On October 13, 2026, the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean office made a landmark announcement. It officially recognized 16 Healthy Cities in Saudi Arabia. Above all, the Jeddah Madinah healthy cities designation marked a regional first. Both cities became the first-ever “Mega Healthy Cities” in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Consequently, one-third of Saudi Arabia’s population now lives in WHO-awarded Healthy Cities. Finally, almost 9 million residents enjoy the benefits of this recognition.
A Historic Announcement for Jeddah Madinah Healthy Cities
WHO EMRO announced the recognition in Riyadh on October 13, 2026. In addition, officials called it a historic milestone in urban health. The designation rewards years of work by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health. For example, the Ministry built its Healthy Cities Program with government and community partners. The program therefore applies more than 80 international standards across nine key areas. Consequently, they became the Middle East’s first cities of over two million people to earn the award.
“This recognition from WHO is a direct result of our leadership’s vision and unwavering commitment to placing human well-being at the heart of national development,” a Ministry of Health representative said. “Under Saudi Vision 2030, we are not just building cities, we are cultivating healthy, vibrant communities for generations to come.”
What a Mega Healthy City Means
The Mega Healthy City label sets a new global benchmark. It shows that WHO health standards can work in large metropolitan areas. For cities of this scale, however, the challenge is enormous. Madinah and Jeddah each host millions of residents. In addition, they welcome huge numbers of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims every year. Meeting the standard at this scale consequently proves that comprehensive, health-promoting development is possible. As a result, the designation carries weight far beyond Saudi Arabia. Indeed, the Jeddah Madinah healthy cities achievement shows that scale is no barrier to health.
Similarly, other Saudi cities earned the Healthy Cities award. These include Taif, Tabuk, Al-Khobar, Abha, and Diriyah. In total, 16 cities now carry the WHO Healthy City award. As a result, almost 9 million residents — one-third of the Kingdom’s population — live in healthier urban environments.
Meeting 80 International Criteria
To earn the award, each city met more than 80 international criteria. The assessment covers nine key areas. These include health services, the urban environment, and emergency preparedness. They also cover community empowerment, intersectoral partnerships, education, and sustainability.
The assessment looks at how deeply health shapes city planning. For example, it examines the quality of health services and the walkability of streets. It also checks emergency readiness. Moreover, it reviews how communities take part in decisions that affect their well-being.
Vision 2030 and the Jeddah Madinah Healthy Cities Success
The Jeddah Madinah healthy cities success flows directly from Saudi Vision 2030. In particular, it reflects the Vision’s Quality of Life Programme. It also reflects the Kingdom’s “Health in All Policies” approach. This approach means health shapes decisions across every sector of government. As a result, health is not just a healthcare issue.
Saudi Arabia now shares its experience with the wider region. The Kingdom hosts the region’s first WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities. In addition, the centre has supported the assessment of 14 cities in other countries. Meanwhile, it drives regional capacity-building and promotes health-centric urban planning.
The Jeddah Madinah healthy cities milestone therefore sets a new global benchmark. Indeed, it proves that large metropolitan areas can meet WHO standards at scale. Finally, it shows what sustained investment in health can achieve. Above all, the award means healthier daily lives for the nearly 9 million residents of these cities. The Kingdom’s holy cities continue to make headlines. In the same month, the rain in Makkah also drew attention across the region.
