The Najran region is placing artificial intelligence at the center of its healthcare agenda in 2026, with AI selected as a key theme for the eighth Najran Health Forum and the sixth Prince Jalawi bin Abdulaziz Health Excellence Award, coinciding with the Kingdom’s designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence.
The initiative reflects the region’s efforts to promote innovation, adopt advanced technologies in healthcare and attract leading initiatives and experiences from across the Kingdom.
Showcasing the Latest Smart Healthcare Applications
Dr. Ibrahim bin Hamim, Director General of the Najran Health Affairs Branch, said the forum will provide a platform to showcase the latest innovations and smart applications in healthcare through a program combining scientific and practical approaches.
The event will feature an exhibition highlighting the latest AI technologies in healthcare, alongside workshops designed to facilitate knowledge exchange, share experiences and present innovative practices and solutions aimed at improving healthcare services and efficiency.
Bin Hamim said the decision to make AI a central theme of the forum and award reflects directives from the Governor of Najran and demonstrates the region’s commitment to adopting advanced technologies and promoting healthcare innovation in line with the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
Six Tracks for the AI Award
The sixth edition of the award focuses on encouraging innovation and the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare while highlighting outstanding initiatives and projects.
The award features six main tracks:
- Excellence and innovation in smart healthcare.
- Smart health volunteering.
- Smart leadership in the nonprofit healthcare sector.
- AI for patient safety.
- Smart road safety.
- Smart beneficiary experience.
Each track has specific criteria and requirements designed to identify innovative applications of AI and smart technologies while encouraging organizations and individuals to develop practical solutions that improve healthcare efficiency.
Participation Open Across the Kingdom
One of the key features of the sixth edition is the expansion of participation to all regions of the Kingdom, with government, private-sector and nonprofit organizations, as well as individuals, eligible to participate.
The expanded scope aims to attract more innovative initiatives and outstanding experiences while creating opportunities for knowledge and expertise to be exchanged across sectors and regions.
A Journey That Began in 2019
The Najran Health Forum was launched in 2019 with its inaugural edition held under the theme “Leadership in Medicine,” becoming the first forum of its kind among the Kingdom’s regions.
In 2020, the first edition of the Prince Jalawi bin Abdulaziz Health Volunteering Award was launched. Both the forum and award have continued to develop through successive editions, reaching their eighth and sixth editions respectively in 2026.
The forum and award are supported by Minister of Health Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel, as part of efforts to strengthen platforms that bring together healthcare professionals, innovators and institutions to showcase experiences and exchange knowledge.
These initiatives contribute to the Kingdom’s healthcare transformation, improve service quality and efficiency, and support quality of life in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in digital transformation, innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies across vital sectors.
