Saudi Hospitals Top Middle East, Africa According to 'Brand Finance' Ranking

A Saudi man receives a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Prince Sultan Complex Health Center, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri Acquire Licensing Rights
A Saudi man receives a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Prince Sultan Complex Health Center, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri Acquire Licensing Rights
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Saudi Hospitals Top Middle East, Africa According to 'Brand Finance' Ranking

A Saudi man receives a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Prince Sultan Complex Health Center, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri Acquire Licensing Rights
A Saudi man receives a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Prince Sultan Complex Health Center, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2022. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri Acquire Licensing Rights

Saudi hospitals maintained their top position in the Middle East and Africa for the second consecutive year in the global ranking of the best 250 hospitals for 2024, according to "Brand Finance."

The ranking included seven Saudi hospitals, with five of them ranking among the top 100 globally.

Leading the list of Saudi hospitals is King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC), which retained its top position in the local and regional healthcare sector, SPA reported.

Mayo Clinic, an American hospital, claimed the top spot in the ranking, with the United States dominating 11 positions among the top 25 hospitals. The list also included several European hospitals.

Notably, this year, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) jumped to the third position, making it the leading healthcare institution outside the United States.

The ranking, based on the opinions of thousands of healthcare practitioners in over 30 countries, included the Saudi hospitals of KFSH&RC, King Saud Medical City (KSMC), King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), National Guard Health Affairs, King Fahd Medical City (KFMC), King Fahd University Hospital, and King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC).

The last two hospitals were ranked between 101 and 205, while the remaining Saudi hospitals were among the top 100 globally.

Observers attribute the notable presence of Saudi hospitals in the global ranking to the initiatives of the Healthcare Sector Transformation Program, one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030 launched by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

They also believe that such achievement is a result of the unlimited support provided by the wise leadership to the healthcare sector, reflecting the quality of services offered to citizens and residents, as well as medical accomplishments in various fields.



UAE, Syria Foreign Ministers Discuss Bolstering Ties on UAE visit

A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
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UAE, Syria Foreign Ministers Discuss Bolstering Ties on UAE visit

A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed bolstering "brotherly" ties with Syria during the first official visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani to the United Arab Emirates on Monday, Emirati state news agency WAM reported.

The two ministers also discussed the overall developments in Syria since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition factions on Dec. 8.

The UAE's foreign minister reiterated the country's support for Syria's independence and sovereignty, WAM added.

Syria's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, head of intelligence Anas Khattab and the UAE's minister of state for defense affairs, Mohammed Fadel al-Mazrouei, also attended the meeting.

The UAE is part of Shibani's second foreign tour, which earlier took him to Qatar and will also include a visit to Jordan. He said the visits aim to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build distinguished partnerships", according to his account on X.

Shibani made his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia last week, where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition.