“Air Ambulance”… a quick response to emergency situations

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority stands out in the Kingdom’s health care system as one of the national pillars responsible for protecting lives and enhancing the speed of response to emergency cases, through an integrated ambulance system that combines operational efficiency, field readiness, modern technologies, and qualified personnel, in line with the health sector’s goals and establishing the highest standards of quality and safety.

By developing its operational capabilities and expanding the scope of its services, the Authority contributed to building an advanced response system capable of reaching those in need of urgent care with high efficiency, in various regions and circumstances of the Kingdom.

The air ambulance is one of the most prominent strategic capabilities in this system, as it represents an advanced ambulance arm that enhances the speed of reaching critical cases, especially on highways and peripheral and remote areas, in addition to its vital role in implementing specialized medical transportation operations between hospitals and reference centers, which shortens the critical time to save lives, and increases the chances of timely medical intervention, in accordance with the best international medical practices and standards.

The authority’s annual report reviews the scope of “air ambulance” coverage for the year 2025 AD, which includes 12 bases distributed to cover the regions of the Kingdom, an air fleet with 170 reserved flight hours available for air ambulance services, two winged aircraft designated for long-distance medical air transport, and 13 twin-engine helicopters designated for transporting patients from accident sites to hospitals.

The report indicates that the “air ambulance” contributed to serving more than 27 million people in various regions of the Kingdom, which enhances the readiness for rapid response to emergency cases throughout the Kingdom.
The Riyadh region – according to the Authority’s annual report – had the highest coverage rate, reaching (91.42%), while the Makkah Al-Mukarramah region recorded (23%) of the coverage rate, and the coverage rate in the Eastern Region was (9%), while the Medina region had a coverage rate of (6%), and the coverage rate in the Qassim region and the Jazan region showed (4%) for each, while the Hail region recorded the lowest percentage in the coverage range at (2%).

The annual report indicated that the number of patients and injured people who were transported by helicopter during the year 2025 AD reached (1526) patients and injured people.
The Saudi Red Crescent Authority continues to enhance its readiness to confront emergencies and crises, by applying the best standards of preparedness and response. In this context, it has periodically implemented internal hypotheses, in addition to its effective participation in national exercises and hypotheses, with the aim of testing emergency plans and raising the level of coordination and integration with the relevant authorities.

The Authority also worked to develop its human and technical capabilities through continuous training and analysis of lessons learned from previous experiences, to ensure improved performance and increased response efficiency to emergency situations.