King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) in Riyadh has been ranked first among hospitals in the Arab and African regions.
The hospital confirmed its position as the top-ranked medical facility in Saudi Arabia for the fourth consecutive year, according to Newsweek’s 2025 list of the World’s Best Hospitals.
KFSH&RC made a significant leap of 20 places compared to last year’s ranking, marking a 9% improvement in the prestigious classification, according to a hospital statement.
Currently ranked 209th worldwide, KFSH&RC is the only hospital from the Arab and African regions included in the global ranking.
This year, over 2,400 hospitals were evaluated, with Newsweek publishing an annual list of the top 250 hospitals worldwide.
Global Hospital Rankings and the Growing Healthcare Industry
According to global data platform Statista, the number of hospitals worldwide is expected to reach 215,977 by 2026.
In Newsweek’s 2025 World’s Best Hospitals report, the publication stated:
“With an overwhelming number of hospitals to choose from, Newsweek and Statista take pride in presenting the World’s Best Hospitals 2025, helping patients identify top-tier healthcare providers worldwide.”
The 2025 rankings cover 30 countries, including:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway,
Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE, UK, and the US.
These countries were selected based on several comparative factors, such as:
Living standards, life expectancy, population size, number of hospitals, and data availability.
The rankings are based on a comprehensive evaluation process, which includes:
An extensive online survey of thousands of healthcare experts (doctors, hospital managers, and healthcare professionals).
Patient experience data and feedback.
Quality metrics of hospitals.
Survey results measuring patient-reported outcome indicators.
KFSH&RC’s achievement highlights Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare standards and position itself as a leading global player in the medical sector.