The Islamic city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia has again earned global recognition of World Health Organization (WHO) as ‘Healthy City,’ for meeting strict wellness standards.
Madinah is securing the WHO Healthy City accreditation for the second time, making it the largest city in the Middle East with over one million residents to earn this recognition twice.
The certificate was handed over to Prince Salman bin Sultan, the region’s governor, by Health Minister Fahad AlJalajel during Thursday’s ceremony.
The holy city had to tick off 80 different health requirements across nine major areas including public participation, water safety, healthcare access, and emergency preparedness.
It’s not just about having good hospitals – the WHO looked at everything from food safety to how well local communities get involved in health decisions.
Prince Salman pointed out that this recognition shows Saudi Arabia’s serious commitment to making cities better places to live, which is exactly what Vision 2030 aims for.
Madinah first got this title back in 2019, and renewing it in 2025 proves they’ve kept up the standards.
The Kingdom now has 16 WHO-certified healthy cities total. Other cities on the list include Taif, Tabuk, Riyadh Al-Khubra, and Sharurah.
What’s impressive is how Saudi Arabia is pushing this initiative nationwide – it’s not just about one or two cities showing off.
The evaluation process covered initiatives supporting small businesses and local economic growth, proving that healthy cities need more than just good medical facilities.
They need communities where people can actually afford to live well and have opportunities to thrive economically while staying healthy.
The growing list demonstrates the Saudi Arabia’s investment in preventive healthcare, environmental health, and inter-agency collaboration to build cities that support both physical and mental well-being.
