Saudi Arabia (SA)

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and the world's leading oil producer — a rapidly transforming absolute monarchy embarking on an ambitious Vision 2030 diversification agenda that has already delivered entertainment venues, mixed-gender events, a booming tourism sector, and the Riyadh Metro.

Capital: Riyadh

Region: Middle East

Language: Arabic

Currency: SAR (ر.س)

Cost of living: Moderate (index 60)

Emergency: 911

Healthcare in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia operates a dual healthcare system: a government sector (Ministry of Health / MOH) primarily serving Saudi nationals, and a private sector required to provide health insurance for all expat workers via the CCHI (Council of Cooperative Health Insurance) mandatory framework. In 2026, CCHI covers approximately 14 million expat workers and their dependents. Private hospital quality in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar is very high — comparable to top Western hospitals for most conditions. Emergency care is world-class. Mental health services are improving but remain limited for English speakers.

Top-tier private hospitals (King Faisal Specialist Hospital, HMG/Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib, Saudi German Hospital) offer world-class care. MOH government hospitals are primarily for Saudi nationals — expats use private hospitals. Medical tourism to Saudi Arabia is growing under Vision 2030's Healthcare transformation programme.

Public healthcare: Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) — Mandatory Employer Insurance

مجلس الضمان الصحي التعاوني

Eligibility:All private sector employees including expats must be covered by an employer-sponsored CCHI health insurance policy from day one of employment. In 2026, dependents can be added to employer policies at the employer's discretion (dependents are often excluded from basic employer plans — check your policy). CCHI contribution rate: employers pay the premium; employee contribution varies by employer policy (some employers charge employees a portion; many cover 100%).

Monthly cost:Employer pays the CCHI premium — no deduction from employee salary for basic mandatory coverage. Standard employer CCHI plan cost: SAR 1,500–5,000/person/year (employer-side). Enhanced plans: SAR 5,000–20,000/person/year.

What's included:

GP and specialist consultations (in-network)
Hospital admissions and surgeries
Emergency care
Laboratory tests and radiology
Prescription medications (formulary list)
Maternity care (10 weeks delivery coverage minimum)
Mental health outpatient visits (minimum 5/year from 2026 — new CCHI standard)
Telehealth consultations (mandatory in all plans from 2026)
Physiotherapy (limited sessions)
Vaccinations (SFDA-approved schedule)

Not included (or co-pay required):

Pre-existing conditions (exclusion period typically 1 year)
Cosmetic procedures
IVF and fertility treatments (unless enhanced plan)
Most dental (beyond emergency extraction; basic plans exclude dental entirely)
Optical (glasses/contacts — most basic plans exclude)
Non-prescription supplements and vitamins
Treatment outside the Kingdom without prior approval (except genuine emergencies)
Chronic disease management above policy annual limit
Psychiatric ward admissions (most basic plans)

Co-payments:Co-payments vary by plan tier and hospital level. Typical: SAR 20–100 per GP visit, SAR 50–200 per specialist visit, SAR 100–500 for emergency room (non-admission). In-network hospitals provide direct billing (no upfront payment required). Out-of-network visits require payment upfront and reimbursement — keep all receipts.

How to enrol:Employer handles CCHI enrolment — you should receive your insurance card within the first week of employment. Verify by checking the CCHI portal (cchi.gov.sa) with your Iqama. If employer fails to enrol you, escalate to MHRSD via Qiwa platform.

Waiting period:Pre-existing condition exclusions commonly 6–12 months. New employees covered from first day for new conditions. Some policies have a 30-day maternity waiting period — check if you are pregnant on arrival.

Private healthcare: Supplementary / Enhanced Health Insurance

Who can use it:Available to any resident who wants to upgrade beyond the mandatory CCHI minimum — individuals can purchase top-up plans from CCHI-approved insurers.

When it makes sense:When your employer's plan has low annual limits (under SAR 250,000), excludes dental and optical, does not cover dependents well, or for employees who need access to premium hospitals (e.g., King Faisal Specialist Hospital — which is primarily for Saudi nationals and major referral cases).

Monthly cost:Top-up plans: SAR 200–800/month depending on coverage level and age. Comprehensive international health insurance (for coverage including home country visits): SAR 1,000–5,000+/month.

Major providers:

Bupa Arabia (formerly Bupa Middle East)AXA Gulf Saudi ArabiaTawuniya (Cooperative Insurance Company)Malath InsuranceSaudi ReGIG Gulf (formerly AIG)Aetna International (for international plans)Cigna Global

Accessing care

GP system

No mandatory GP gatekeeping in the private system — patients can book directly with specialists in most private hospitals. In-network consultations should be pre-booked via the insurer's app or hospital booking system. Some insurers require GP referral before specialist visit to qualify for coverage — check your policy.

Specialist referral

Direct specialist access is possible in most private hospitals. For complex cases, referral to King Faisal Specialist Hospital (KFSH) or other tertiary centres may be needed — KFSH primarily sees Saudi nationals and referred cases. Referral from your GP or insurer is usually required for tertiary centres.

Emergency care

Call 911. All hospitals (public and private) are required to provide emergency stabilisation regardless of insurance status. Private hospital emergency rooms are fast and high-quality in major cities. Emergency room surcharges of SAR 100–500 apply — cover by CCHI if you are in-network. For road accidents, Saudi Red Crescent ambulance (911) is the primary responder.

Out of hours

Private hospitals operate 24/7 emergency departments. For non-emergencies after hours: some insurers have 24/7 telehealth services; Al-Habib (HMG) has same-day appointment systems. 920033360 (Mental Health hotline). Download Sehhaty or Sehaty apps for some digital health services.

Prescriptions

Prescription required for most medications including many OTC equivalents from other countries. Pharmacies (Nahdi, Ibn Sina, White Pharmacy, Al-Dawaa) are widely available in malls and major streets. Bring generic names (INN) for medications as brand names differ in Saudi Arabia. Some medications available abroad OTC require a prescription here.

Dental

Not covered by most basic CCHI plans — a significant gap. Private dental clinics are widely available and generally good quality. Routine checkup: SAR 200–400. Filling: SAR 300–600. Dental implant: SAR 3,000–8,000. Orthodontics: SAR 8,000–20,000. Budget separately for dental. Some employers offer an enhanced plan with dental — negotiate upfront.

Mental health

Mental health is improving but remains limited. In 2026, CCHI mandates minimum 5 outpatient mental health visits per year in all plans. English-speaking psychiatrists and therapists are concentrated in major cities. Private therapy: SAR 300–600/session. Some international therapists offer online sessions. The Saudi Mental Health Association (SMHA) runs a helpline: 920033360. The social stigma around mental health is decreasing but remains a consideration.

Maternity

Saudi Arabia has high-quality maternity care in private hospitals. CCHI minimum coverage includes maternity. Normal delivery: SAR 5,000–15,000 in private hospitals; emergency C-section: SAR 15,000–30,000+. Most employers' CCHI plans cover maternity. Private rooms and "luxury birthing packages" can add SAR 5,000–20,000. Saudi government hospitals provide free maternity care for Saudi nationals — expats use private sector.

Expat-specific advice

First steps on arrival:

Receive and verify your CCHI insurance card within week one
Read your insurance policy exclusions and annual limit carefully
Register with an in-network GP clinic near your home or office
Download your insurer's app for direct claims and hospital finder
Check which hospitals are in-network for your policy
Download Sehaty and Tawakkalna apps
Bring 3–6 months supply of prescription medications from home
Identify the nearest emergency room and save its number

Finding English-speaking doctors:Very good availability in major cities. Most private hospital consultants in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar speak English — many trained abroad (UK, US, Europe). Admin and nursing staff may be less fluent — major hospitals often have patient relations officers to assist. In smaller cities and towns, English-speaking medical staff are less common.

International insurance:Arrivals without CCHI coverage (first few weeks; or if employer delays enrolment) should maintain international health insurance from their home country or purchase a short-stay policy. Gap in CCHI coverage can be catastrophically expensive — a hospital admission can cost SAR 50,000–500,000+ without insurance.

Emergency card info:Carry: Iqama, CCHI insurance card (policy number + insurer hotline), blood type, known allergies, current medications, and emergency contact in both Arabic and English. Saudi emergency responders are professional — English is widely spoken by medical staff.

EHIC notes:EHIC/GHIC does not apply — Saudi Arabia is outside the EU system. No reciprocal healthcare agreements with most Western countries.

Pharmacies (Saydaliyyah (صيدلية))

Hours:Mall-based pharmacies: 10:00–midnight (closed during prayer times). Standalone pharmacies: 08:00–23:00 with prayer breaks. 24-hour pharmacies available in major cities — ask your insurer or check Google Maps.

After-hours / emergency:24-hour pharmacies in major hospitals. Al-Dawaa Pharmacy chain has several 24-hour branches in Riyadh and Jeddah.

Prescription rules:Prescription required for antibiotics, controlled substances, hormonal medications, strong pain relievers, and many medications available OTC in Western countries. SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority) regulates all medications. Narcotic and psychotropic medications require red-marked prescriptions from government-registered physicians. Bring a doctor's letter in Arabic for controlled substance medications you use regularly.

Available over-the-counter:

Paracetamol (Panadol)
Ibuprofen (Advil, Brufen)
Antacids and digestive remedies
Cold and flu medications (antihistamine-based)
Topical antiseptics and wound care
Eye drops (non-prescription)
Sunscreen and skin care
Oral rehydration salts (important for summer heat)

Typical costs

GP visit (with insurance)	SAR 20–100 co-pay at in-network clinic (2026 — varies by plan and clinic level)
GP visit (private pay)	SAR 200–500 per consultation at private clinic
Specialist visit	SAR 50–200 co-pay (in-network); SAR 400–1,000+ without coverage
Emergency visit	SAR 100–500 co-pay (in-network); SAR 500–3,000+ without coverage
MRI scan	SAR 1,000–3,000+ with or without coverage depending on policy (many plans require pre-authorisation)
Prescription average	SAR 20–200 co-pay with insurance; SAR 50–500+ without
Dental check-up	SAR 200–400 (most not covered by basic CCHI plans); cleaning SAR 300–600
Baby delivery	SAR 0–2,000 co-pay with good maternity CCHI plan; SAR 10,000–30,000+ without adequate coverage. Many employers' plans have SAR 10,000–30,000 maternity cap — verify before planning a family.

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