AGP Executive Report

Digital Health Services: Tawakkalna added 160 new services in June via 40 public and private entities, expanding access across healthcare, education, municipalities, housing, justice, transport, labor, social security and tourism. Gene Therapy Milestone: The US FDA cleared CRISPR-based Casgevy for children as young as two with sickle cell disease or transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia, potentially reaching thousands more patients earlier. Public Health & Aid: KSrelief reported ongoing medical and humanitarian support, including blood bank services in Mogadishu, prosthetics and rehab in Yemen, and food and personal care distributions across Syria and Chad. Healthcare Infrastructure (Regional): Saudi Fund for Development support helped Sri Lanka advance a new Sabaragamuwa University medical faculty complex, boosting education capacity with a reported US$50m contribution. Safety on the Road: Oman’s Royal Police carried out medical evacuations after a crash in Qarn al Alam that killed two Saudi nationals and injured five others. Health in Conflict Zones: Syrian Health Minister visited Damascus bombing victims at Damascus Hospital, directing care and resources for injured patients. Medical Tourism Watch: A GCC hair restoration clinic brand (Padra) is marketing “trust” and long-term planning for premium transplant patients in Saudi Arabia.

Road Safety: Oman’s Royal Oman Police reported a serious vehicle crash in Qarn Al Alam that killed two Saudi nationals and injured five others, with air medical evacuation to Nizwa Hospital for treatment. Public Health & Emergency Care: Syria’s Health Minister visited victims of a Damascus café bombing, directing hospital staff to provide full medical resources and commending emergency teams after 10 deaths and 21 injuries were reported. Food & Allergy Wellness: Singapore-based ROA secured major Japanese backing to scale its vegan, allergen-free, halal cookies, with products already sold in Saudi Arabia and plans to expand further. Healthcare Policy (Pilgrimage): Indonesia said it improved 2026 Hajj services, including quota distribution and Nusuk Card rollout, while noting pilgrim healthcare still needs attention despite a ~25% drop in mortality. Health & Safety (Local): Saudi authorities are investigating an amusement ride accident in Abha after emergency teams treated 23 injured people, with no fatalities reported.

Amusement Ride Safety Probe (Abha): Authorities in Asir are investigating an amusement ride accident at a festival in Abha that injured 23 people; no deaths were reported and three patients were discharged, while officials continue checks on technical and regulatory factors. Anti-Corruption Crackdown (Saudi): Nazaha says it arrested 130 people over corruption-related offences after 1,585 oversight inspections and investigations of 385 suspects, including employees from the Ministries of Health and others; cases are moving through legal procedures. Cancer Drug Update (SFDA): Saudi’s SFDA approved camizestrant to expand first-line options for patients with advanced breast cancer, signaling continued growth in local access to oncology therapies. Pediatric Eye Disease Study (Saudi): A Saudi cohort study found that juvenile idiopathic arthritis drives most paediatric uveitis cases, adding local data for earlier recognition and care pathways. Healthcare Sector Moves (Saudi German Health): Saudi German Health appointed Abdullah Alzahrani as Group Executive Director of Human Resources, reflecting ongoing leadership and workforce planning. Worker Health & Fitness Screening (Saudi): Saudi Arabia plans mandatory health and fitness screenings for workers across all sectors, aiming to improve population health and readiness.

Breast Cancer Breakthrough in Saudi: SFDA approved AstraZeneca’s Etcamah (camizestrant) for HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer with an ESR1 mutation emerging during first-line hormonal therapy, in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors—based on the SERENA-6 Phase III trial. Pediatric Eye Care Insight: A Saudi cohort study in PLOS One found juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the leading cause of non-infectious paediatric uveitis, with biologic therapies linked to high remission rates over a 2-year follow-up. Health Tech & Digital Services: Elm will showcase its Saudi digital transformation model at LEAP East Hong Kong, highlighting AI, smart cities, digital identity and health-related government platforms. Workforce Protection Focus: Kenya’s Musalia Mudavadi begins a three-day Riyadh visit aimed at stronger protections for Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia, including better working conditions and dispute resolution. Injury Update: An Indian expat injured by a projectile incident in Al-Kharj has returned home after recovery, with the embassy citing ongoing support from Saudi authorities and hospitals. Market Watch (Diabetes & Supplies): New global reports project strong growth for antidiabetic drugs and gauze bandage rolls through 2035, reflecting continued demand for diabetes care and wound management.

Saudi Health & Policy: Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption push saw Nazaha arrest 130 citizens and expatriates over corruption-related offences, including employees from the Ministries of Interior, Defence and Health, with cases now moving to court. Workforce & Health at Work: Saudi Arabia is rolling out mandatory health and fitness screenings for workers across all sectors, aiming to standardize worker readiness and wellbeing. Care & Services: King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah launched its “Care Link” platform to improve patient support and care coordination. Clinical & Research Capacity: AAHRPP accredited five more research entities, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s clinical research quality and oversight. Healthcare Infrastructure: Saudi Arabia’s NCP launched a tender for a 391-bed Makkah university hospital, while the PMU awarded a $262m contract for a specialty hospital in Al Khobar. Digital Health & Safety: Saudi Arabia suspended a doctor’s licence over promotion of exosome injections, signaling tighter controls on medical marketing.

Digital Safety for Kids: YouTube rolled out supervised kid accounts across MENA, including Saudi Arabia, with age-appropriate content settings, stronger privacy, and parental controls like a Shorts feed timer plus bedtime/take-a-break reminders. Healthcare Leadership: Saudi German Health promoted Abdullah Alzahrani to Group Executive Director of Human Resources, strengthening internal HR leadership as it scales operations. Diabetes Drug Push: Daewoong Pharmaceutical signed a deal to supply Envlo (an SGLT-2 inhibitor) across eight MENA markets; Saudi Arabia approval is targeted this year with launches planned for 2027. Health Innovation Funding: Global Health Exhibition 2026 in Riyadh will host its NextGen Pitch Competition (26–29 Oct), matching 54 startups with investors and offering a SAR 100,000 prize pool. Heat & Homes: New research highlights worsening heat stress in the Arabian Peninsula, with experts urging GCC developers to redesign housing materials and ventilation to reduce cardiovascular, respiratory, and mental health risks.

Hajj Health & Digital Care: Saudi Arabia wrapped up Hajj 2026 with the last pilgrims departing, highlighting continued health support and a big push for digital services via Nusuk, which logged about 54 million interactions; health notifications were viewed over 22 million times and hundreds of thousands used Nusuk Maps and Digital Mutawwif support. Anti-Corruption (Health Sector Included): Nazaha reported 130 arrests in June across multiple ministries including Health, after 1,585 inspections and 385 suspect investigations, with cases tied to bribery and abuse of public office. UNRWA Funding Push: Saudi Arabia reaffirmed UNRWA as an “irreplaceable lifeline,” urging urgent action to close its funding gap that threatens education and healthcare for Palestinian refugees. Smart Farming for Food Security: An AI-enabled mango farm in Rijal Alma boosted flowering rates to over 98% in 2026 using soil moisture, wind and water-quality monitoring to improve irrigation decisions. Public Health Tech Governance: The UN’s “AI for Good” commission is set to meet in Geneva, with Saudi among the policymakers listed, aiming to address AI impacts on health and other critical services. Travel & Safety: Amnesty and Alqst reported cases of people detained in Saudi Arabia over social media posts, including during Hajj, raising concerns about fair trials and lengthy sentences.

Healthcare Digital Transformation: King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah launched “Care Link,” a new integrated digital platform to coordinate patients’ journeys, connect care teams, and streamline access to services. Hospital PPP Procurement: Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP) opened the Expressions of Interest stage for the completion and operation of Umm Al-Qura University Hospital in Makkah under a 30-year DBFOM model, targeting a fully operational 391-bed university facility. New Specialty Hospital Contract: Prince Mohammed bin Fahd University (PMU) awarded a SAR 994 million ($262m) contract to Zhejiang Construction Investment Group to build a 60,000 sqm specialty hospital campus in Al Khobar, including a 10-storey hospital and advanced clinical infrastructure. Research Ethics Oversight: AAHRPP accredited five more research entities, including MedStar Health Research Institute and Merck Research Laboratories, expanding protections for participants in high-quality, ethical studies. Public Health & Climate Impact: Spain reported over 1,000 heat-related deaths in June, highlighting rising health risks as hotter conditions strain healthcare systems. Workforce Health Policy: Saudi Arabia plans mandatory health and fitness screenings for workers across all sectors, aiming to improve population health and readiness.

Saudi Healthcare Expansion: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP) has launched a tender for a 391-bed specialty hospital at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah under a 30-year design-build-finance-operate-maintain model, aiming to boost specialized and secondary care plus medical education and research. Hospital Contract Award: Prince Mohammed bin Fahd University in Al Khobar awarded a SAR 994 million ($262m) contract to build a new specialty hospital campus with a 10-storey facility and integrated clinical infrastructure. Hajj Health Updates: 77,069 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims returned home from Saudi Arabia, while 55 deaths were reported due to illness and physical complications; 415 received treatment and seven were hospitalized during the pilgrimage period. Cardiovascular Drug News: Amarin welcomed FDA approval of injectable apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3) therapies for severe hypertriglyceridemia, highlighting ongoing lipid-management options and access concerns. GCC Health Cooperation: GCC health ministers stressed coordination to strengthen Gulf health and pharmaceutical security, including plans for a unified strategic stockpiling system. Regulatory Action: Saudi Arabia suspended a doctor’s licence over exosome injection promotion, signaling tighter oversight of emerging therapies.

Health & Safety in Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia ranked first among G20 countries for perceived safety at night, with 97.7% of residents saying they feel safe walking alone in residential areas, according to GASTAT’s SDG-based figures. Healthcare Workforce & Training: Red Sea Global (RSG) marked the graduation of 386 trainees from its Red Sea Vocational Training Programme, a 27-month track that includes English, airport services, luxury hospitality and health & wellness tourism operations. AI & Wellness Services: A report says Saudi consumers are increasingly using AI tools for practical guidance like fitness planning and nutrition ideas before consulting experts, reflecting rapid AI adoption. Public Health Policy: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet approved key national strategies, including work tied to health planning. Regional Health Risk Management: Saudi Arabia also announced travel/visa restrictions for three African nations over Ebola concerns, aiming to reduce virus spread risk.

AI & Health Advice Habits: Saudi consumers are increasingly using AI chatbots for quick answers on fitness and even nutrition plans before consulting experts, reflecting fast AI adoption and pushing professionals to adapt. Public Safety Snapshot: Saudi Arabia ranked first among G20 countries for perceived safety in 2025, with 97.7% of residents saying they feel safe walking alone at night—an indicator tied to quality of life and health-related wellbeing. Dry Eye Care Research: A new review highlights punctal occlusion techniques for tear drainage disorders, noting dry eye affects about 32.1% of Saudi adults and discussing management options. Hajj Health & Travel: Bangladesh’s Hajj return flights are wrapping up, with 55 reported deaths in Saudi Arabia this year and details on where pilgrims died and which airlines operated returns. Healthcare Markets Watch: New global market reports point to growth in hematologic malignancies testing and neonatal infant care—useful context for Saudi labs and hospital procurement planning. Food & Nutrition Data: SFDA released “Saudi Food Composition Tables” to improve nutritional data and support better diet planning.

Health Research: A new study reports low handgrip strength shouldn’t be used as a standalone predictor of prostate cancer risk in older men, reinforcing that grip strength is more of a general health marker than a cancer risk tool. Patient Safety & Regulation: Saudi authorities have suspended a doctor’s licence over unauthorized exosome injection promotion, a reminder that “advanced” therapies still need proper oversight. Clinical Pipeline (Saudi-linked): AB Science says it has completed step 3 of a Phase 1 study of AB8939 plus venetoclax for refractory/relapsed AML, reporting a 67% overall response rate with no dose-limiting toxicities in a small cohort. Public Health Risk: France recorded about 1,000 excess deaths during a heat wave, with older people worst affected—an urgent signal for heat preparedness. Travel & Compliance: ZATCA lowered the traveller declaration threshold for cash, gold and similar valuables to SAR 40,000, requiring disclosure on arrival and departure. Saudi Healthcare Infrastructure/Access: Dhahran Al-Janoub General Hospital earned CBAHI accreditation, highlighting continued quality improvements in local hospital services.

Aviation Safety & Emergency Response: Saudi Aramco reported a helicopter crash near Ras Tanura that killed 14 people; an investigation is underway to determine the cause. Cardiac Care Upgrade: King Saud Medical City (KSMC) in Riyadh completed its first left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) procedures using BIOTRONIK technology, marking a first for Ministry of Health hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Medical Education Recognition: Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences’ MBBS program received the 2026 ASPIRE-to-Excellence Award in Curriculum Development from AMEE, a first for an MBBS program in Saudi Arabia and the MENA region. Public Health & Travel Policy: Saudi Arabia suspended travel and visa access for three African nations over Ebola concerns, signaling tighter entry controls to protect public health. Water Security Focus: Kuwait highlighted water infrastructure upgrades, desalination, reuse, and digital network management during Saudi Water Week and the Arab Water Forum in Jeddah, underscoring regional cooperation on water security. Workforce Mobility (Health Sector Included): Pakistan set a goal to deploy one million workers to Saudi Arabia by 2030, with healthcare among targeted sectors.

Regulatory Crackdown: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health suspended a practitioner’s licence after social media promotion of injectable exosome products, saying claims about safety/effectiveness weren’t backed by approved guidance or scientific standards. Public Health Borders: Saudi Arabia introduced new travel and visa restrictions tied to Ebola concerns, barring travel from DRC, Uganda and South Sudan and blocking entry for anyone who transited via third countries after recent stays. Hajj Safety Update: Kebbi State (Nigeria) reported all 4,256 pilgrims returned from the 2026 Hajj with zero deaths, with one pilgrim remaining in Makkah for medical therapy. Healthcare Finance: Burjeel Holdings priced its first MENA healthcare sukuk since 2018, raising $500m with strong demand (3.2x oversubscription) to support GCC healthcare growth. Heat Risk Reminder: A new report warns cloud seeding can’t “guarantee” rain on demand, while extreme heat across the Middle East and parts of South Asia is pushing temperatures toward 50°C.

Ebola Watch: Saudi Arabia’s Weqaya temporarily barred citizens from traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, and suspended visas for arrivals from those countries, with extra checks for anyone who visited them in the prior 21 days. Health Regulation: Saudi Arabia suspended a healthcare practitioner’s license over unauthorized exosome promotion, citing violations including unapproved use claims and incomplete risk information. Hospital Care: Dhahran Al-Janoub General Hospital earned CBAHI accreditation, a boost for quality and patient safety standards. Nutrition & Food Data: SFDA launched the “Saudi Food Composition Tables” to document culinary heritage and strengthen nutrition data for better public health guidance. Public Health Insights: Valeo Health reported hitting 1 million orders across UAE/Saudi/Qatar, saying many users discover risks only after testing—like high cholesterol and elevated HbA1c—and that follow-up programs can improve markers. Hajj Health Logistics: Bangladesh reported 68,297 pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia, with hospital treatment and deaths recorded during Hajj operations. Community Safety: After Cape Verde’s World Cup draw with Saudi Arabia, four people were shot in Brockton, Massachusetts, and were taken to hospital; police investigations are ongoing.

Ebola Border Controls: Saudi Arabia’s Weqaya temporarily bars citizens from traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan and suspends visas for arrivals from those countries, with extra checks for anyone who visited within 21 days—aimed at preventing Ebola entry. Hospital Quality Boost: Dhahran Al-Janoub General Hospital in Aseer earns CBAHI accreditation after meeting patient-safety and quality standards, supporting the Health Sector Transformation Program. World Cup Health & Safety: A Saudi defender, Hassan Al-Tambakti, was stretchered off with a worrying leg injury during the match vs Cape Verde, while elsewhere a shooting during Cape Verde celebrations in Brockton left at least four people wounded. Public Health in Numbers: During Hajj, 68,297 Bangladeshi pilgrims returned home; 55 deaths were reported and thousands received treatment or help-desk services in Makkah and Madinah. Tech for Care: GEODIS reports successful trials of recyclable paper-based thermal covers for pharma airfreight, maintaining temperature integrity during shipments across multiple countries including Saudi Arabia.