Saudi Arabia continues to lead the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region in the number of WHO-accredited Healthy Cities, which has now reached 16 cities, reflecting the success of the Healthy Cities Program under the Ministry of Health. This achievement embodies the collective efforts of the Ministerial Committee on Health in All Policies, which has unified government entities toward building sustainable, health-promoting environments that enhance quality of life.
Minister of Health, H.E. Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel, affirmed that this milestone reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to making human health the cornerstone of urban development and to promoting a preventive approach that aligns with the goals of the Quality of Life Program and the Health Sector Transformation Program, both stemming from Saudi Vision 2030.
He further emphasized that this direction aligns with the priorities of the health ecosystem in empowering individuals to actively participate in managing their own health and investing in health technologies and digitalization to enhance system efficiency, sustainability, and overall community well-being.
The Healthy Cities Program in Saudi Arabia is the first WHO Collaborating Center in the region and the fourth globally. Working in cooperation with government entities, the program redefines health as a daily lifestyle, promoting healthy urban planning, community participation, and citizen empowerment—transforming cities into environments that support both physical and mental well-being.
Accreditation as a Healthy City requires meeting 80 international standards across nine key domains, including: community empowerment for health and development, intersectoral partnerships, community information centers, skill development and capacity building, health services, urban environment (water, sanitation, food safety, and air quality), emergency preparedness and response, education, and support for small projects.
This rapid expansion in Healthy City accreditation represents a qualitative shift in urban development, marking a sustainable pathway that strengthens prevention, activates community engagement, and reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership in building environments that promote health and quality of life.