Saudi Arabia concluded the Global Health Exhibition 2025 in Riyadh with a resounding message: collaboration, investment, and innovation remain the cornerstones of global healthcare transformation.
The eighth edition of the event delivered $35.5bn in signed agreements and partnerships, featured 607 speakers, and recorded a 54 per cent increase in international attendees compared to the previous year — reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a global convenor for healthcare advancement.
Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Health, the event ran from October 27–30 under the theme “Invest in Health”.
Organised by Tahaluf, the exhibition aligned closely with Vision 2030 and the Health Sector Transformation Program, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to redefine global healthcare systems.
Major deals and partnerships
During the closing remarks, Abdulaziz bin Hamad AlRamaih, Vice Minister of Health for Planning & Development, Ministry of Health, highlighted the event’s exceptional scale and quality.
He said: “For the second consecutive year, the Global Health Exhibition stands as the fastest-growing health event in the world…This year’s edition stood out for the exceptional quality of its participants and attendees.
“We witnessed strong global interest from investors and leaders in the healthcare sector. The calibre of speakers, forums, and summits, including CEOs and global health leaders, confirms that combining scale and quality is possible, and this is what makes the Global Health Exhibition the most attractive destination in the global healthcare industry.”
He noted that B2B private sector value had grown sixfold compared to 2024, with this year’s event generating $35.5bn in healthcare deals and partnerships.
Among the most notable announcements:
- $8.4bn committed to hospital and healthcare infrastructure development across Saudi Arabia
- $3.24bn allocated to venture capital and strategic investment funds
- $625m channelled into the life sciences sector
Strategic collaborations were also revealed between HUMAIN, Lean, and Google Cloud, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress in building a world-class digital health ecosystem.
Healthcare landscape
The final day focused on patient-centric innovation and the economics of care. In the panel Defining Value in Healthcare: Reimagining Care Models for 2035, global experts examined how value-based care must evolve to meet future needs.
Matthew Shaw, CEO of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, stressed that true healthcare value extends beyond immediate costs to include long-term social and economic benefits.
Dr Majd Abu Zant, MD and CEO of Global Fertility, added that funding models must evolve from activity-based to outcome-based approaches, saying that “Healthcare value isn’t only about cost or efficiency, it’s about equity, access and ensuring every patient receives the care they deserve.”
Next generation innovators
The exhibition also highlighted emerging talent through two major competitions:
- NextGen Pitch Competition, sponsored by Persivia, featured 20 startups from over 10 countries and awarded $26,660 to Exoheal, creators of a robotic glove revolutionising hand-paralysis rehabilitation
- LiveWell Youth Competition, part of VIBE, Powered by LiveWell from the Ministry of Health, invited 117 student teams to develop mental health, nutrition, and wellness solutions. The team Vitrac received top honours
Both competitions underscored Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting innovation in preventive healthcare, digital health, and youth entrepreneurship.
Global scale and industry backing
This year’s exhibition attracted more than 130,000 attendees, 2,200 exhibiting brands, and 607 speakers, including 307 international experts.
