Global Health Exhibition 2026 reflects the growing scale and diversity of Saudi Arabia’s healthcare transformation
As the international healthcare community gathers in Riyadh for Global Health Exhibition 2026, the event offers a broad view of how rapidly the Saudi market is developing.
Established in 2018, Global Health Exhibition is organised by Tahaluf, a joint venture between Informa, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and the Events Investment Fund. The event has developed into an important meeting point for the international companies, investors and healthcare leaders participating in the Kingdom’s transformation.
The scale of the gathering reflects the Kingdom’s growing importance to international healthcare companies. More than 130,000 professional visits were recorded at the 2025 event, according to Tahaluf, alongside more than 600 speakers and 2,000 brands. Deals announced during the exhibition were valued at US$35.5 billion.
For delegates arriving in Riyadh this year, the focus will extend beyond the size of the event to the healthcare markets now emerging around the Kingdom’s wider transformation.
New clinical markets
Three specialist zones will make their debut in 2026, covering Dermatology & Aesthetics, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation and Dental. Their introduction reflects rising demand for services that sit beyond the traditional hospital sector. Population growth and changing consumer expectations are supporting the development of dermatology and aesthetics, while investment in orthopaedics and rehabilitation responds to growing demand for mobility and recovery services.
Forecasts supplied by the organiser indicate that Saudi Arabia’s dental market could reach US$3 billion by 2027. The dermatology and aesthetics market is projected to almost double between 2025 and 2034, while orthopaedics and rehabilitation are also expected to record sustained growth.
Bringing these areas into the main exhibition places them within the wider discussion about how Saudi Arabia is developing a more diverse healthcare economy. It also gives international suppliers and clinical organisations an opportunity to understand where demand is emerging and how individual markets connect with the broader health system.
Leadership and capital
The event is also strengthening its focus on the people making strategic and investment decisions. Leaders Club 100 will bring together 100 ministers, chief executives and other senior decision-makers through private discussions and dedicated networking. The invitation-only programme is intended to continue beyond the exhibition, creating an international network for healthcare collaboration.
Investment will receive greater prominence through Capital Xchange, which builds on a 2025 programme attended by more than 200 investors representing US$65 billion in assets under management.
The new format will connect investors with policymakers and growing healthcare companies. Site visits will give participants a closer view of the Saudi healthcare market, while corporations and investors will be able to set out their priorities directly to start-ups and scale-ups.
This reversal of the usual pitching model could help younger companies understand what potential partners are actively seeking rather than presenting ideas without a clear route to adoption.
A platform for transformation
Global Health Exhibition has developed alongside Saudi Arabia’s efforts to expand private-sector participation and attract international expertise. Its importance lies not only in the products displayed, but in the relationships formed between healthcare organisations, investors and government.
Rachel Sturgess, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf, says the expansion reflects the scale of opportunity within the Saudi market and the organiser’s aim of connecting a wider range of healthcare stakeholders.
For international delegates, the 2026 exhibition provides a point at which policy ambition meets commercial activity. The addition of new clinical sectors shows how that opportunity is spreading into more specialised areas of care, while the leadership and investor programmes indicate a growing emphasis on the partnerships required to turn market interest into lasting development.
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