Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare opens advanced rehabilitation center in Dhahran

SAUDI ARABIA — Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) has opened a new Rehabilitation Center at its Dhahran Health Center campus, expanding access to specialized rehabilitation services as demand continues to grow across Saudi Arabia.

The purpose-built facility forms part of JHAH’s Care Forward plan, a long-term strategy to strengthen clinical infrastructure, increase specialist services, and improve the patient experience.

The opening follows the recent launch of the hospital’s first-of-its-kind emergency CT system in Saudi Arabia, which is designed to speed up diagnosis and treatment for stroke and trauma patients.

The expansion comes at a time when rehabilitation services are becoming increasingly important in the Kingdom.

Stroke rates have risen steadily over the past three decades, while chronic pain affects an estimated 30% of the population, or about nine million people.

Healthcare projections also suggest Saudi Arabia will need an additional 22,000 to 24,000 long-term care and rehabilitation beds by 2030 to meet future demand.

Larger facility to serve more patients

The new center spans 2,000 square meters and significantly increases JHAH’s rehabilitation capacity.

Clinical space has doubled, while the number of treatment rooms has grown by more than 60%, rising from 25 to over 40.

These include 33 private physical therapy suites designed to improve patient comfort and privacy.

The expansion will allow more patients to receive specialized rehabilitation without compromising the quality of care.

 Annual patient visits are expected to increase from about 58,600 in 2025 to 78,200 in 2026, representing a 33.5% rise.

Dr. Howard Podolsky, Chief Executive Officer of Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, said the new Rehabilitation Center represents an important milestone in the organization’s approach to patient care.

He said the dedicated facility combines advanced rehabilitation services with a purpose-built environment that expands treatment capacity while improving how patients recover.

According to Podolsky, the center will support earlier intervention, deliver more personalized treatment plans, and help patients return safely to their daily activities and work.

Advanced technology supports recovery

A multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation specialists will operate the center using a range of advanced technologies.

These include robot-assisted rehabilitation systems, a dedicated Robotics Hub, a Neuro Lab, and a Performance Lab.

The facility also houses two rehabilitation gyms alongside shockwave and magnetic therapy units.

These technologies support personalized treatment programs for patients recovering from complex orthopedic procedures, sports injuries, chronic pain, neurological conditions, and movement disorders.

Earlier this month, JHAH also announced that the Rehabilitation Center would improve patient privacy, increase treatment capacity, and enhance recovery outcomes as part of its broader Care Forward transformation programme.