Media Minister honors KFSHRC team for world’s first robotic heart transplant.

Riyadh, March 23, 2025 – Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary honored the Saudi medical team from King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh for performing the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant. The recognition took place during the fifth edition of the Media Excellence Award 2024, which celebrates creative media efforts across various fields and national occasions, in partnership with the Human Capability Development Program, a key initiative under Saudi Vision 2030.

A recent press release from KFSHRC stated that the honor acknowledges the outstanding contributions of the Saudi medical team, led by Dr. Feras Khaliel, Chairman of Cardiac Surgery and Deputy Executive Director of the Heart Center of Excellence, whose groundbreaking work represents a significant achievement in global healthcare innovation.

This milestone further enhances the Kingdom’s leadership in advanced medical technologies, with the achievement earning praise both locally and internationally, highlighting the excellence of Saudi talent in leveraging cutting-edge healthcare innovations. The recognition follows the reception of the medical team by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, underscoring the leadership’s pride in national accomplishments and its dedication to fostering excellence for a more innovative future.

This global achievement aligns with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to improve healthcare quality and solidify the Kingdom’s position as a leader in medical innovation.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 15th globally in the 2025 World’s Top 250 Academic Medical Centres list. It has also been named the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East by Brand Finance 2024 rankings and included among the World’s Best Smart Hospitals for 2025 by Newsweek magazine.