Dr. Ahmed Bahammam wins the 2025 Arab Physician Award for Scientific Research
In a move reflecting the prestigious position that Saudi medical professionals have reached on the regional and international stage, Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Bahammam, Professor of Sleep Medicine and Chest Diseases at the College of Medicine at King Saud University, was awarded the “Arab Physician” Award for 2025. This award was given in the first branch of the award dedicated to “scientific research and innovation,” by decision of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, to reaffirm Saudi leadership in precise medical fields.
A career full of scientific achievements
This victory is no coincidence; it is the culmination of a long and distinguished scientific and research career for Dr. Bahammam, who serves as the Director of the University Sleep Medicine and Research Center. Dr. Bahammam is considered a pioneer in this field in the region, having established the first academic research center for sleep medicine in Saudi Arabia in 2002, marking a significant advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in the Arab world.
Further enhancing his scientific standing, Dr. Bahammam achieved a global milestone earlier this year, ranking sixth worldwide among the most distinguished scientists in the field of sleep medicine over the past five years, according to the "ScholarGPS" global platform. He boasts over 400 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals, in addition to authoring approximately 10 medical books and serving as president of the Asian Society of Sleep Medicine, making him an international authority in this specialized field.
Reflecting the Kingdom's Vision 2030 in the health sector
This achievement complements the significant progress witnessed in the Saudi Arabian healthcare sector under Vision 2030, which has placed great emphasis on scientific research, innovation, and human capital development. This unlimited government support has been reflected in the performance of Saudi universities and research centers, which now compete with leading global institutions in the quality of their research output.
The data indicates a qualitative leap in Saudi health achievements for 2025, as it was not limited to individual awards, but extended to include institutions; the Saudi health system won an award and 19 international medals at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, in addition to health facilities winning 9 international awards in customer experience, which reflects the maturity of the health transformation and the quality of services provided to beneficiaries.
The Kingdom's leading role in Arab health
Regionally, Saudi Arabia plays a leading role in driving Arab health development. Through the meetings of the Council of Arab Health Ministers, the Kingdom actively contributes to shaping public health strategies, combating epidemics, and developing health governance programs that have become a model for many Arab countries.
The announcement of the Kingdom’s winning of the first and second branches of the award, and Egypt’s winning of the third branch, during the sixty-third regular session of the Council of Arab Health Ministers held on December 18, confirms the weight that the Kingdom represents in the Arab health scene, and the role of its prestigious universities, foremost among them King Saud University, as beacons of science and advanced medical research.
