Saudi Arabia – Doctors

How does the healthcare system in Saudi Arabia work, and does it cover expats?

Saudi Arabia’s healthcare landscape encompasses a broad mix of public and private providers. The Ministry of Health (MOH) sits at the top of this structure, setting the Kingdom’s health policies, national strategies, and long-term goals. The result is a hybrid model: a state-funded tier serving Saudi citizens alongside a regulated private insurance framework that covers the broader population.

The MOH also has oversight of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), which is responsible for regulating healthcare professionals, and the Council for Health Insurance (CHI), which governs the compulsory health insurance system applicable to expatriates. At a regional level, each of the Kingdom’s 13 provinces manages its own health budgets, plans, and facilities, with Regional Health Directorates responsible for organising and delivering services locally.

Unlike a fully public system — such as the UK’s NHS, which is funded through taxation and free at the point of use for all residents — Saudi Arabia’s public healthcare is reserved for its own citizens. Healthcare is provided at no charge to Saudi nationals and public sector workers. For expats who originate from outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE), access to the public system is not available.

Those employed in the public sector — whether Saudi nationals or expatriates — can use public healthcare facilities without paying out of pocket. However, even where an expat’s employment in the public sector entitles them to free healthcare, every non-Saudi national is still obligated to hold private or expat health insurance.

Faced with mounting costs and increasing pressure on services, the government introduced the Cooperative Health Insurance System (CHIS) in 1999 — a landmark development in the country’s healthcare reform programme. Initially, the system mandated employment-based health insurance for all private sector expatriates, and this requirement was subsequently extended to all private sector employees and their dependants.

For current eligibility criteria and official guidance, visit the Ministry of Health website (moh.gov.sa) or the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (cchi.gov.sa).

How do you find and register with a doctor in Saudi Arabia?

Unlike certain European countries where patients must enrol with a single designated GP surgery, finding a doctor in Saudi Arabia as an expat is driven primarily by your insurance network rather than any catchment-area arrangement. A wide network of private hospitals and clinics operates in all major cities, and most have direct-billing agreements with insurers. Your first step is to identify which facilities fall within your insurer’s approved network, then contact them directly to schedule an appointment.

Enrolment in health insurance is handled through your employer and results in a health insurance card that grants you access to private healthcare services and facilities — including doctors, hospitals, and therapy. This card is essential; always carry it with you or store a digital copy on your phone.

Attending a private clinic or hospital for the first time is a straightforward process. You present your insurance card at reception, the hospital verifies your eligibility through the CHI system, and you pay only the applicable co-payment.

While procedures can vary between providers, you will generally be asked to present your passport, your Iqama (residence permit), and your health insurance card when registering at a new clinic or hospital. Some facilities may also request proof of your current address.

The Ministry of Health’s Sehhaty app is a practical tool for finding and booking appointments. It supports clinic bookings at MOH primary healthcare centres and selected hospitals and is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. To create an account, users register with their national ID (Saudi citizens) or their residence ID (expatriates).

For broader help finding doctors by specialty, location, or insurance network, Doctoruna is an online directory covering doctors and dentists across the Middle East. It allows you to submit enquiries to medical professionals and book appointments online, with filters for specialty, area, and insurance plan.

For up-to-date registration guidance and provider lists, visit the Ministry of Health website or get in touch with your insurer directly.

How do you pay for a doctor’s appointment in Saudi Arabia?

For the majority of expats, the cost of a medical consultation is managed through the co-payment structure embedded in their employer-provided or privately arranged health insurance plan. Rather than meeting the full cost of a visit, you pay a discounted share at the time of care, with your insurer settling the balance directly with the provider.

Almost all Saudi insurance plans incorporate co-payments for consultations, medications, and certain treatments. As a rough guide, you can expect to pay in the region of SAR 20–30 for a standard consultation, and approximately 20–30% of prescription costs (as of 2025 — always confirm the current figures with your insurer or the CCHI).

The majority of expats benefit from employer-arranged health insurance, but it is important to understand that even this employer-provided cover operates on a co-payment basis. This means that even with company insurance, individuals will still pay a subsidised fee whenever they consult a doctor or access treatment.

Freelance expatriates are responsible for arranging and funding their own private insurance. It is also worth bearing in mind that employer-sponsored plans are frequently basic in scope, meaning co-payments — or direct out-of-pocket expenses for specialist treatment — can be considerable. If you expect to need specialist care or if you have family members to cover, it may be prudent to take out a supplementary policy in addition to your employer’s basic plan.

Expatriates are also permitted to receive treatment at government hospitals, provided they pay the associated fees. This can be a viable option in an emergency, or if your insurer’s network is thin in your locality — though costs for uninsured or out-of-network care tend to be considerably higher than the co-payments you would face within your network.

For the most current co-payment rates and cost-sharing thresholds, refer to the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI) or your specific insurance policy documents.

Do you need private health insurance to see a doctor in Saudi Arabia?

For expats in Saudi Arabia, private health insurance is not simply a sensible precaution — it is a legal obligation. Saudi law leaves no ambiguity on this point: medical insurance for expatriates is mandatory, and it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that workers and their dependants are properly covered.

Saudi Arabia requires foreign nationals to obtain health insurance prior to the issuance of temporary work visas. The insurance must be provided by a company registered with the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI), which means that in practice, health coverage must be in place before you set foot in the Kingdom.

The CCHI mandates that all private sector companies provide health insurance for their employees and dependants. You will need to produce evidence of health insurance in order to obtain a residence permit, and you are free to purchase additional private policies as you see fit or as your circumstances require.

It is currently compulsory for all private sector organisations to provide health insurance for their employees and dependants — this encompasses spouses, unmarried daughters, and male children under 25 years of age. All employers in the private sector must use a single health insurance policy to cover both Saudi and non-Saudi employees together with their dependants.

The policy provided by your employer typically encompasses routine medical care, inpatient hospitalisation, and emergency services. That said, while the mandatory cover provides a foundational level of protection, it may not address all of your healthcare needs — particularly if you have a family or specific medical conditions.

Many expatriates in Saudi Arabia choose to supplement their employer plan with international health insurance, especially those who travel frequently or who may wish to return to their home country for certain treatments. International health insurance provides comprehensive coverage across multiple countries, offering expats the flexibility to access quality healthcare wherever they happen to be.

Always confirm the current visa and residency health insurance requirements with the Ministry of Interior (moi.gov.sa) or the CCHI before making any arrangements.

How do you transfer your medical records to a doctor in Saudi Arabia?

Moving your medical history to a new doctor in Saudi Arabia demands advance planning before you leave your home country. There is no automatic cross-border exchange of patient records, so you will need to take deliberate steps to ensure your new physician has the information required to deliver safe and well-informed care.

1. Request a full medical summary from your current doctor. Ask your existing GP or specialist to prepare a thorough summary encompassing your diagnoses, current medications (including generic names and dosages, since brand names can differ from country to country), allergies, vaccination history, and any pertinent test results or imaging. Obtain copies of key documents such as blood test results, X-rays, or letters from specialists.
2. Consider translation if your records are not in Arabic or English. Both Arabic and English are in common use in Saudi medical environments, especially within private hospitals. If your records are written in any other language, arranging a certified medical translation prior to your arrival will help prevent delays or miscommunications during consultations.
3. Register on the Sehhaty app. Sehhaty is the national health platform operated by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health. As the National Population Health Platform, it connects more than 24 million users — both citizens and residents — with their personal health data and an extensive range of digital health services, enabling individuals to view their medical records, access telemedicine consultations, and engage with wellness programmes. Expatriates can register using their Iqama (residence permit) number.
4. Share your documents with your new provider. At your first appointment, bring physical or digital copies of all relevant records. Maintaining a personal health folder containing diagnoses, medication lists, allergy information, blood type (where known), imaging discs, and emergency contact details — including next of kin, your GP back home, and your insurer — is strongly advisable.
5. Use Sehhaty to manage ongoing records. Once you are registered, Sehhaty helps consolidate the medical records accumulated during your time in Saudi Arabia: laboratory and imaging results from participating MOH facilities, vaccination history, and clinical notes — with some facilities uploading appointment summaries that you can view directly through the app.
6. Track e-prescriptions through Sehhaty. A growing number of Saudi clinics issue electronic prescriptions rather than paper ones. Sehhaty brings all your e-prescriptions together in a single location, making it straightforward to collect medications from participating pharmacies anywhere in the Kingdom.

Sehhaty’s availability in both Arabic and English makes it accessible to Saudi citizens and expatriates alike. For official guidance on digital health records and the Sehhaty platform, visit the Ministry of Health website or download the Sehhaty app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

What should expats know about language barriers and finding an English-speaking doctor in Saudi Arabia?

Language tends to be far less of an obstacle within Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system than in many other countries. The medical workforce is highly internationally diverse — especially within the private sector — and English is commonly spoken in clinical environments throughout the major cities.

Healthcare facilities are concentrated around Riyadh and other large urban centres. Doctors and nurses working in these settings are frequently expatriates themselves, and as a result a significant proportion of clinical staff are fully fluent in English.

Private healthcare generally offers shorter waiting times, access to certain procedures that may not be available elsewhere, and greater availability of English-speaking personnel. If language is a key concern for you, choosing a private hospital or clinic in a major city — such as Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam — is the most dependable approach. In more rural or remote locations, English-speaking medical staff may be harder to come by.

A number of resources can assist you in finding a doctor who consults in English or another language:

• Your insurance provider: Most CCHI-approved insurers maintain searchable directories of in-network hospitals and clinics. Contact your insurer or log in to their portal for a list of approved providers, which may include information on languages spoken.
• Doctoruna: This online directory of doctors and dentists across the Middle East lets you submit enquiries and book appointments online, with the ability to filter results by specialty, location, and insurance plan.
• Embassy resources: Many embassies and consulates publish lists of recommended local doctors and hospitals for their nationals, which can serve as a useful starting point when seeking practitioners who are comfortable working in specific languages.
• Expat communities: Online groups and forums for expats in Saudi Arabia — particularly city-specific communities on platforms such as Facebook or Reddit — are an excellent source of first-hand recommendations.
• Ministry of Health helpline: Calling 937 connects you to a free helpline offering health information, guidance, and instructions, as well as access to medical consultations.

In urgent or life-threatening situations, call 997 for ambulance services, which operate around the clock. Emergency departments throughout Saudi Arabia regularly treat patients of all nationalities and will always prioritise stabilisation, regardless of any language difficulties.

What do expats need to know about prescriptions and medication in Saudi Arabia?

Prescription practices in Saudi Arabia are governed by a well-defined regulatory framework. Understanding how the system operates before you arrive — particularly if you depend on regular medication — will help you avoid any interruptions to your treatment.

Prescription-only medicines require a doctor’s authorisation, while over-the-counter products are available for everyday needs. A prescription issued in your home country cannot simply be presented at a Saudi pharmacy for dispensing — all medications must be prescribed locally by a physician licensed to practise in Saudi Arabia.

If you take regular medication, your most urgent priority after arriving should be to consult a doctor in Saudi Arabia and bring thorough documentation of your current treatment regimen. Make sure you have the generic (international non-proprietary) name of each medicine rather than relying solely on the brand name, as the same drug may be sold under an entirely different brand in Saudi Arabia. Keeping a note of generic names and dosages is essential, since product branding varies considerably between countries.

Saudi clinics are increasingly moving towards electronic prescriptions. The Sehhaty app exemplifies this digital shift, offering virtual consultations, prescription services, and access to medical records in one platform. The Wasfaty platform similarly supports e-prescriptions and can direct patients to a nearby participating pharmacy for collection. Where supported, using Wasfaty for e-prescriptions is a convenient option.

In terms of cost, prescriptions under employer-provided insurance are generally partially covered, with a co-payment due from the patient. You can expect to pay around 20–30% of the prescription cost as of 2025 — always verify the current figures with your insurer or the CCHI. Some medications that are widely available in other countries may be controlled or simply not available in Saudi Arabia. If you have any doubt about whether a drug you take is permitted in the Kingdom, check with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) (sfda.gov.sa) before you travel.

Pharmacies are plentiful and frequently open until late — some operate around the clock. Well-known chains include Al Nahdi, Tadawi, White Pharmacy, and Al-Dawaa. For medications nearing their renewal date, using the Wasfaty or Sehhaty reminder functions can help you stay on top of refills and avoid running out of critical medicines.

For the most up-to-date information on regulated medicines and prescription requirements, consult the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) or your treating physician in Saudi Arabia.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do in a medical emergency in Saudi Arabia?

Call 997 for ambulance services, which are available around the clock. Medical care is delivered first, with insurance formalities handled afterwards. The vast majority of hospitals maintain 24-hour emergency units equipped for serious and critical cases. In a genuine emergency, you do not need to wait for pre-authorisation — treatment will not be held back while administrative processes are completed. Before you need them, save your nearest hospital’s emergency contact number and your insurer’s 24/7 helpline in your phone.

Will my pre-existing conditions be covered by my employer’s health insurance?

Coverage for pre-existing conditions varies considerably between policies. Basic employer-provided plans frequently impose exclusions or restrictions on chronic and pre-existing conditions. It is important to review your policy documents carefully when you arrive and, if your existing conditions are not adequately covered, to consider purchasing a supplementary international health insurance plan that specifically addresses your medical history and needs.

How long does it take to get registered and access a doctor after arriving in Saudi Arabia?

Once your employer has enrolled you on an insurance plan and your health insurance card has been issued, you can book an appointment with an in-network doctor straight away — there is no drawn-out waiting period comparable to GP registration processes in some other countries. Prompt issuance of your Iqama (residence permit) is the critical step that opens full access to healthcare services, so it is worth prioritising this as soon as you arrive.

What happens to my healthcare coverage if I change jobs or become unemployed?

Your health insurance in Saudi Arabia is generally linked to your employment contract and your sponsor. All expatriates and their dependants must maintain coverage as a condition of valid residency and employment status. If you move to a new employer, they are legally required to provide insurance, though a brief gap may occur during the changeover period. If you find yourself unemployed, you will need to take out a private insurance policy independently in order to remain covered and to keep your Iqama valid. Contact your insurer and HR team without delay if your employment situation changes.

Can I see a specialist directly, or do I need a GP referral first?

Within Saudi Arabia’s private healthcare system, it is frequently possible to book a specialist appointment directly, without first consulting a GP — though this depends on your specific insurance plan. Some insurers do require a referral from a general practitioner before they will approve and cover specialist consultations. To avoid incurring unexpected out-of-pocket costs, check your policy documentation or call your insurer’s helpline to confirm whether a referral is required before you make a specialist booking.

Are dental and optical care included in standard expat health insurance?

Most standard plans cover core inpatient and outpatient services, with dental and optical care treated as optional extras that depend on the insurer and the tier of policy selected. Employer-provided basic plans commonly exclude dental and optical cover as a default. Some plans do extend to maternity care, dental treatment, and optical services — assess your family’s needs carefully and consider upgrading your plan or taking out separate cover if these benefits are important to you.

Is telemedicine available in Saudi Arabia, and can I use it for routine consultations?

Telemedicine is well established in Saudi Arabia. The Sehhaty national health platform connects more than 24 million users — citizens and residents — with their personal health data and a comprehensive suite of digital health services, including virtual medical consultations. Many private insurers additionally provide their own telemedicine portals. Remote consultations are well suited to managing minor ailments, renewing prescriptions, and attending follow-up appointments, although you will still need to visit a clinic in person for physical examinations, procedures, and diagnostic investigations.

Do I need to bring my vaccination records when I move to Saudi Arabia?

Certain vaccinations may be required or strongly recommended depending on your country of origin and whether you intend to undertake hajj or umrah. Bring a copy of your international vaccination certificate — ideally one with clearly legible dates and vaccine names in English — so that your new doctor can assess your immunisation history. Childhood vaccinations are provided free of charge at all government health centres. Going forward, the Sehhaty app can store the vaccination records generated during your time in Saudi Arabia.