A contract to complete the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Medical City project, one of Bahrain’s key healthcare initiatives, was signed on Saturday (May 10).

 

Dr Saad bin Saud Al Fuhaid, President of Arabian Gulf University (AGU), and Mazen Matar, CEO of Nass Corporation, signed the deal. 

 

The signing ceremony was attended by Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Health; Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council; Yousef bin Abdullah Al Benyan, Saudi Minister of Education; Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al Marshad, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD); and senior medical and education officials from both countries.

 

The medical city will include a teaching hospital with 300 rooms, clinical and outpatient buildings, 77 outpatient clinics, 15 operating rooms, 37 intensive care units, and six isolation rooms. It will also house medical education and research centres focused on regional health priorities such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

 

The project reflects the strong ties between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and serves as a model for Gulf cooperation in healthcare and academia. It aims to address gaps in specialised healthcare in Bahrain and the wider region, integrating medical services with education and research, said Bahrain News Agency report.

 

Dr Juma emphasised that the project reflects the deep ties between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and supports cooperation in health and education, under the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. 

 

He noted the project’s support from the Bahrain-Saudi Coordination Council, co-chaired by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

 

Sultan Al Marshad described the project as a leading model of development cooperation in healthcare, with a capacity exceeding 275 beds, enabling medical training and comprehensive services aligned with international standards.

 

Dr Al Fuhaid expressed appreciation to the leadership of both countries and the SFD. He noted that the project will advance Bahrain’s position as a regional hub for medical innovation and research. He underlined the university’s keenness to delivering the project to the highest international standards, in honour of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and in support of Bahrain’s strategic vision for the healthcare sector.

 

Bashar Sameer Nass, Board Member of Nass Corporation, said construction is progressing rapidly in line with the set schedule, with a focus on delivering high quality facilities and advanced educational infrastructure.