King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, widely known as KFSH&RC, is Saudi Arabia’s premier specialized healthcare institution. Founded in 1976, the hospital has spent nearly five decades setting the standard for clinical care, medical education, and research across the Kingdom and the wider region.
The institution operates under a clear vision: to shape the future of specialized healthcare. Its mission is to serve society with the highest level of healthcare and the best patient experience within an integrated education and research setting.
Clearly, this is not a general hospital. KFSH&RC focuses on complex, high-acuity cases that require specialized expertise and advanced medical technology.
Locations and Campuses
KFSH&RC operates three major hospital campuses across Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh (Flagship Campus)
- Over 1,500 inpatient beds
- Leads organ transplantation and oncology programs in the Kingdom
- Home to the Research Centre, focused on genetics and biotechnology
- Accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI)
- Site of the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant surgery
Jeddah Campus
- Approximately 470 beds across general and specialized wards
- Serves the Western Region of Saudi Arabia
- Offers advanced cardiac care, pediatric surgery, and oncology units
- Connected to Riyadh via a strong telemedicine network for complex consultations
- Active in research, education, and academic affiliations
Madinah Campus
- Around 300 beds with smart hospital systems
- Newest addition to the KFSH&RC network
- Focuses on critical care, oncology, ophthalmology, and women’s health
- Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 health transformation strategy
- Winner of the 2023 Press Ganey “Human Experience Guardian of Excellence” award, ranking in the top 5% globally for outpatient patient experience
Centres of Excellence
Beyond its campuses, KFSH&RC organizes its clinical services into dedicated Centres of Excellence. These centers bring together multidisciplinary teams, research programs, and clinical expertise under one coordinated structure.
- Cancer Centre of Excellence: The Gulf’s largest premier cancer facility. Treats nearly a quarter of all cancer cases in Saudi Arabia annually. Survival outcomes match or exceed leading global centers. Covers 7 specialties.
- Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence: Middle East leader in organ transplantation. Performed 1,092 organ transplants in a single year. Site of the world’s first fully robotic liver transplant. Covers 12 specialties.
- Heart Centre of Excellence: The only active heart transplant program in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. Ranks in the top 10% of transplant centers worldwide. Also the largest such program in the Asia-Pacific region. Covers 5 specialties.
- Genomic Medicine Centre of Excellence: Uses advanced genomic testing to tailor treatments to each patient’s unique genetic profile. Covers 4 specialties.
- Medical Centre of Excellence: Eight expert teams under one roof, covering immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, internal medicine, nephrology, pulmonary medicine, and rheumatology. Covers 5 specialties.
- Neuroscience Centre of Excellence: Treats brain tumors, strokes, epilepsy, and movement disorders with multidisciplinary teams. Covers 8 specialties.
- Surgical Center of Excellence: Handles both minimally invasive procedures and complex operations. Covers 6 specialties.
- Pediatrics and Women’s Centre of Excellence — Specialized pediatric treatments and comprehensive women’s health services. Covers 3 specialties.
Services and Specialties
KFSH&RC covers more than 65 medical specialties. Its service scope is broad but always focused on complex and specialized care.
Clinical and surgical services include the following:
- Cancer treatment and oncology
- Organ transplantation (liver, heart, kidney, and more)
- Cardiac surgery and heart transplantation
- Neuroscience and brain surgery
- Pediatric surgery and care
- Women’s health and obstetrics
- Genomic and precision medicine
- Endocrinology, nephrology, pulmonology, and rheumatology
- Minimally invasive and robotic surgery
Patient Support Services include:
- Online appointment booking via the KFSH App
- Medical records and test result access through the patient portal
- Pre-visit, during-visit, and post-visit care coordination
- International patient services with travel and visa support
- A comprehensive Health Library covering symptoms, diseases, tests, first aid, and more
International Patient Services
KFSH&RC actively serves patients from outside Saudi Arabia. In fact, the hospital treats patients from over 107 nationalities each year. To support this, the hospital offers a dedicated international patient team that assists with:
- Travel arrangements
- Visa requirements
- Ground transportation
- Medical coordination and referrals
- A spiritual and wellness journey program for patients visiting the Holy Cities
International patients need to bring valid passports, updated medical reports, referral letters, test results, medication lists, and completed consent forms when visiting.
Digital Access and Patient Portal
KFSH&RC makes healthcare management easy through digital tools. The KFSH App, known as Altakhassusi, is available on both iOS and Android. Through the app, patients can:
- Book and manage appointments
- Access medical records and test results
- Review visit summaries and follow-up instructions
- Communicate with their care team
The central helpline number is 199019 for appointment bookings and general inquiries.
Research and Education
Research is not secondary here. KFSH&RC’s Research Center drives medical breakthroughs in genetics, biotechnology, and clinical science. The hospital publishes research in leading international journals. In February 2026, Nature Genetics highlighted KFSH’s integrated genomic medicine model as a notable example of applied precision medicine.
Similarly, the hospital’s education programs train healthcare professionals to international standards. These programs support Saudi Arabia’s long-term goal of building a world-class domestic healthcare workforce.
Most importantly, these three pillars, clinical care, research, and education, operate together. This integration allows the hospital to bring emerging treatments directly to patients faster than most institutions.
Awards and Accreditations
KFSH&RC holds multiple nationally and internationally recognized certifications and awards:
- Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation: the gold standard in global healthcare quality and patient safety
- ANCC Magnet Recognition — one of the highest honors in nursing excellence
- Newsweek Best Hospitals 2025: globally ranked
- Newsweek Smart Hospitals 2026: recognized for digital health and innovation
- Brand Finance Ranking 2026: recognized as one of the most valuable healthcare brands
- AACME Accreditation: for continuing medical education
- SCFHS Institutional Accreditation: from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties
- UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital designation
Core Values
KFSH&RC operates according to six clearly defined values:
- Accountability: Transparent governance and ongoing quality monitoring
- Safety: Rigorous protocols and a hospital-wide culture of patient protection
- Patient-centric care: Personalized, respectful, and compassionate at every step
- Excellence: Across treatments, research, and patient experience
- Collaboration: Multidisciplinary teams and global medical partnerships
- Transparency: Open communication with patients and families about treatments and outcomes
Community Giving and Volunteering
KFSH&RC also engages the public through charitable and community programs. People can contribute in several ways:
- Volunteer program for individuals who want to serve patients and families
- Omniyati program for structured community support
- Charity fund donations
- Blood donation drives
- Stem cell transplant awareness and registration
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