Saudi Arabia to bolster medical tourism with strategic partnerships

However, the country is expected to lag behind Thailand, the UAE, and Malaysia.

Strategic healthcare partnerships with other emerging markets (EMs) will drive the development of Saudi Arabia’s medical tourism industry, said BMI.

One notable example is a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last August between Saudi Arabia and Morocco, focusing on research, digital health, therapeutic development, pandemic preparedness, and preventative medicine.

Meanwhile, this MoU follows a similar agreement signed with Thailand in January to foster knowledge sharing on hospital management and wellness services between both countries.

Improvements in tourism infrastructure, including expanded accommodation offerings, are expected to bolster the sector as the country targets 150 million arrivals by 2030.

“Alongside modern healthcare facilities, this includes hotels, resorts and transportation infrastructure, all of which are crucial for the overall travel experience for medical tourists,” the report said.

Despite these efforts, Saudi Arabia's medical tourism market is expected to lag behind other EMs such as Thailand, the UAE, and Malaysia in terms of global demand.

This is attributed to the more established healthcare and medical tourism industries in these markets, which offer a wider range of specialised treatments, higher quality care, and more developed infrastructure.