King Saud Medical City: 25,000 surgeries and record growth in 2025

King Saud Medical City, an active member of the First Riyadh Health Cluster, has recorded a remarkable medical achievement that adds to its record of giving, as it announced that the number of surgical operations performed in its operating rooms exceeded 25,000 surgical operations during the year 2025. This huge number reflects the extent of the efforts made in providing health care, recording a growth rate of 20% compared to the statistics of the year 2024 AD. These operations included a wide range of subspecialties, and varied between scheduled routine cases and urgent and emergency cases received by the city.

Operational efficiency and global standards

In detailing this achievement, Dr. Hussein Al-Yousef, Head of Surgical Operations at the First Riyadh Health Cluster and Director of Operations at the city, explained that this success was not a coincidence, but rather the result of a well-thought-out strategy to increase the efficiency of operational capacity utilization. Dr. Al-Yousef emphasized that the most notable aspect of the operating rooms' performance this year was achieving exceptionally high occupancy rates, coupled with a significant reduction in surgery cancellation rates. This is a vital indicator reflecting improved service quality, enhanced patient safety, and ensuring that medical resources and personnel are not wasted.

Breakthrough in same-day surgeries

King Saud Medical City's excellence wasn't limited to quantitative growth in the number of surgeries; it was accompanied by a remarkable qualitative leap in same-day surgeries. Dr. Al-Yousef noted that the increase in this type of surgery exceeded 50%, a figure that reflects the city's commitment to adopting modern healthcare models. Same-day surgery is considered one of the most important global benchmarks for measuring the development of healthcare institutions, as it contributes to faster access to services, reduces waiting lists, and improves the patient experience by allowing them to return home on the same day. Furthermore, it plays a significant role in reducing operational waste and lowering the risk of hospital-acquired infections.

Historical status and strategic role

These figures are particularly significant given the historical importance of King Saud Medical City (formerly known as Al-Shumaisi Hospital), one of the oldest and largest medical institutions in Riyadh and the Kingdom as a whole. The city plays a pivotal role as a referral center for critical and complex cases, not only from within Riyadh but also from across the Kingdom, making an increase in its surgical capacity a matter of direct importance to national health security.

Alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030

This achievement aligns perfectly with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program, one of the programs under the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to facilitate access to healthcare services, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure financial sustainability. The focus on increasing the number of procedures while maintaining quality, and expanding same-day surgeries, directly contributes to achieving greater health value for the community and reinforces the Kingdom's position as a leading destination for advanced healthcare in the region.