Manal Saleh 

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – September 6, 2026:   International Medical Center (IMC) today inaugurated its expanded Emergency Department and Center of Excellence for Cardiac Care, marking the largest expansion in the center’s history since its opening in 2006 and coinciding with the 20th anniversary of its journey in delivering advanced healthcare in the Kingdom.

The project reflects IMC’s commitment to continuously developing its services and strengthening its capacity to manage emergency and critical cases by providing an integrated medical environment that combines rapid response, clinical expertise and advanced technologies, while maintaining a strong focus on patients’ needs, privacy and dignity.

Dr. Walid Fitaihi, President of International Medical Center, said: “The opening of the expanded Emergency Department and Center of Excellence for Cardiac Care represents an important milestone in IMC’s journey, as it renews our commitment to the people of Jeddah to continue investing in advanced, patient-centered healthcare. In emergency and cardiac cases, every minute makes a difference. That is why we designed this integrated system to be more coordinated, faster and more efficient because every minute… is a life.”   

Dr. Fitaihi added: “We do not view these projects simply as an expansion of buildings, but as an investment in time, quality of care and patients’ lives. The integration of the Emergency Department, Cardiac Care Unit, catheterization laboratory and hybrid laboratory eliminates critical steps in the patient journey at a time when every second matters.” 

The project covers a total area of   7,052 square meters, including     3,039 square meters of medical space, 1,468 square meters of non-medical space, and 2,545 square meters of outdoor space, in addition to a new entrance to the Emergency Department from the eastern side of the center.

The   first phase of the Emergency Department expansion   includes 14 treatment rooms, one resuscitation room, three fast-track rooms, two triage rooms and one existing isolation room. These spaces have been designed to improve the patient journey and accelerate assessment and treatment, enabling the department to efficiently manage a wide range of cases — from less severe conditions that can benefit from the fast-track pathway to critical cases requiring immediate resuscitation and intervention.

 

The expansion also includes a 12-bed Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), including two isolation rooms, as well as a  cardiac catheterization laboratory and a hybrid laboratory. The hybrid laboratory combines advanced imaging technologies with a surgical environment in a single space, allowing complex procedures to be performed without the need to transfer patients between different locations.

Having the Emergency Department, Cardiac Care Unit, catheterization laboratory and hybrid laboratory within an integrated system and on the same floor enhances the speed of response to critical cardiac cases, helping reduce the time between a patient’s arrival and the initiation of medical intervention.

The Center of Excellence for Cardiac Care is led by Dr. Bassam Tayyeb   and a specialized team. In January 2025, International Medical Center performed the Kingdom’s first treatment for atrial fibrillation using Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA)   technology.

The project forms part of IMC’s ongoing commitment to international quality standards. International Medical Center has received Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation seven consecutive times, in addition to receiving Center of Excellence accreditation for hernia surgery in November 2025 and orthopedic surgery in July 2026.

 

The current expansion represents the first phase of a broader growth plan that includes the second phase of the Emergency Department expansion. This phase will feature two trauma rooms, an additional resuscitation room, six pediatric treatment rooms, a pediatric isolation room, an adult isolation room, and a dedicated section for emergency medical services.

 

The expansion plan also includes the International Medical Center hospital in   North Obhur, Jeddah, covering an area of  20,800 square meters, as well as the International Medical Center College, which welcomed its first students this year, in addition to the center’s facility in Makkah and other community-based projects.

International Medical Center summarizes its message for this new phase under the slogan “Because Every Minute… Is a Life,” reaffirming its commitment to providing rapid, integrated emergency and cardiac care while continuing to develop its services to meet the needs of the people of Jeddah and the wider region.