Forbes Middle East Healthcare Leaders Summit Riyadh 2026

The second Riyadh edition of the Forbes Middle East Healthcare Leaders Summit was a one-day meeting of policymakers, hospital operators, pharmaceutical manufacturers, investors and technology companies, held on 13 September 2026 at Rafal Tower by JW Marriott in Riyadh. The programme centred on how Saudi Arabia's healthcare transformation is being financed, delivered and scaled, from digital health systems and preventive care to talent and local drug manufacturing.

What was covered

The agenda was organised into five themes, each made up of short panels, fireside chats and spotlight addresses, with two sessions held in Arabic.

• From strategy to impact: building a resilient healthcare economy
• Aligning capital and capability for long-term value creation
• Value-driven patient care: digital foundations, precision therapies and prevention
• Healthcare as a growth engine: pharma localisation, workforce and competitiveness
• Advancing healthcare frontiers: connected, seamless care

Who spoke

H.E. Dr Khalid bin Adnan Al-Burikan, Deputy Minister for Investment at the Ministry of Health, opened the main programme in a fireside chat on the Kingdom's health economy. Other speakers came from SPIMACO, GE Healthcare, Philips, Siemens Healthineers, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Lean Business Services, WuXi AppTec, Hikma, Eli Lilly, Tabuk Pharmaceuticals, KAUST and the Hevolution Foundation, with Forbes Middle East presenters and industry leaders moderating.

Format

Registration and networking opened at 9:00 AM, followed by the opening ceremony and a welcome address from Khuloud Al Omian, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Middle East. Sessions ran through the day with a networking lunch, and the conference closed at 4:40 PM. Delegate passes added reserved main-stage seating, lunch and a post-event content pack; visitor passes covered the summit area, panels and exhibiting partners.

Tickets & passes

• Delegate Pass — USD 200: Early-bird price (standard USD 400); reserved main-stage seating, coffee breaks and lunch, post-event content pack