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Saudi Healthcare Sector Posts $1.3 Billion in Profits for 2024 Amid Strong Growth

A woman checks her glucose level at a hospital in Riyadh. (Healthcare company)
A woman checks her glucose level at a hospital in Riyadh. (Healthcare company)
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Saudi Healthcare Sector Posts $1.3 Billion in Profits for 2024 Amid Strong Growth

A woman checks her glucose level at a hospital in Riyadh. (Healthcare company)
A woman checks her glucose level at a hospital in Riyadh. (Healthcare company)

Saudi Arabia’s listed healthcare companies delivered robust financial performance in 2024, reporting a combined net profit of SAR4.86 billion ($1.3 billion), according to data from the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul). The figure marks a 13.65% increase from SAR3.95 billion ($1.1 billion) in 2023, driven by higher revenues, operational transformation, and improved efficiencies across the sector.

Total revenues for the year also rose significantly, reaching SAR33.87 billion ($9 billion), up 16.7% from SAR29.02 billion ($7.7 billion) the previous year. Industry analysts attribute this growth to a surge in outpatient visits, pharmacy sales, and a continued push for digital transformation.

The sector comprises 11 publicly listed companies, including Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Mouwasat Medical Services, Dallah Healthcare, Al Hammadi, Care, Saudi Chemical Company (AJA Pharma), Saudi German Health, Fakeeh Care, Al Moosa Health, Dar Al Dawa, and Ayyan Investment.

According to data from the Ministry of Investment, the private sector currently provides 24% of healthcare services in the Kingdom, while government institutions account for 60%. The remaining 16% is covered by other public entities. As part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has launched wide-ranging reforms aimed at increasing private sector involvement and shifting healthcare financing toward an insurance-based model.

The Ministry of Health is transitioning from its traditional role as a healthcare provider to that of the sole regulator. The National Transformation Program aims to raise the private sector’s contribution to total healthcare spending from 25% to 35%. These reforms have created fertile ground for new investment, with more than SAR50 billion ($13.3 billion) in healthcare commitments announced during the Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh last October.

Top Performers in 2024

Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group led the sector with SAR2.31 billion in net profit—accounting for 47.6% of total industry earnings. The group’s profits rose 13.16% year-on-year, supported by a 17.8% increase in revenue, which reached SAR11.2 billion in 2024. The company attributed the growth to higher patient volumes in its hospital network and a corresponding rise in pharmacy sales.

Mouwasat Medical Services ranked second, reporting SAR645.76 million in profits. Despite a slight 1.81% decline from 2023, the company grew its revenue by 6.4% to SAR2.87 billion. Mouwasat cited an increase in outpatient visits and higher occupancy rates in inpatient wards as key drivers, alongside improved operational efficiency.

Dallah Healthcare secured third place with SAR471.2 million in profit, reflecting a strong 30.84% year-on-year increase. Revenues rose 8.93% to SAR3.2 billion. The company attributed its success to improved gross margins, increased efficiency, and better performance from affiliated firms.

Other notable performances included Saudi German Health, which reported a staggering 1,555% surge in profits, and Saudi Chemical Company’s healthcare division (AJA Pharma), which posted a 59.21% increase in earnings.

Analysts: A Standout Year for the Sector

Commenting on the sector’s performance, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Humaid Al-Khaldi, a financial analyst and member of the Saudi Economic Association, described 2024 as an exceptional year for Saudi healthcare. “The results reflect the success of strategic health reforms under Vision 2030,” he said, noting government support, rising demand, and digital transformation as key contributors.

He highlighted several growth factors, including increased public health spending, the rollout of digital health and preventive care initiatives, rising life expectancy, and growing public awareness of health services. “Demand for comprehensive and specialized care is increasing, and the sector is rising to meet it,” Al-Khaldi said.

He also emphasized the government’s commitment to digital healthcare, pointing to investments in telemedicine, unified health records, and artificial intelligence in diagnostics and treatment.

Outlook and Challenges

Mohammed Hamdi Omar, CEO of consulting firm G-World, expects the sector’s momentum to continue. He forecasts profit growth between 12% and 14% in Q2 and Q3 of 2025, rising to 14%–16% by Q4 2025 and early 2026. He pointed to ongoing privatization efforts, increased insurance coverage, and further investment in digital health tools as primary drivers.

“The sector is benefiting from operational efficiency and an expansion of specialized services,” Omar said. He added that government support—estimated at SAR51.75 billion ($13.8 billion)—has improved the investment environment and extended insurance coverage.

However, both analysts cautioned about potential risks, including shortages in qualified medical professionals, rising costs, and regulatory changes. They emphasized the importance of aligning with Vision 2030 by investing in innovation, digital transformation, and specialized services.

“Healthcare is no longer just a public service,” Omar said. “It’s becoming a strategic pillar of Saudi Arabia’s economic development and a gateway for medical tourism and global competitiveness.”

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Business

Japan PM Reassures Markets with Fiscal Discipline in Next Year’s Budget

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech at the 14th Council Meeting of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, in Tokyo on December 25, 2025. (AFP)
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech at the 14th Council Meeting of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, in Tokyo on December 25, 2025. (AFP)
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Japan PM Reassures Markets with Fiscal Discipline in Next Year’s Budget

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech at the 14th Council Meeting of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, in Tokyo on December 25, 2025. (AFP)
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech at the 14th Council Meeting of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, in Tokyo on December 25, 2025. (AFP)

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sought on Thursday to ease market concerns over her expansionary fiscal policy, saying the government's draft budget maintains discipline by limiting reliance on debt.

There has been growing investor unease about fiscal expansion under Takaichi's administration, which has driven super-long government bond yields to record highs and weighed on the yen.

The budget for the year starting in April, to be finalized on Friday and submitted to parliament early in 2026, ‌will total 122.3 trillion ‌yen ($785.4 billion), Takaichi told ruling coalition executives.

The huge ‌spending ⁠will come ‌on top of a 21.3 trillion-yen stimulus package, compiled in November and funded by a supplementary budget for the current fiscal year, that focused on cushioning the blow to households from rising living costs.

Despite the record size, new government bond issuance for the next fiscal year will be capped at 29.6 trillion yen, staying below 30 trillion yen for a second straight year, ⁠she said.

The reliance on debt will fall to 24.2% from 24.9% in the initial fiscal 2025 ‌budget, which dipped below 30% for the ‍first time in 27 years, she said. ‍The 24.2% debt dependence ratio would be the lowest since 1998.

"We ‍believe this draft budget strikes a balance between fiscal discipline and achieving a strong economy while ensuring fiscal sustainability," Takaichi said.

In a separate speech at Japanese business lobby Keidanren, Takaichi said that her "responsible, proactive" fiscal policy means strategic spending with a long-term perspective.

"It does not mean expanding expenditures indiscriminately based solely on scale," she said.

In a report to clients, Yusuke Matsuo, ⁠Mizuho Securities' senior market economist, said Takaichi would still need to promote proactive fiscal spending to avoid alienating her political base. He added that financial markets could be reassured if the government sticks to a less aggressive stance on spending.

Signaling a shift in the government's reflationary policy push, private-sector members of a government panel on Thursday called on the government to clearly show the public how the debt-to-gross domestic product ratio can be steadily reduced under Takaichi's government.

The four private-sector members include former Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Masazumi Wakatabe and economist Toshihiro Nagahama - known as reflationist aides of Takaichi.

Their proposals were discussed at ‌the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP), which oversees Japan's fiscal blueprint and long-term economic policies.

Business

Asian Shares are Mixed after US Stocks Drift to More Records

Currency dealers monitor exchange rates as a screen (R) shows South Korea's benchmark stock index in a foreign exchange dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
Currency dealers monitor exchange rates as a screen (R) shows South Korea's benchmark stock index in a foreign exchange dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
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Asian Shares are Mixed after US Stocks Drift to More Records

Currency dealers monitor exchange rates as a screen (R) shows South Korea's benchmark stock index in a foreign exchange dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
Currency dealers monitor exchange rates as a screen (R) shows South Korea's benchmark stock index in a foreign exchange dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)

Asian shares were mixed Thursday in thin holiday trading, with most markets in the region and elsewhere closed for Christmas.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 edged 0.1% higher to 50,407.79. It has gained nearly 30% this year.

The dollar slipped to 155.85 Japanese yen from 155.94 yen. The euro climbed to $1.1786 from $1.1780.

Markets in mainland China advanced, with the Shanghai Composite index up 0.5% at 3,959.62. Hong Kong's exchange was closed, The Associated Press said.

Investors were encouraged by a statement by the People’s Bank of China, China’s central bank, promising to ensure adequate money supply to support financing, economic growth and inflation targets. Earlier in the week, the PBOC had opted to keep its key short-term lending rates unchanged.

Shares fell in Thailand and Indonesia.

On Wednesday, the S&P 500 index rose 0.3% to 6,932.05 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6% to close at 48,731.16. The Nasdaq composite added 0.2% to 23,613.31

Trading was extremely light as markets closed early for Christmas Eve and will be closed for Christmas on Thursday. US markets will reopen for a full day of trading on Friday, though volumes will likely remain light this week with most investors having closed out their positions for the year.

The S&P 500 is up more than 17% this year, as investors have embraced the deregulatory policies of the Trump administration and been optimistic about the future of artificial intelligence in helping boost profits for not only technology companies but also for Corporate America.

Much of the focus for investors for the next few weeks will be on where the US economy is heading and where the Federal Reserve will move interest rates. Investors are betting the Fed will hold steady on interest rates at its January meeting.

The US economy grew at a surprisingly strong 4.3% annual rate in the third quarter, the most rapid expansion in two years, driven by consumers who continue to spend despite strong inflation. There have also been recent reports showing shaky confidence among consumers worried about high prices. The labor market has been slowing and retail sales have weakened.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week and remain at historically healthy levels despite some signs that the labor market is weakening.

US applications for jobless claims for the week ending Dec. 20 fell by 10,000 to 214,000 from the previous week’s 224,000, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. That’s below the 232,000 new applications forecast of analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.

Dynavax Technologies soared 38.2% after Sanofi said it was acquiring the California-based vaccine maker in a deal worth $2.2 billion. The French drugmaker will add Dynavax’s hepatitis B vaccines to its portfolio, as well as a shingles vaccine that is still in development.

Novo Nordisk's shares rose 1.8% after the weight-loss drug company got approval from US regulators for a pill version of its blockbuster drug Wegovy. However, Novo Nordisk shares are still down almost 40% this year as the company has faced increased competition for weight-loss medications, particularly from Eli Lilly. Shares of Eli Lilly are up 40% this year.

US crude oil closed at $58.35 a barrel and Brent crude finished at $61.80 a barrel.

Business

Saudi PIF Backs Multibillion-Dollar Projects to Boost Sustainability

A solar power project in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
A solar power project in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
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Saudi PIF Backs Multibillion-Dollar Projects to Boost Sustainability

A solar power project in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
A solar power project in Saudi Arabia (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has fully allocated the proceeds of its green bond issuance, directing $9 billion to eligible projects, in a move that highlights the sovereign wealth fund’s growing role in shaping a more sustainable future and delivering lasting positive impact worldwide.

According to a recent report issued by the Public Investment Fund, reviewed by Asharq Al-Awsat, the expected impact of the fund’s eligible green projects includes generating 427 megawatts of renewable energy, avoiding emissions equivalent to 5.1 million tons of carbon dioxide, and treating 4 million cubic meters of wastewater.

The Public Investment Fund aims to establish itself as an active participant in global debt markets, while also fostering the development of a dynamic domestic market. This would enable the fund to access short- or long-term liquidity through a diverse range of financing instruments.

Financing strategy

The fund’s capital markets program aims to further strengthen its financing strategy and execution capabilities, both at the level of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund and across its portfolio companies, while enabling deeper engagement with global and local debt markets.

The program will also support expanding the fund’s capacity to raise debt and deploy it as a source of investment financing, in line with its overall funding strategy. This approach is designed to instill greater discipline in cash flow management and enhance returns on equity for the fund and its portfolio companies.

The green bond issuance will provide the fund with access to a broader pool of investors who prioritize environmental, social, and governance considerations in their investment decisions. It will also allow investors to diversify their portfolios through green assets, a step expected to help accelerate the pace of green investment globally.

Climate change

The fund has taken concrete steps to advance governance and policy, focusing on sustainability, and is a founding member of the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Funds initiative. This international platform aims to accelerate the integration of climate change considerations into asset management decisions and investment opportunities.

As an investment vehicle, the Public Investment Fund operates through acquiring stakes in companies aligned with its mandate, including ACWA Power and Lucid.

It has also established the Saudi Investment Recycling Company, a leader in waste management and recycling, manages the National Energy Services Company, Tarshid, and supports the creation of a voluntary carbon market in the Middle East and North Africa.

These efforts aim to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the world’s most energy-efficient countries.

The green bond issuance will finance tangible projects on the ground, helping to accelerate the green transition and advance the Kingdom’s core targets of achieving net zero emissions by 2060 and generating 50 percent of electricity consumption from renewable energy sources by 2030.

This forms a key pillar of the renewable energy program implemented by the fund, which involves developing 70 percent of renewable power generation capacity.