Saudi Arabia has once again topped the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region in the number of WHO-accredited Healthy Cities, now totaling 16. This milestone highlights the success of the Ministry of Health’s Healthy Cities Program and the Saudi Ministerial Committee for Health in All Policies, whose collaborative efforts with various government bodies have fostered sustainable, health-focused urban environments that improve overall quality of life.
Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel emphasized that this achievement reflects the Kingdom’s dedication to making public health a cornerstone of urban development and to advancing preventive care — key goals aligned with the Quality of Life Program and the Health Sector Transformation Program under Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia’s Healthy Cities Program stands out as the first WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities in the Eastern Mediterranean region and the fourth of its kind worldwide. The initiative works closely with government bodies to reshape the understanding of health as an integral part of daily living. By promoting healthy urban design, community engagement, and resident empowerment, the program transforms cities into environments that nurture both physical and mental well-being.
To earn Healthy City accreditation, municipalities must meet 80 international standards across nine key areas — including community health and development, cross-sector partnerships, data and information management, skills and capacity building, health promotion, urban environmental quality (covering water, sanitation, food safety, and air pollution), emergency readiness, education and literacy, and microcredit initiatives.
