At a Glance
- Akdital invests $1.4 billion to expand into Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing healthcare market.
- Partnership targets hospital development, advanced equipment, and regional healthcare integration by 2030.
- The move underscores Morocco’s rising role in Middle East medical investments.
Akdital Group, one of Morocco’s largest private healthcare providers, has entered the Saudi Arabian market in a $1.4 billion partnership aimed at developing and managing a network of multidisciplinary hospitals across the Kingdom by 2030.
The agreements, signed during the Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh on Oct. 27, represent the company’s most ambitious move beyond North Africa. The deal also highlights the growing role of African healthcare investors in the Middle East’s expanding medical sector.
Investment focus on hospitals and advanced equipment
Under the partnership, Akdital and its Saudi collaborators plan to mobilize 5.3 billion Saudi riyals ($1.4 billion) in total investments. About 25% will go toward real estate development, 60% to operations, and 15% to medical technology and facility upgrades. The group will co-finance the projects with regional investors.
Two major projects are already underway in Riyadh, the development and management of a new flagship hospital, and the lease and operation of Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mishari Hospital, a long-established facility in the capital.
“This expansion marks a defining chapter for Akdital,” said Dr. Rochdi Talib, the group’s chairman and CEO. “By joining forces with leading Saudi partners, we’re combining local insight with our experience in integrated hospital management.”
From Casablanca to the Gulf
Founded in 2011 with the opening of Jerrada Clinic in Casablanca, Akdital has grown into one of North Africa’s largest private healthcare networks, operating more than 30 hospitals and specialized centers across Morocco.
The company, listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange, has played a key role in the country’s national healthcare reform and insurance expansion.
Dr. Talib, the chairman and CEO of the company is a trained anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist who previously practiced in Paris and Lyon, established Akdital Holding SARL in 2016.
Under his leadership, the group evolved into a joint-stock company and became a major player in Morocco’s healthcare transformation.
Expanding Africa-Middle East healthcare links
Akdital’s entry into Saudi Arabia signals a broader strategic push to build a connected healthcare ecosystem across Africa and the Middle East.
The company has opened a regional headquarters in Riyadh to coordinate Gulf operations and future partnerships, with additional expansion plans under review for the UAE and Oman.
The move comes as Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries experience surging demand for private healthcare, fueled by population growth, rising incomes, and government privatization programs.
For Akdital, the deal not only expands its international footprint but also highlights Morocco’s emerging role as a healthcare hub bridging Africa and the Middle East.
