AI and digital health take centre stage as Riyadh summit weighs Saudi healthcare’s next phase

The second edition of the Healthcare Leaders Summit took place in Riyadh on Sunday, with artificial intelligence, robotics and digital care emerging as a dominant theme among around 2,500 healthcare professionals and leaders gathered to discuss the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector. Organised by Forbes Middle East, the one-day event focused on the Kingdom’s progress in moving from strategic planning to practical implementation across healthcare services.

Senior officials in attendance included Dr Khalid bin Adnan Al-Buraikan, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Health for Investment; Nasser Al Huqbani, chief executive of Health Holding Company; Professor Ahmed bin Hamdan Aljedai, vice chairman and managing director of SPIMACO; and Randa Bessiso, founding director and chief executive of the University of Manchester’s Dubai campus.

One session, titled “Intelligent Care Delivery — AI Redefining Performance Across the Care Continuum,” addressed the expanding role of artificial intelligence, robotics and automation in healthcare delivery. Related discussions considered how interoperable health data and virtual care models might improve access to services, strengthen care coordination and enhance the overall patient experience.

Held under the theme “Health at the Heart of National Progress,” the summit more broadly examined how closer integration between health policy, investment, innovation and technology adoption could support more sustainable healthcare systems in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.

Discussions were organised around several core areas: strengthening sector resilience, accelerating digital transformation and innovation, expanding partnerships, advancing pharmaceutical localisation, developing local talent, and reinforcing supply chain resilience.

Topics covered during the sessions included funding for early-stage scientific research, the scaling of artificial intelligence in healthcare, precision medicine, biotechnology, genomics, precision diagnostics, longevity science, advanced therapeutics, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and integrated models of patient care.

Speaking at the event, Khuloud Al Omian, chief executive and editor-in-chief of Forbes Middle East, said the sector’s rapid pace of change was ultimately about improving outcomes for patients, and that leadership was central to translating investment in innovation, science and technology into stronger healthcare systems.

In a separate address, Randa Bessiso of the University of Manchester’s Dubai campus said Saudi Arabia had considerable depth of talent and ambition, and that the priority now was connecting that talent with leadership development, experience and international networks — while developing leadership suited specifically to the Saudi healthcare context rather than importing models from elsewhere.

The summit also addressed talent and leadership development more broadly, along with patient-centred care and the role of prevention and health education in building more resilient communities.

Supporting partners for the event included Magrabi Health as associate partner and Lean Business Services as health intelligence partner, alongside events partners SPIMACO, the University of Manchester’s Dubai campus, Almana Medical Group, Jamjoom Pharma and SMC Healthcare.