Riyadh hospital climbs 107 places despite lower spending

King Faisal Hospital in Riyadh has risen 107 places in Newsweek’s ranking of the world’s leading smart hospitals while reducing its operating costs, Morgunblaðið reported. CEO Björn Zoëga told the newspaper that his goal is to bring the hospital into the top 50 within three years.

The hospital is now ranked 123rd on the World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2027 list. It is also ranked first among hospitals in Arab countries and Gulf Cooperation Council states for the first time, according to Zoëga.

“We are proud of this, but we are not stopping,” he said, adding that the improvement was not achieved through increased funding. The hospital is operating with less money than when he took the job.

Zoëga said a clear strategy and close cooperation with clinical staff were key to the progress. The hospital is one of 15 institutions among 410 on the list to receive both the highest rating for digital adoption and recognition for leadership in artificial intelligence innovation. It is the only hospital in Arab countries and Gulf states to receive both distinctions.

In an article for Fast Company in August 2025, Zoëga wrote that artificial intelligence could help detect diseases earlier, improve efficiency and reduce paperwork. He also stressed that doctors remain essential and that an accurate diagnosis is only the beginning of treatment. Trust, human interaction and understanding each patient’s circumstances remain crucial, he wrote, and the technology should be developed with healthcare workers and patients’ interests in mind.