Saudi virtual hospital at forefront of AI integration, deputy minister says
Seha Virtual Hospitalis reshaping patient care by eliminating geographical limitations and integrating advanced AI solutions
Kingdom’s e-hospital is transforming patient care by providing nationwide access to advanced consultations
Updated 11 February 2025
Reina Takla Miguel Hadchity
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Seha Virtual Hospital, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest online medical initiative, is leading the way in transforming healthcare accessibility and efficiency through digital innovation.
The facility, linked to over 200 hospitals across the Kingdom, is reshaping patient care by eliminating geographical limitations and integrating advanced artificial intelligence solutions.
Speaking with Arab News on the sidelines of the LEAP 2025 tech conference in Riyadh, Abdullah Al-Issa, Saudi Arabia’s deputy minister for e-health and digital transformation, highlighted the government’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance health care services.
“Digital is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. The ministry has prioritized digitization to deliver high-quality services to beneficiaries, creating a deputyship responsible for strategy, enterprise architecture, and implementation of digital solutions,” Al-Issa stated.
Bridging gaps with Seha Virtual Hospital
The Kingdom’s e-hospital is transforming patient care by providing nationwide access to advanced consultations.
“For rare specialties, patients no longer need to travel long distances to see a doctor. With Seha Virtual Hospital, consultations can happen remotely, ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment,” Al-Issa explained.
The establishment also powers initiatives like the Tele-ICU, which enables specialized consultants to assess critical patients remotely.
“Previously, patients requiring niche expertise had to be transferred via emergency air transport. Now, they can be treated in their hometown hospitals, reducing logistical burdens and improving outcomes,” he added.
AI-driven health care revolution
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has been at the forefront of artificial intelligence integration, using technology to enhance diagnostics and preventive care. “For two years, we have utilized AI in Seha Virtual Hospital, including AI-driven x-ray solutions that detect breast cancer and other conditions, assisting consultants by flagging abnormalities before they even examine scans,” said Al-Issa.
AI also plays a pivotal role in large-scale preventive health care. “We have screened over 30 million people for non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension, categorizing them into high-, medium-, and low-risk groups. Those at high risk receive further assessment and early intervention, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of increasing life expectancy to 80 years,” he noted.
Partnerships and cybersecurity in digital health
Collaboration with the private sector remains a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s health care strategy. “We welcome partnerships with innovators and technology firms to enhance services. Working alone isn’t enough— we must collaborate to maximize technology’s benefits for patients, doctors, and the entire ecosystem,” Al-Issa emphasized.
With the rapid digitalization of health care, cybersecurity has become a top priority. “We are fully aligned with the National Cybersecurity Authority’s recommendations to safeguard patient data and prevent misuse of technology,” he added.
Nafees: the unified medical record system
The Ministry of Health is also advancing health care integration through Nafees, a unified medical record system that consolidates patient health data across providers.
“Patients can now access their medical history through the Sehhaty app, while health care providers can view past diagnoses and test results, eliminating redundant procedures and enhancing efficiency,” Al-Issa said.
“We are midway through this project, with many providers already connected and more to follow in the coming years,” he added.
Saudi Arabia and UNCTAD ink deal to measure e-commerce and digital economy
Updated 4 sec ago
Nirmal Narayanan
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the UN Trade and Development have signed an agreement aimed at enhancing the formulation of e-commerce and digital economy policies in the Kingdom.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the agreement will help build a framework in the Kingdom’s e-commerce sector by implementing a survey to assess the current situation and disseminating the data in accordance with international best practices.
The agreement was signed by the Kingdom’s Vice Minister of Commerce, Eman Al-Mutairi, during the 8th session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on E-Commerce and the Digital Economy in Geneva on May 12.
In a separate statement, UNCTAD said that Saudi Arabia has committed $1.4 million to support its work on measuring e-commerce and the digital economy.
UNCTAD has estimated that global e-commerce sales reached over $27 trillion in 2022, based on the latest available data covering businesses in 43 developed and developing economies.
Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce sector is also witnessing rapid momentum, with 40,953 businesses registered across the Kingdom by the end of 2024, representing a 10 percent year-on-year rise.
“This partnership with UNCTAD will further solidify the Kingdom’s leadership in the digital domain, enabling us to effectively measure and harness the vast economic potential of e-commerce for our businesses, thereby reinforcing our global competitiveness,” said Al-Mutairi, who is also the CEO of the Kingdom’s National Competitiveness Center.
She further added that the Kingdom is steadfastly advancing its ambitious transformation agenda by positioning itself as a diversified and competitive economy across economic, social and cultural spheres.
UN Trade and Development Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan said that measuring the actual value of e-commerce opportunities remains “a great challenge.”
She added: “Under this agreement, we will be able to develop the evidence base needed to understand the current ‘state of play’ regarding e-commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but also improve measurement at the global level.”
UNCTAD said that the collaboration with Saudi Arabia consists of two tracks – domestic and international.
The domestic track will focus on assessing the degree of digital trade uptake and value of e-commerce transactions in Saudi Arabia — one of the largest economies in the Middle East.
The international track will support the work of a dedicated task group convened by UNCTAD, comprising experts from more than 25 countries and fellow international organizations.
Saudi Arabia’s National Competitiveness Center has several partnerships with international organizations to benefit from their practices and experiences in the areas of improving and developing the Kingdom’s competitiveness, and UNCTAD is one of its most important partners.
FHS25: Tourism leaders see Saudi Arabia becoming top 5 global destination by 2040
Updated 17 min 25 sec ago
Nour El-Shaeri
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia continues its rapid transformation into a global tourism hub, industry leaders at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh forecast the Kingdom’s emergence as one of the world’s top five travel destinations by 2040.
A clear focus on diversified tourism offerings, reduced seasonality, and workforce development is driving long-term strategic alignment between the public and private sectors, experts told attendees.
Saudi Arabia is seeking to boost its tourism and hospitality sectors under the Vision 2030 economic diversification initiative, with a plan to deliver 362,000 new hotel rooms by the end of the decade to meet growing demand.
Having already surpassed its initial goal of 100 million visitors, the Kingdom now targets 150 million annually by 2030, reinforcing its ambition to become a premier global destination and solidifying tourism as a key pillar of long-term economic growth.
Speaking during a panel on the 2025–2040 hospitality outlook, Ibrahim Al-Turki, chairman of Growth Partner, reflected on the sector’s trajectory since the early planning days of Vision 2030.
“To be honest, I didn’t imagine that we would be here today,” he said. “From this perspective, I think Saudi Arabia in 2040 will be one of the top five destinations.”
Al-Turki emphasized that to sustain momentum, the Kingdom must continue to develop meaningful reasons for global visitors to choose Saudi Arabia — not just more hotel rooms.
“The rooms are everywhere, but they need a reason to come. In 2040, we need to ask ourselves: ‘What is the why’?” he said.
He pointed to recent progress in addressing long-standing seasonality issues, citing initiatives such as Riyadh Season, Jeddah Season, and new destination management organizations like AlUla and the Red Sea.
“In Makkah and Madinah, 70 percent of visitors used to come in Ramadan. This year, only 20 percent came in Ramadan — the rest is distributed across the year,” he said.
“This is how the ADR (average daily rate) of the hotels will increase. That investment will be better, and this is how we deal with this activation and seasonality,” he said.
Elie Milky, vice president of development for the Middle East, Pakistan, Greece, and Cyprus at Radisson Hotel Group, noted that Saudi Arabia’s strength lies in the breadth of its tourism strategy.
“Saudi Arabia is becoming a global destination covering religious tourism, medical tourism, agricultural tourism, corporate tourism. It’s going to cover every aspect of tourism that we know today,” he said.
Milky echoed the need for a wide-ranging hotel supply strategy, emphasizing the role of secondary cities in balancing demand.
“The more quality hotels you have in secondary locations, the more people visit,” he said.
He added that Radisson has expanded significantly across the Kingdom with a diversified brand portfolio, including new openings in Madinah and upcoming launches in Makkah and the Eastern Province.
In support of long-term growth, Milky also underscored the importance of workforce development.
“Talent is a challenge, not only in Saudi Arabia, but globally,” he said. “More than 40 percent of our talent are Saudis — Saudi men, Saudi women — and with our regional office in Riyadh, Saudization is at 60 percent.”
He highlighted ongoing efforts to train Saudi nationals for leadership positions through public-private collaboration and responsible business initiatives.
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund eyes global bank partnerships to boost financing
Updated 13 May 2025
Reina Takla Reem Walid
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund is pursuing partnerships with global banks to secure additional financing for large-scale hospitality and infrastructure projects, as interest in the Kingdom’s fast-growing travel market intensifies.
Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh, Khalid Al-Shareef, director of large institutions coverage at TDF, stated that the fund is looking beyond its own capital base and local banking partnerships to support major developments.
This comes as the fund has supported more than 2,400 direct and indirect tourism projects, representing a total investment of over SR35 billion ($9.33 billion). These initiatives are contributing to the development of more than 9,200 hotel rooms and villas across the country.
The drive aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 objective of increasing tourism’s contribution to gross domestic product from 3 percent to 10 percent and creating 1 million new jobs within the industry.
Al-Shareef told Arab News: “We are also bringing inbound, international banks to help us support, whether it’s equity investments or in terms of financing.”
He added: “We look forward to expanding, and it all depends on where we are headed. We have a roadmap, which is the national tourism strategy, and wherever we find the gap, you will find us there participating.”
The spokesperson revealed that TDF met with a couple of banks and received strong interest across the board. “The Saudi market is growing at a fast pace; the numbers are talking for themselves. So, everyone is interested to join and be part of this growth,” he added.
According to Al-Shareef, TDF participates in projects through three key financing mechanisms: debt, equity, and guarantees in partnership with banks. He emphasized the importance of de-risking projects, particularly for small and medium enterprises.
“Some projects have high risk, especially for SMEs. We have partnered with a couple of local banks to provide guarantees for them to mainly cater to the mass market all across the Kingdom,” he said.
The fund also supports entrepreneurship through its TDF Grow platform, aimed at empowering startups and tour guides through education and training.
“We have supported more than 8,800 participants, all world-class education classes from international and well-known entities to offer their courses here in Saudi Arabia,” the TDF spokesperson said.
Beyond financing, TDF is positioning itself as a facilitator within the tourism ecosystem, simplifying processes and enhancing access to support services.
“As we have mentioned, financial support is there, but non-financial support is also important, especially for SMEs. You have to give the right education and guidance for them to thrive and hopefully become bigger companies over time,” he said.
Al-Shareef emphasized that the guidance component is crucial and noted that non-financial support also involves connecting SMEs with various entities.
“Today, rather than going to 10 or 15 entities to operate a hotel or what have you, we are basically trying to be a one-stop shop that will guide you on where to go to get your licenses and permits,” the spokesperson added.
Al-Shareef noted the diversity of Saudi Arabia’s tourism landscape, ranging from beaches in the Eastern Province and Jeddah to mountainous regions in the south and desert terrain in the north. TDF is focusing efforts on underdeveloped areas that require more government incentives.
“Currently, we are focusing more on tier two and tier three cities. Big cities like Riyadh and Makkah are carrying themselves, especially with the banks supporting them heavily,” the spokesperson said.
He cited Abha, Al Baha, and AlUla as examples of regions receiving increased attention to ensure more balanced tourism development across the Kingdom.
Oil Updates — prices ease on concerns over rising supply, US-China trade deal caution
Updated 13 May 2025
Reuters
LONDON: Oil prices eased on Tuesday from a two-week high, weighed down by concerns about rising supplies and some caution over whether the pause in the US-China trade war indicated a longer-term deal was likely.
Brent crude futures dropped 11 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $64.85 per barrel by 8:10 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 8 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $61.87.
Both benchmarks closed about 1.5 percent higher on Monday at their steepest settlements since April 28. The gains come during a turbulent time for global oil markets.
The US and China agreed to slash steep tariffs for at least 90 days, sending Wall Street stocks, the US dollar and crude prices sharply higher on Monday.
“While a thawing in trade tensions between China and the US is helpful, there’s still plenty of uncertainty over what happens in 90 days. This uncertainty could continue to generate headwinds for oil demand,” ING analysts said in an email to clients.
Underlying schisms that led to the dispute remain, including the US trade deficit with China and US President Donald Trump’s demand for more action from Beijing to combat the US fentanyl crisis.
“There is still high uncertainty around the future US-China trade negotiations in the coming 90-day pause period and beyond, given the substantial differences between China and the US on some fundamental issues,” UBS Chief China Economist Wang Tao wrote in a client note.
Markets were eyeing rising supplies as a key driver for oil price weakness.
“Though demand has been a key concern for the oil market, supply increases from OPEC+ mean that the oil market will be well supplied through the remainder of the year,” ING analysts said, adding that how well supplied the market is will depend on whether OPEC+ sticks with plans for aggressive supply hikes in May and June.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has boosted oil output by more than previously expected since April, with May output likely up by 411,000 barrels per day.
However, oil price declines were capped by some signs that demand for refined fuel remains strong.
“Despite the deteriorating outlook for crude demand, positive signals from the fuel markets cannot be overlooked. Although international crude prices have declined by 22 percent since their peak on January 15, both refined product prices and refining margins have remained stable,” JP Morgan analysts said in a note.
Reduced refining capacity — mostly in the US and Europe — is tightening gasoline and diesel balances, increasing reliance on imports and raising susceptibility to price spikes during maintenance and unplanned outages, they added.
Complex refining margins in Singapore have nearly doubled in May, averaging at $6.60 a barrel this month, up from $3.65 in April, LSEG pricing data showed.
Trump’s Saudi Arabia visit heralds a new era of economic diplomacy
Both nations eye investments potentially exceeding $1 trillion as US president returns to expand a landmark economic alliance
Visit underscores focus on trade, trust and transformation as cooperation in defense, energy and emerging tech gains momentum
Updated 12 May 2025
Nour El-Shaeri
RIYADH: As President Donald Trump embarks on the first and, arguably, the most significant overseas tour of his second term, both the US and Saudi Arabia are eyeing investments worth billions of dollars.
In a call in January immediately after Trump was sworn in, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the president that the Kingdom planned to increase the value of its trade and investments with the US by $600 billion over the coming four years. This suggested that the value of mutually beneficial deals between the two countries might potentially reach $1 trillion, indicating that the bilateral relationship was entering a bold new phase.
Driving this next chapter in the relationship are personal diplomacy, strategic commercial interests, and a shared vision for geopolitical alignment.
Trump’s first foreign visit as US president during his first term was to Riyadh in May 2017. This marked the beginning of a transformative economic partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia and a new era of cooperation centered on defense, energy and infrastructure agreements worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
Now, as the American president returns to the Kingdom, his first stop on a tour this week that will also take him to Qatar and the UAE, the foundations laid in 2017 are set to be built upon.
Trump’s first foreign visit as US president during his first term to Riyadh in May 2017 marked the beginning of a transformative economic partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia. (AFP)
Trump’s first term (2017–2021) was characterized by a national-interest-driven foreign policy. Saudi Arabia quickly emerged as a cornerstone ally in both economic and strategic terms, a dynamic cemented at the historic Riyadh Summit in May 2017, at which King Salman extended an exceptionally warm welcome to the president.
The summit produced a wave of landmark agreements, most notably a $110 billion arms deal — part of a broader $350 billion economic package encompassing defense, energy and infrastructure initiatives.
In addition to state-level commitments, major commercial accords were struck. Saudi Aramco signed agreements valued at approximately $50 billion with prominent US firms including General Electric, Schlumberger and Halliburton.
Then Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih highlighted the private sector’s growing role, remarking: “Many of us sitting at the table are overseeing substantial investments in the United States.”
Further solidifying the economic partnership, the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund pledged $20 billion to a US infrastructure initiative spearheaded by Blackstone.
This commitment helped to anchor a $40 billion fund dedicated to revitalizing American roads, bridges and airports. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia announced a $45 billion investment in the SoftBank Vision Fund, directing capital toward cutting-edge US technology ventures.
President Trump, addressing the summit’s assembled dignitaries, emphasized the significance of the occasion.
“This historic and unprecedented gathering of leaders — unique in the history of nations — is a symbol to the world of our shared resolve and our mutual respect,” he said. “The United States is eager to form closer bonds of friendship, security, culture and commerce.”
Then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the investments were expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries over the coming decade.
“They will lead to a transfer of technology from the US to Saudi Arabia, enhance our economy, and also enhance American investments in Saudi Arabia, which already are the largest investments of anyone,” he said.
Throughout his presidency, Trump consistently highlighted Saudi investments as a win for American industry. In 2018, he hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, where he publicly displayed detailed charts of Saudi arms purchases and emphasized the job-creation benefits across multiple US states.
“We’ve become very good friends over a fairly short period of time,” Trump remarked.
Throughout his presidency, Trump consistently highlighted Saudi investments as a win for American industry. (SPA)
Reflecting on that period, Albara’a Al-Wazir, director of economic research at the US-Saudi Business Council, described the 2017 visit as an “inflection point” in bilateral economic relations.
“It wasn’t just the volume of deals — it was the alignment of strategic priorities between both governments and the private sector that defined the success of that moment,” he told Arab News in an interview.
“It marked a shift from transactional diplomacy toward long-term commercial integration.”
Trump’s 2024 re-election has reignited bilateral economic momentum and, according to Al-Wazir, this next wave of engagement reflects the Kingdom’s evolving priorities.
“Recent deals have spanned traditional sectors like defense and energy, but we are also seeing growth in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, biotech and financial services,” he said, highlighting a broader, more diversified agenda than in Trump’s first term.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, Trump hinted at even greater ambitions. He suggested he would ask the Saudi crown prince to raise the investment target to $1 trillion, describing it as a natural extension of a robust and trusted partnership.
Saudi Economy Minister Faisal Alibrahim confirmed at the forum that the $600 billion pledge encompassed both government-led procurement and private-sector investment in key areas such as defense, energy, infrastructure and technology.
A picture taken in the Saudi Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 14, 2022, ahead of a visit by the US president to the kingdom, shows a Saudi host addressing guests during a presentation on the Saudi Green Initiative. (AFP)
The Saudi Ministry of Investment now ranks the US among its top five sources of foreign direct investment, particularly in sectors aligned with Vision 2030, such as infrastructure, technology and renewables.
As of January 2025, Saudi Arabia held $126.9 billion in US Treasury securities, making it the only Gulf Cooperation Council country among the top 20 foreign holders of American debt. This substantial stake underlines Riyadh’s continued confidence in US fiscal stability and reflects a longstanding strategy to diversify reserves via reliable, dollar-denominated assets.
The current holdings include $105.3 billion in long-term bonds and $21.6 billion in short-term instruments, reflecting a balanced approach between liquidity and capital preservation.
As the Saudi-US Investment Forum convenes on Tuesday at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, economic cooperation between the two nations will once again be in the global spotlight.
Timed to coincide with Trump’s visit, the forum aims to highlight nearly a century of bilateral partnership. It will bring together prominent investors, business leaders and policymakers from both nations to strengthen commercial ties and explore new avenues for collaboration.
According to figures released ahead of the event, the US remains the largest foreign investor in Saudi Arabia, with FDI stock totaling $54 billion as of 2023 — accounting for approximately 23 percent of all FDI in the Kingdom.
Currently, 1,266 American firms hold active licenses to operate in Saudi Arabia, including 440 new licenses issued in the past year alone. These companies are engaged in such critical sectors as transportation, manufacturing, retail, information and communications technology and professional services. Collectively, they employ more than 80,000 workers in the Kingdom, including over 44,000 Saudi nationals.
The Riyadh Chamber of Commerce organized in February bilateral meetings with a US trade delegation. (Supplied)
Saudi investment in the US is also on the rise, with FDI stock now exceeding $75 billion. Leading the way are key institutions such as the PIF, Aramco and SABIC, while US financial firms continue to play a pivotal role in channeling global capital into major Saudi initiatives.
Bilateral trade between the two countries remained strong in 2024. Saudi exports to the US reached $12.8 billion, including nearly $3 billion in non-oil goods — a testament to the Kingdom’s ongoing economic diversification efforts.
Meanwhile, US exports to Saudi Arabia totaled $19.7 billion, led by machinery and appliances at $5.1 billion, vehicles at $2.6 billion, and medical and optical equipment at $1.5 billion.
On the Saudi side, key exports to the US included mineral products ($10 billion), fertilizers ($830 million) and organic chemicals ($526 million).
This year’s forum is expected to highlight the expanding investment and trade relationship as a cornerstone of modern economic diplomacy between the two strategic allies.
Bilateral trade between the two countries remained strong in 2024. Saudi exports to the US reached $12.8 billion, including nearly $3 billion in non-oil goods — a testament to the Kingdom’s ongoing economic diversification efforts. (Supplied)
Trump’s visit to Riyadh is widely expected to focus also on new defense contracts and deepening economic cooperation.
Energy policy has also returned to the fore, with Trump urging Saudi Arabia to ramp up oil production in a bid to stabilize global markets and reduce pressure on fuel prices — linking economic alignment to broader geopolitical aims, including efforts to curtail Russian revenue.
Al-Wazir believes the visit may also accelerate progress in emerging technologies and industrial development: “US companies are particularly well positioned to support Saudi Arabia’s diversification goals under Vision 2030, especially in energy transition technologies, automation and data analytics,” he said.
There are signs that Gulf investors are already responding positively to the renewed partnership. Following the 2024 US election, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of PIF, was photographed alongside President Trump and Elon Musk, who is now serving as a senior adviser to the White House. Bloomberg interpreted the image as a signal of renewed Gulf confidence in the Trump administration.
As Trump returns to Saudi Arabia, the US-Saudi economic alliance appears not only intact, but also on the cusp of expansion — driven by mutual interests, deepening personal ties and a shared belief that commerce remains a pillar of diplomacy in a rapidly shifting global order.
