Growing Population

In 1932, when Saudi Arabia was founded, the country had a population of two to three million people. Over the past four years, the population has increased by an astounding 22%: from 31 million in 2021 to 38 million in 2025.

The population is not only growing, but it is aging and has increasingly complex health needs. For example, approximately 20% of Saudis smoke and in general, Saudis -- particularly the youth -- are more sedentary than those in colder climates. Concerning cancer rates, the Saudi Cancer Registry shows a sharp post-2020 increase in cancer rates. For example, for 2021-2022, the annual percentage changes in incidence exceed 20% for men and 16% for women.

These factors have resulted in a need for increased healthcare services, and therefore a need for more doctors and nurses. In 2023, 5.69% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP was spent on healthcare expenditures (not including capital expenditures). One of the major areas of expansion was in nursing education.

Growth in Saudi Nursing Education

The first nursing education classes in Saudi Arabia were conducted in 1948 by an American male nurse at the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco). Today, the Kingdom has 16 private nursing schools and 14 public nursing faculties. Today's BSN program includes three years of theoretical training, followed by one year of hospital internship. In 2024, the number of employed nurses in Saudi Arabia had risen to 243,336, with 43.6% (or 106,094) being Saudi nationals.

So ... Does this Mean There is no More Need for Expat Nurses?!

This recent explosion in Saudi-trained nurses does not mean that foreign nurses are not needed. Experienced foreign nurses are now much more than a short-term staffing solution; they mentor and support newly graduated Saudi nurses.

To get a picture of what this mentoring is like, we contacted a Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Staff RN at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh.