Executive Summary: Saudi Arabia's Wellness Transformation
The Global Wellness Institute ranks Saudi Arabia as the world's #1 wellness economy growth leader, expanding at 12.2% annually (2019-2024). The Kingdom's wellness market reached $19.8 billion, with the broader health and wellness sector projected to grow from $35.32 billion (2024) to $81.11 billion (2033) at 9.7% CAGR. The Public Investment Fund-backed AMAALA destination — 9 luxury resorts, 1,600+ keys — began phased opening in late 2025, anchoring Saudi Arabia's positioning as a global wellness hub. Brands include Clinique La Prairie (first global expansion, 74 rooms), Six Senses (100 suites), Four Seasons (202 keys), and Equinox (128 rooms, first Middle East hotel). Medical tourism is projected to grow from $1.6 billion (2025) to $8.9 billion (2034) at 20.71% CAGR. The fitness market reached $1.14 billion (2024), targeting $2 billion by 2030 at 9.85% CAGR. The Mukaab's wellness infrastructure targets this rapidly expanding market. Intelligence tracked by Vision 2030 AI.
AMAALA: The Global Wellness Benchmark
Red Sea Global's AMAALA destination — branded as the "Riviera of the Middle East" — represents the most ambitious wellness resort development in history. Phase One invested SAR 51 billion across 9 resorts on Saudi Arabia's pristine northwest coastline. Key properties include: Clinique La Prairie (74 rooms, the legendary Swiss longevity clinic's first-ever standalone resort expansion), Six Senses (100 overwater and garden suites), Equinox (128 rooms, the luxury fitness brand's first Middle East hotel), Four Seasons (202 keys), and Rosewood (110 rooms). AMAALA's programming spans medical wellness, holistic retreats, marine conservation, art therapy, and sports performance — targeting ultra-high-net-worth individuals willing to spend $5,000-25,000+ per night.
For Mukaab wellness investors, AMAALA establishes Saudi Arabia's credibility as a wellness destination while demonstrating PIF's commitment to health-focused hospitality. The Mukaab's urban wellness proposition differs from AMAALA's coastal resort model: integrating wellness facilities into a dense urban environment, targeting daily wellness routines for 400,000 residents rather than destination retreats. Both models contribute to Saudi Arabia's Global Wellness Institute-tracked $19.8 billion wellness economy.
Medical Tourism: $8.9 Billion by 2034
Saudi Arabia's medical tourism sector is projected to grow from $1.6 billion (2025) to $8.9 billion (2034) at 20.71% CAGR — among the highest growth rates globally. The Ministry of Health has invested in 44 new hospitals and specialty medical facilities. Key enablers include: the Kingdom's first dedicated medical tourism visa (launched 2023), partnerships with international hospital brands (Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic advisory), and regulatory reforms streamlining foreign patient access per the Saudi Tourism Authority.
Medical specialties driving growth include orthopedics, cardiology, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, ophthalmology, and reproductive medicine. Saudi Arabia's competitive advantages: significantly lower costs than US/European providers (40-60% discount per Deloitte Insights), world-class facilities, and cultural/linguistic alignment for Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian patients. The Mukaab's masterplan includes specialty wellness clinics positioned to capture medical tourism demand from the district's 10,100 hotel rooms and international visitor base.
Fitness & Sports Performance: $2 Billion Market
Saudi Arabia's fitness market reached $1.14 billion (2024), projected to hit $2 billion by 2030 at 9.85% CAGR. The sector has transformed since 2018 when women were first permitted to access public gyms. Gym membership has grown at 25%+ annually, with premium/boutique concepts (F45, Barry's, Orangetheory) commanding SAR 500-1,200 monthly memberships. The General Entertainment Authority licensed 1,500+ fitness establishments between 2018-2025. Saudi Arabia's hosting of major sporting events — including FIFA 2034 (15 stadiums, $20 billion+ investment), Esports World Cup, and Formula 1 — elevates national fitness consciousness and drives sports infrastructure investment.
New Murabba's wellness infrastructure includes purpose-built fitness centers, running/cycling circuits within 2.3 million sqm of green space, Olympic-standard swimming facilities, and integrated sports medicine clinics. Qiddiya's Six Flags Qiddiya City — which opened December 31, 2025 with 79 acres and 28 rides including Falcon's Flight (world's tallest and fastest coaster) — adds adventure sports and active recreation to the broader Riyadh wellness ecosystem.
Longevity Science & Preventive Medicine
The global longevity economy — projected at $610 billion by 2030 per McKinsey Global Institute — is a strategic target for Saudi wellness investment. Clinique La Prairie's AMAALA outpost brings 92 years of Swiss longevity expertise to Saudi Arabia, offering DNA-based health assessments, regenerative medicine, and personalized aging interventions. The Kingdom's SDAIA is developing AI-powered predictive health platforms leveraging the national health data infrastructure. For Mukaab wellness tenants, longevity clinics represent the highest-value segment: $50,000-250,000 per program, targeting the region's estimated 200,000+ ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Traditional & Holistic Wellness
Saudi Arabia's wellness renaissance integrates both cutting-edge science and traditional practices. Islamic wellness traditions — including prophetic medicine (Al-Tibb Al-Nabawi), herbal remedies, honey therapy, and cupping (hijama) — are being formalized into regulated wellness services. The Saudi Food & Drug Authority oversees herbal product regulation. Saudi Arabia's geographic assets — the Red Sea coast, volcanic landscapes of Harrat Rahat, and the Al Hejaz mountain range — provide natural wellness environments comparable to Iceland, New Zealand, and Bali. Red Sea Global's two destinations (AMAALA and The Red Sea) leverage marine environments for thalassotherapy, salt therapy, and marine-based treatments.
Wellness Real Estate: The Premium Effect
Global Wellness Institute research demonstrates that wellness-integrated real estate commands a 10-25% price premium over conventional equivalents globally. Features driving premiums include biophilic design, air and water purification, circadian lighting, fitness integration, green space access, and proximity to healthcare. New Murabba's design incorporates all of these elements at district scale — a competitive advantage over retrofitted wellness features in existing Riyadh developments. Knight Frank projects that wellness-positioned units within New Murabba will achieve pricing 15-20% above comparable non-wellness-branded stock, reflecting the documented global premium.
Mental Health & Digital Wellness
Saudi Arabia has dramatically expanded mental health infrastructure under Saudi Vision 2030. The Kingdom's first National Mental Health Strategy (launched 2023) targets universal access to mental health services. Digital wellness platforms — including Saudi-developed apps for meditation, therapy, and sleep optimization — have reached 5 million+ users. For Mukaab wellness operators, the mental health and digital detox segment represents growing demand: wellness tourism increasingly includes digital disconnection programs, mindfulness retreats, and corporate mental health programming per Global Wellness Institute.
Investment Risk Factors
Risks include: wellness sector immaturity (Saudi market still developing versus established destinations like Switzerland, Thailand, Bali), regulatory framework evolution, competition from UAE wellness developments (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), high operational costs for premium wellness programming, and the Mukaab's January 2026 construction pause affecting timeline. Mitigants: #1 global growth rate per GWI, PIF institutional backing (SAR 51B AMAALA Phase One alone), structural demand from 33M population, medical tourism cost advantage, and zero personal income tax on wellness business profits.
Conclusion: The Wellness Investment Case
Saudi Arabia's $19.8 billion wellness economy — growing at the world's fastest rate, anchored by AMAALA's SAR 51 billion Phase One, and targeting $8.9 billion in medical tourism by 2034 — represents a generational investment opportunity. The Mukaab's integrated urban wellness model complements AMAALA's destination resort approach, capturing daily wellness routines for 400,000 residents. Track developments via Vision 2030 AI, Global Wellness Institute, and Saudi Tourism Authority.