdom’s success in embedding health within urban development. It is the first WHO collaborating center in the region and the fourth globally.