Healthcare in Saudi Arabia — Hospitals, Clinics & Emergency Guide

TL;DR: Save 911/997/998/999/112 and 937 on your phone; add your insurer’s 24/7 authorization line and your top two hospitals (home + work). Pick providers that are CBAHI‑accredited (and JCI where available), stay inside your insurance network, carry your residency ID + insurance e‑card, and keep a one‑page medical file in the Sehhaty app. Use Wasfaty for e‑prescriptions where supported. Keep the checklists and scripts below for the day you need them.

How the healthcare system is set up (public, private, networks)

• Public providers: Government hospitals and primary healthcare centers provide services to citizens and residents; ERs take emergencies regardless of insurance status. For non‑urgent care, expect appointment systems and referral pathways.

• Private providers: A large network of private hospitals/clinics operates in all major cities with direct‑billing agreements to insurers. Out‑of‑network visits may require pay‑and‑claim reimbursement.

• Accreditation: Saudi’s official hospital accreditation body is CBAHI. Many facilities also carry JCI accreditation. Use accreditation to filter options, then confirm network and distance.

• Insurance regulator: The Council of Health Insurance (CHI) sets the baseline benefits and rights for insured residents. Emergency treatment is prioritized; non‑emergency care may require pre‑authorization.

Practical takeaway: Build a two‑hospital plan (closest to home + close to work or your child’s school) and confirm both are in‑network before you need them.

ER vs urgent care vs clinic — where to go and when

Tip: If you’re unsure, call 937 for guidance or your hospital’s nurse line. When in doubt, err on the side of ER—you won’t be turned away for a true emergency.

Emergency numbers, ambulance flow & what to say on the phone

Numbers to save (and label on your phone):

• 911 (unified emergency; expanding nationwide).

• 997 (Ambulance / Saudi Red Crescent).

• 998 (Civil Defense – fire/flood).

• 999 (Police).

• 112 (works without a SIM).

• 937 (Ministry of Health 24/7 health hotline).

Ambulance flow — what happens next 1) You call 911 or 997 and state EMERGENCY; the operator confirms location and chief complaint. 2) A Saudi Red Crescent crew is dispatched; you may receive a call back for landmark details. 3) Paramedics triage; for critical cases, you’re transported to the nearest suitable ER. If the first ER lacks a needed specialty, expect transfer. 4) Insurance is secondary in a true emergency; carry your residency ID and insurance e‑card, but treatment is not delayed for life‑threatening conditions.

What to say (don’t overthink it):

• “Emergency at [address/plus code]. Adult/child. [Issue] (e.g., chest pain/unconscious/bleeding). Breathing? conscious? [Yes/No].”

• Add clear landmarks, gate code, and a call‑back number.

• If it’s safe, send someone to the street to wave down the crew.

Finding and vetting hospitals & clinics (CBAHI/JCI, location, hours)

• Accreditation check: Prefer CBAHI‑accredited facilities; JCI is an extra quality marker.

• Network check: Confirm your insurer’s tier for the facility (A/B/C), co‑pay, and whether ER visits are covered differently from clinics.

• Distance/time: In traffic, minutes matter. Drive to your chosen hospitals on a weekday evening to test timing and parking.

• Departments & hours: Confirm 24/7 ER, pediatrics, obstetrics, imaging, pharmacy hours, and on‑call arrangements.

• Language & access: Most front desks operate in Arabic/English; take a photo ID. Many hospitals use SMS OTP for portal access—keep your Saudi SIM active.

Due‑diligence short list

• Accreditation (CBAHI/JCI) ✔

• In‑network (tier, co‑pay) ✔

• 24/7 ER + imaging ✔

• Pediatrics/OB on site ✔

• Parking/traffic tested ✔

• Pharmacy 24/7 or late ✔

• Patient portal + results ✔

Insurance 101 for expats (coverage, approvals, direct billing vs reimbursement)

• Policy basics: Your ID card shows network, plan tier, and co‑pay/deductibles. Keep a photo on your phone.

• Direct billing vs reimbursement: In‑network providers usually bill your insurer; out‑of‑network or uncovered services may need pay‑and‑claim (keep invoices and medical reports).

• Pre‑authorization: Elective imaging, surgeries, some meds, and non‑urgent admissions often require pre‑approval; ER stabilisation is handled first.

• Emergency coverage: True emergencies are prioritized; administrative steps follow stabilization.

• Your rights: Employers must initiate coverage promptly for employees and dependents; you’re entitled to access the benefits in your policy and receive your card/credentials quickly.

Claims discipline (save this): Scan diagnosis codes, physician notes, invoices/receipts, and bank IBAN certificate into a single PDF for reimbursements.

Prescriptions & pharmacies (Wasfaty, 24/7 pharmacies, controlled meds basics)

• Wasfaty e‑prescription: Many MOH facilities and some partners issue e‑prescriptions that you can fill at participating community pharmacies—handy for routine meds.

• 24/7 pharmacies: Major cities offer late‑night or 24‑hour pharmacies near hospitals.

• Controlled medicines: Expect stricter rules and documentation; bring ID, diagnosis, and the original prescription; do not share or carry someone else’s medication.

• Generic vs brand: Pharmacists can advise on availability and insurance coverage; carry your allergy list.

Practical tip: Photograph your prescription label after dispensing; it speeds up future refills and claim submissions.

Maternity, pediatrics & women’s health (planning and paperwork)

• Maternity planning: Choose a hospital with 24/7 OB + NICU if possible; book antenatal visits early; confirm whether private rooms are covered.

• Paperwork: Save pregnancy confirmation, ultrasound reports, and delivery summary; ask for birth notification promptly for newborn registration.

• Newborn care: Clarify how to add your baby to insurance; some policies require notification within 30 days.

• Pediatrics: Map two pediatric ERs (home/work), verify vaccine schedules, and carry your child’s immunization card (or digital records).

• Women’s health: Many hospitals offer female clinicians and women‑only clinics; ask at booking.

Dental, optical & mental health (what’s covered, where to look)

• Dental: Routine care (cleanings, fillings) may be partially covered depending on your plan; orthodontics is often limited or excluded—check caps and age limits.

• Optical: Glasses/contact lenses are often capped per year; retain invoices and prescription details.

• Mental health: Access psychologists/psychiatrists via hospital clinics or private centers; coverage varies. If you need quick guidance on where to go, call 937 for routing.

Medical records & e‑health (Sehhaty, sick leave, test results)

• Sehhaty app: Consolidates health records and lets you view lab results, vaccinations, appointments, and sick leave documents from participating providers.

• Sick leave: Many providers issue electronic sick leave that you can view/share through Sehhaty—useful for HR.

• My file discipline: Keep a personal folder with diagnoses, med lists, allergies, blood type (if known), imaging CDs, and advance contacts (next of kin, GP, insurer).

Checklists you can save (wallet card, ER bag, home kit)

A) Wallet/phone card (front/back)

• 911 / 997 / 998 / 999 / 112 / 937

• ID number, insurer + policy, blood type/allergies, two emergency contacts, nearest hospitals (home/work)

B) ER bag (grab‑and‑go)

• Residency ID, insurance e‑card, recent med list, allergy note, phone battery, small cash/card, water/snacks, light jacket, spare chargers

C) Home kit

• Thermometer, fever reducers (age‑appropriate), basic first‑aid, oral rehydration, antihistamine, bandages/tape, disinfectant, pulse oximeter (optional)

EN/AR scripts you’ll actually use

Call an ambulance (EN)

“Emergency at [address/plus code]. Adult/child with [problem]. Breathing? conscious? [Yes/No]. Landmark: [store/mosque]. Call me back on [number].”

طلب إسعاف — AR

«حالة طارئة في [العنوان/الرمز]. شخص بالغ/طفل يعاني من [وصف الحالة]. يتنفس؟ واعٍ؟ [نعم/لا]. العلامة المميزة: [اسم المكان]. رقم التواصل [الرقم].»

Hospital admissions desk (EN)

“I’m an insured resident with [insurer]. I’m heading to the ER for [issue]. Can you confirm direct billing is active and whether you need any pre‑auth once I’m stable?”

الاستقبال — AR

«أنا مقيم/مقيمة ومؤمن/مؤمنة لدى [شركة التأمين]. سأذهب إلى الطوارئ بسبب [الحالة]. هل لديكم ربط مباشر مع شركتنا وهل يلزم موافقة مسبقة بعد الاستقرار؟»

Insurer pre‑authorization (EN)

“Doctor [name] at [hospital] recommends [procedure/test/medication]. Please issue pre‑authorization; I’ll upload the report and estimate now.”

طلب موافقة — AR

«الدكتور/الدكتورة [الاسم] في [المستشفى] أوصى بـ [الإجراء/الفحص/الدواء]. نرجو إصدار موافقة مسبقة. سأرفع التقرير والتكلفة التقديرية الآن.»

Clinic appointment (EN)

“Do you have a female clinician available for [specialty]? I have [insurance plan] and can share the e‑card.”

حجز عيادة — AR

«هل تتوفر طبيبة في تخصص [التخصص]؟ لدي [اسم الخطة التأمينية] ويمكنني إرسال البطاقة الإلكترونية.»

FAQs

What a typical ER visit looks like — timeline (so you can plan)

1) Triage (5–15 minutes): nurse checks vitals (pulse, O2 saturation, BP, temp) and tags urgency. Critical cases jump the queue. 2) Assessment (15–45 minutes): physician exam, orders labs/imaging if needed. 3) Authorizations (parallel): registration captures ID + insurance; non‑urgent tests may wait for pre‑auth; emergency stabilisation proceeds either way. 4) Treatment (variable): meds, IV, sutures, casting, procedures. 5) Discharge or admission: you receive instructions, prescriptions (paper or e‑prescription), and follow‑up bookings. If admitted, ask the nurse for an admission summary to send to your insurer/HR.

Bring: ID, insurance e‑card, med list, allergy note, and a battery pack. Photograph discharge papers before you leave.

Picking providers like a pro — a 7‑factor scorecard

1) Safety: CBAHI accreditation (must‑have); JCI (nice‑to‑have). 2) Access: travel time at peak; parking; disabled access; female‑clinician availability. 3) Capability: 24/7 ER, pediatric/OB cover, imaging (CT/MRI), on‑site labs, pharmacy hours. 4) Network fit: plan tier, co‑pay, exclusions; direct‑billing confirmation. 5) Digital: patient portal, Sehhaty integration, SMS reminders, e‑prescriptions. 6) Experience: language support, interpreter access, bedside manner in reviews. 7) Cost predictability: transparent estimates and pre‑auth support.

Scoring tip: Weight Safety (x3), Access (x2), Capability (x2), others (x1). Shortlist top two.

Claims, EOBs & appeals — step‑by‑step

• EOB (Explanation of Benefits): After a visit, your insurer issues an EOB showing what was billed, what was allowed, your co‑pay, and what (if anything) was denied.

• If something is denied: Request the denial reason code and ask your provider to supply missing medical necessity notes or coding fixes.

• Appeal basics: Submit a short letter with case number, visit date, ICD/CPT (if available), the doctor’s note, and invoices. Keep tone factual.

• Deadlines: Appeals windows are short—start within 7–14 days of receiving the EOB.

• Reimbursement: For out‑of‑network pay‑and‑claim, combine invoices, medical reports, payment proof, and your IBAN certificate in one PDF.

Bringing personal medication into KSA — baseline

• Routine non‑controlled meds: Carry in original packaging with a recent prescription. Keep quantities reasonable for personal use.

• Controlled medications (e.g., certain pain, ADHD, psychiatric meds): Apply for clearance/permit through the SFDA system before travel. Carry the doctor’s report, dosage, and duration. Expect to declare at entry and present documents.

• At the pharmacy: Some drugs require national‑ID and physician details for dispensing; expect stricter checks for controlled items.

Do not carry meds for others or share prescriptions. When in doubt, ask your doctor to suggest an uncontrolled alternative available locally.

The digital health stack you’ll actually use

• Sehhaty: health record, vaccinations, sick leaves, some appointments.

• Mawid: appointment booking for PHCs; many features now sit inside Sehhaty.

• 937: 24/7 hotline for guidance and routing.

• Asafny (SRCA): emergency request app with precise location and silent‑mode options for people with hearing/speech needs.

Setup routine: Install, verify mobile number, enable location, and store ICE data in your phone’s Health/Medical‑ID.

Top 10 mistakes expats make in healthcare (and easy fixes)

1) No hospital plan: Don’t wait—shortlist two ERs now. 2) Missing documents: Photograph ID, insurance e‑card, and previous reports for your phone. 3) Ignoring network tiers: A “great hospital” off‑network can mean big out‑of‑pocket bills. 4) Skipping pre‑auth: For non‑urgent imaging/procedures, confirm pre‑authorization first. 5) No med list: Keep generic names and dosages; brand names vary by country. 6) Letting prescriptions lapse: Use Wasfaty/Sehhaty reminders for refills. 7) Not asking for female clinicians: Many services can accommodate—request at booking. 8) Poor record‑keeping: Keep a single PDF folder per episode; claims go faster. 9) Driving in severe storms: Follow Civil Defense/NCM alerts; reschedule non‑urgent care. 10) Overusing ER for routine issues: You’ll save time/cost using clinics or telehealth for minor problems.

Accessibility & language — practical arrangements

• Language: Most front desks operate in Arabic/English; ask for interpreters for complex discussions.

• Accessibility: Confirm wheelchair access, elevators, and accessible washrooms. Ask about waiting‑area seating and queue‑ticket alternatives.

• Neurodivergent patients/children: Request quieter waiting slots or first‑appointment slots and ask staff to outline steps in advance.

Cost ranges — what families actually see (illustrative, varies by plan/city)

Always rely on your plan’s schedule of benefits; the table above is a planning aid, not a quote.

City micro‑maps — how to place your providers

• Riyadh: Pick one hospital near Northern corridors and one nearer work; traffic can double travel time at rush hours.

• Jeddah: Anchor near the Corniche/central corridors; add a coastal urgent‑care option for weekends.

• Eastern Province: Choose across Dhahran/Khobar/Dammam with quick access to highways; coastal winds can affect boating/diving—plan ahead.

Commuter tip: Practice the route once at evening peak and once late night to understand real‑world timing.