Makkah Health Cluster brings AI-powered healthcare platform ‘iSelfie’ to region

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Updated 03 June 2025
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Makkah Health Cluster brings AI-powered healthcare platform ‘iSelfie’ to region

The Makkah Health Cluster has signed a cooperation agreement with Canadian company AIZTech, which specializes in AI-powered medical diagnostics, to deploy the iSelfie platform across its facilities, including King Abdullah Medical City and several major hospitals in Makkah.

The signing ceremony was attended by Jean-Philippe Linteau, ambassador of Canada to Saudi Arabia; Dr. Mubarak Al-Mulhem, director general of healthcare at the Ministry of Investment; and Dr. Hatim Al-Omari, CEO of the Makkah Health Cluster, which oversees more than 10 hospitals in the city. Also present were Dr. Adel Tash, CEO of King Abdullah Medical City, and Tarek Sultan, vice chairman of Agility. The agreement was signed by Al-Omari and Mohamed Sheta, CEO of AIZTech.

This marks the first agreement of its kind in the Middle East, allowing patients to benefit from instant health assessments using AI through a short facial video, with no additional hardware required. The iSelfie platform analyzes the video to extract key health metrics including blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate. The platform will be integrated into the patient-facing screens within hospital facilities and will be used with the assistance of medical staff.

Al-Omari said: “We are proud to be the first in the Kingdom and the region to adopt this advanced technology, which reflects our ongoing commitment to harnessing the latest digital solutions to enhance diagnostic efficiency and accelerate patient care. This step marks a qualitative leap toward a more advanced and innovative healthcare system, aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”

Tash added: “In line with the spirit of digital transformation and the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030, we are pleased to launch this innovative AI-powered technology in Makkah. This launch is backed by a pivotal study conducted across the Kingdom, where the technology showed promising results when compared with 1,021 cases diagnosed using traditional medical devices. We are committed to expanding access to these advanced tools to benefit the wider community in the region.”

Sheta said: “We are honored to collaborate with one of the Kingdom’s leading public healthcare institutions. This agreement is a clear indicator of the growing trust in AI-powered healthcare solutions and reinforces our belief that remote, non-invasive early diagnostics will be a core part of healthcare’s future.”

Ambassador Linteau said: “Digital health innovation is gaining momentum in Canada, and Saudi Arabia is a market that is open to early adoption of innovation in the health sector.” He also expressed hope that the platform will achieve remarkable success in the early detection of health conditions in patients.

The iSelfie platform has proven its effectiveness through clinical trials conducted in Saudi Arabia, the US, Canada, and Brazil, including a national study supported by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Results showed that the platform provides accurate readings comparable to traditional medical devices, with the added benefits of rapid assessment, accessibility, and cost efficiency.

This collaboration aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which places innovation and digital transformation at the heart of healthcare development by improving the quality of life, promoting preventive care, and expanding access to modern medical services.

 


Alfanar Projects wins MEED Award for ‘Industrial Project of the Year’

Updated 17 December 2025
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Alfanar Projects wins MEED Award for ‘Industrial Project of the Year’

Alfanar Projects has been recognized as a “national winner” at the MEED Projects Awards 2025, for its role as the main contractor in the landmark Tuwaiq Casting and Forging Plant, which was awarded “Industrial Project of the Year.”
Developed through a strategic partnership between the Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company, or Dussur, Saudi Aramco, and Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, the Tuwaiq Casting and Forging Plant represents a cornerstone in the Kingdom’s drive to establish a world-class industrial base, localize advanced manufacturing capabilities, and strengthen national supply chains.
Situated in Ras Al-Khair Industrial City, the plant spans over 400,000 square meters, encompassing 39 major buildings and an extensive network of infrastructure and external works. Alfanar Projects delivered the project on a lump-sum turnkey basis, executing more than 122,000 cubic meters of concrete, erecting 25,000 tons of structural steel, installing hundreds of kilometers of underground piping and cabling, and implementing advanced electrical and mechanical systems to global engineering standards.
With a production capacity of 60,000 tons per year, utilizing state-of-the-art sand casting and open-die forging technologies, the plant will play a pivotal role in serving critical sectors such as the oil and gas industry, maritime industries, and heavy equipment manufacturing, while advancing Saudi Arabia’s goals of industrial localization and self-sufficiency.
Jamal Wadi, president of Alfanar Projects, said: “The Tuwaiq Casting and Forging Plant embodies the pinnacle of what engineering can achieve when coupled with determination. The project brought together complex architectural and structural challenges with advanced engineering solutions, which we executed with precision and efficiency. This landmark facility stands as a testament to our deep expertise as an industrial contractor and to our ability to harness engineering excellence in building strategic projects that underpin the Kingdom’s economic future.”
The MEED Projects Awards, organized in partnership with Mashreq Bank, are among the most prestigious accolades in the region, celebrating excellence in project delivery across sectors. Alfanar Projects’ recognition underscores its role as a leading national contractor, committed to delivering world-class industrial infrastructure projects that support the Kingdom’s long-term vision for sustainable growth and industrial leadership.
The leading engineering and construction company is dedicated to advancing the Kingdom’s infrastructure and industrial landscape in alignment with Vision 2030. Through its commitment to sustainable development, Alfanar Projects supports the growth of key sectors, including building construction, urban infrastructure, renewable energy, and grid modernization across Saudi Arabia and internationally. With an emphasis on localization, innovation, and sustainability, Alfanar Projects continues to deliver world-class solutions that contribute to the Kingdom’s ambitious economic and social transformation.