King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh has advanced 107 positions to secure 123rd place globally in Newsweek’s World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2027 ranking, the Saudi Press Agency reported Monday.
The institution distinguished itself as one of only 15 hospitals worldwide — spanning five countries — to simultaneously earn the publication’s highest digital maturity rating of five ribbons and the “Leader in AI Innovation” designation. While 21 facilities achieved the top digital maturity score and 39 received the AI distinction, merely 15 attained both honors, representing fewer than 4% of the 410 hospitals evaluated across 33 nations.
Compiled by Newsweek in partnership with data platform Statista, the rankings synthesize recommendations from global healthcare professionals with a surveyed assessment of digital maturity grounded in documented, verified evidence. Eligibility for the AI distinction required a hospital to rank in the top 30% for both expert assessment and AI implementation levels.
The recognition reflects KFSHRC’s accelerating integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence across clinical and research operations, according to SPA. The hospital deploys predictive analytics and smart systems to optimize patient flow, augment clinical decision-making, enhance operational efficiency, and elevate the patient experience as part of a broader shift toward precise, patient-centered care.
Its AI initiatives span multiple domains. Established in 2019, the Center for Healthcare Intelligence employs predictive modeling and digital twin technology, enabling surgical teams to rehearse procedures preoperatively. Since its 2021 launch, the Capacity Command Center has executed more than 170,000 interventions, reducing inpatient wait times from 32 hours to six and cutting emergency department delays by 14%, per hospital figures released in October 2025.
KFSHRC also reports performing the world’s first fully robotic heart and liver transplants, while leveraging AI tools across oncology, cardiology, and radiology to deliver increasingly personalized care.
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