Skip to main content
MumExpat

Health

Children's health in Riyadh

Healthcare in Riyadh is very good, in the private sector, thanks to the health insurance provided by the employer. No registered family doctor or carte Vitale: you choose your paediatrician within the insurance network. Here is how it works, with verified addresses and the official list of French-speaking doctors.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How the healthcare system works

For an expat family, everything goes through the private health insurance provided by the employer: you see a paediatrician or GP directly in a private clinic or hospital within the network, on presentation of your insurance card. The large leading public hospitals mostly work on referral.

Good to know

  • Health insurance is mandatory for foreign private-sector employees and their families, provided by the employer; the passport office will not issue or renew an iqama without valid cover. Source
  • Saudi Arabia has excellent medical facilities, but costs can be very high: without insurance covering hospitalisation, surgery and repatriation, access to care is not guaranteed, even in an emergency, and the embassy does not pay. Source
  • King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre is a national and international referral centre, especially for children with serious or rare diseases and for high-risk pregnancies. Source
  • The Ministry of Health's 937 centre answers 24/7: medical consultations by phone with doctors, poisoning advice, guidance. Source
  • To keep a link with French social security, notably for care during stays in France, the Caisse des Français de l'Étranger offers voluntary membership. Source

Go further

Finding a paediatrician and following baby

There is no registered family doctor: you choose a paediatrician in a clinic or hospital covered by your insurance, and you stick with them. Arrive with a complete health record for each child, ideally translated into English.

Good to know

  • Ask your insurer for its network list and check that paediatrics is covered without prior approval; many families pick a private hospital close to their compound or school.
  • Carry a vaccination certificate in English or translated into Arabic for each child: it may be required at hospital admission or a consultation. Source
  • The local record is the vaccination card handed over at the first appointment: bring it to every visit to keep it updated, along with your French carnet de santé. Source
  • The Ministry of Health's apps let you book at primary healthcare centres, consult remotely, and track vaccinations and prescriptions. Source
  • At the École française internationale de Riyad, two nurses follow pupils from nursery to lycée, working with a school psychologist: tell them about allergies and treatments at the start of the year. Source

Go further

Emergencies and children's hospitals

In Riyadh, one reflex: 911, the unified emergency number. For a child who is ill but not in danger, call 937 or your private hospital first. Identify, as soon as you arrive, the nearest hospital in your insurance network.

Good to know

  • 911 is the unified emergency number for the Riyadh region: a single centre takes calls 24/7 with multilingual operators and passes them to the relevant services. Source
  • The specialised numbers still work: 997 for a medical emergency, 998 for the fire brigade, 999 for the police, 993 for traffic police. Source
  • For medical advice or a poisoning, the Ministry of Health's 937 answers day and night. Source
  • At a private hospital's emergency department, show the child's insurance card and iqama; bring their usual medication and vaccination card. The large public hospitals below mainly take referred or eligible patients.

Addresses

  • King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, urgences pédiatriques

    Emergency

    King Abdulaziz Medical City, est de Riyad

    Paediatric emergency department opened in 2015 within the National Guard's King Abdulaziz Medical City, designed to take all paediatric emergencies; check your eligibility.

    Website Source

  • King Fahad Medical City, Children Specialized Hospital

    Hospital

    King Fahad Medical City, As Sulimaniyah

    Large public children's hospital of the Ministry of Health, with paediatric and neonatal intensive care.

    Website Source

  • King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre

    Hospital

    Al Maather, Riyad

    The kingdom's referral centre for children with serious or rare diseases, neonatology and high-risk pregnancies; access by referral.

    Website Source

  • Kingdom Hospital

    Hospital

    Ath Thumamah Road, Ar Rabi

    Private hospital in the north of the city, where several French-speaking doctors from the embassy list practise, including a GP.

    Source

  • Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib, hôpital Takhassusi

    Hospital

    Takhassusi Road

    A major private hospital group in Riyadh; a French-speaking ophthalmologist from the embassy list practises there.

    Source

  • Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital Riyadh

    Hospital

    Al Yasmin

    Private hospital in the north with neonatal intensive care; a French-speaking GP from the embassy list consults there.

    Website Source

Go further

French-speaking doctors and dentists

The French embassy in Saudi Arabia publishes an indicative list of French-speaking doctors, updated on 25 August 2026. It is provided for information only, without the embassy taking responsibility for the quality of care or the fees, and the choice of practitioner is free. We list the Riyadh practitioners here; all work in the private sector. The list includes no psychologist or speech therapist: for these, ask EFIR, Riyad Accueil or the UFE.

Good to know

  • The official list covers Riyadh, Al Khobar and Jeddah: thirteen practitioners in Riyadh, including two paediatricians, three GPs and two orthodontists; it is the only public list checked by the administration. Source
  • Before booking, check that the facility is in your insurance network: most of these doctors work in large private hospitals (Kingdom Hospital, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib, Fakeeh). Source
  • For psychological or learning support, EFIR has a school psychologist who sees pupils and advises families. Source

Addresses

  • Dr Ali Diab El-Arab

    Paediatrician

    As Sulaymaniyah

    Paediatrician, Consulting Clinics.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Ammar Khaldi

    Paediatrician

    Paediatrician and paediatric intensivist, senior consultant in paediatric and paediatric cardiac intensive care.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Khalil Abou Dayia

    General practitioner

    Ath Thumamah Road, Ar Rabi

    General practitioner, Kingdom Hospital.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Marc Nahas

    General practitioner

    Al Yasmin

    General practitioner, Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Fahad Sakkal

    General practitioner

    General practitioner.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Mohammed Hachemi

    General practitioner

    Al Maather

    Anaesthetist and intensivist, qualified in general practice, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Hani Hariri

    Al Maather

    Emergency physician, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Marwan Kaddah

    Dentist

    Rue Al Dabab

    Orthodontist, Clinic Dr Saud.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Mohamed Odeh

    Dentist

    Al Mughirah Ibn Shubah, King Fahd

    Orthodontist, Dent Medical Center.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Fadwa Al Adel

    Takhassusi Road

    Ophthalmologist specialising in the retina, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Takhassusi.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Anouar Bourghli

    Ath Thumamah Road, Ar Rabi

    Spine specialist surgeon, Kingdom Hospital.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Yasser Kalaaji

    Ath Thumamah Road, Ar Rabi

    Cardiologist, Kingdom Hospital.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Dr Nader Kalaji

    As Sulaymaniyah et Ar Rabi

    Urologist and andrologist, Consulting Clinics and Kingdom Hospital.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

Go further

Pregnancy and maternity

Pregnancy is followed privately, by an obstetrician-gynaecologist at the hospital where you plan to give birth, within your insurance network. Check early what the policy covers, and prepare the post-birth formalities: there are many.

Good to know

  • Maternity leave is 12 weeks on full pay, 6 of which must be taken after the birth; the other 6 can be spread freely, up to 4 weeks before the due date. Source
  • Cohabitation outside marriage is illegal in Saudi Arabia: an unmarried pregnant woman risks prosecution and serious difficulties with medical follow-up and registering the child. Keep your translated marriage certificate on file. Source
  • After the birth, the baby must be registered on Absher before the parents can leave the country; also declare the birth to the consulate for transcription into French civil records and a passport. Source
  • The national newborn screening programme, launched in 2005, now tests for 21 diseases from a few drops of blood taken from the heel before leaving the maternity unit. Source

Addresses

  • Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital Riyadh, maternité

    Maternity

    Al Yasmin

    Private maternity unit in the north of the city, with neonatal intensive care; the hospital has been recognised for the quality of its maternity care.

    Website Source

  • King Fahad Medical City, Women Specialized Hospital

    Maternity

    King Fahad Medical City, As Sulimaniyah

    Public hospital specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology, known for high-risk pregnancies.

    Website Source

  • King Faisal Specialist Hospital, centre femmes et enfants

    Maternity

    Al Maather, Riyad

    Fetal medicine and complicated pregnancies, extremely premature babies and leading neonatology; access by referral.

    Website Source

Go further

Pharmacies and medicines

Pharmacies are everywhere, in malls as along the main roads. The real point of care is the medicines you bring from France.

Good to know

  • The Nahdi and Al Dawaa chains have branches across the city and an online pharmacy with delivery; pharmacists generally speak English. Source
  • Travel with medicines in their original packaging, with a prescription giving the international non-proprietary name (INN), and only in the quantity needed; check before leaving that they are allowed in the country. Source
  • Medicines containing narcotics or psychotropics are strictly regulated by the Saudi drug authority (SFDA): for such a treatment, check before packing. Source
  • Equivalents: paracetamol is sold as Panadol, Adol or Fevadol, ibuprofen as Brufen or Nurofen, in children's syrups; saline drops are asked for as « saline ». Doliprane and many French syrups do not exist here.
  • A French prescription is not filled as is: have the treatment prescribed by a local doctor, and call 937 if in doubt at night. Source

Go further

Vaccines: differences from France

The Saudi schedule broadly resembles the French one, with one difference that matters for school: chickenpox is among the required vaccines. Review it with the paediatrician as soon as you arrive, French record in hand.

Good to know

  • For school, pupils must be vaccinated against polio, diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella, and chickenpox; the diphtheria-tetanus booster is given from age 7. Source
  • Chickenpox is not among France's eleven mandatory vaccinations: a child arriving from France is often not vaccinated and will need to catch up. Source
  • Before leaving, bring the whole family up to date with the French schedule, measles included; depending on the stay, hepatitis A, typhoid, hepatitis B and rabies for young children may be advised. Source
  • Meningococcal ACWY vaccination is mandatory for anyone going to Makkah or Madinah for Umrah or the pilgrimage, at least 10 days beforehand. Source
  • The local vaccination card is given at the first appointment; if one is missed, book again as soon as possible: the clinician will tell you which vaccines are missing. Source

Go further

These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Riyadh will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ambassade de France en Arabie saoudite, liste des médecins francophones
  2. 2 Ambassade de France, en cas d'urgence
  3. 3 Conseils aux voyageurs, santé en Arabie saoudite
  4. 4 Ministère de la Santé saoudien, centre 937
  5. 5 Ministère de la Santé saoudien, santé scolaire
  6. 6 King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
  7. 7 BAL, assurance santé obligatoire des familles

Get updates to the Riyadh guide

Verified addresses, official sources, school-year dates: we write when the Riyadh guide changes, never more than once a week.

Other sections of the Riyadh guide

Report a change

A place has closed, a number has changed, something is no longer right? Please tell us: we check and fix the Riyadh guide.

What is going on?