GCC Mental Health Market: Awareness Campaigns, Digital Therapies & Market Growth

According to IMARC Group's latest research publication, GCC mental health market size reached USD 8.6 Billion in 2024. The market is projected to reach USD 12.3 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate of 4% during 2025-2033.

How AI is Reshaping the Future of GCC Mental Health Market

• AI-Powered Chatbots and Virtual Therapy: Conversational AI platforms offer immediate support for mild to moderate mental health conditions, providing affordable 24/7 access and reducing strain on healthcare providers across the region.
• Early Detection and Screening Tools: Machine learning algorithms analyze behavioral patterns, speech, and text inputs to identify mental health symptoms early, enabling timely intervention before conditions worsen.
• Personalized Treatment Planning: AI systems trained on extensive medical literature and patient records recommend tailored treatment options, improving care quality and matching patients with appropriate therapeutic approaches.
• Telemedicine Enhancement: AI integrates with telehealth platforms to streamline remote consultations, automate appointment scheduling, and provide decision support tools that expand access to mental health services in underserved areas.
• Clinical Documentation Automation: Natural language processing reduces administrative burden by automatically generating patient notes and records, allowing clinicians to dedicate more time to direct patient care.

How Vision 2030 is Revolutionizing GCC Mental Health Industry

Vision 2030 is transforming mental healthcare through comprehensive reform and unprecedented investment. Saudi Arabia's Health Sector Transformation Programme positions mental health as a core priority, with the Ministry of Health developing a national mental health strategy that integrates services from community level upward within the patient-centered Model of Care framework. The Kingdom aims to raise life expectancy from 75 to 80 years, with mental health identified as a specific area requiring improvement alongside chronic diseases. Dubai Health Authority launched a Mental Wealth Framework with a Dhs 105 million budget to improve wellbeing for residents. Saudi Arabia announced plans for five new hospitals including a specialized mental health hospital in Riyadh, while the Kingdom has invested nearly USD 15 billion in information and communications technology infrastructure to support digital transformation. These initiatives include expanding mental health support centers, hotlines, and public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma while promoting psychological wellbeing across the GCC.

GCC Mental Health Market Trends & Drivers:

Growing awareness and destigmatization are fundamentally reshaping attitudes toward mental health across the GCC. Governments, health organizations, and media campaigns actively promote understanding, making people more willing to discuss mental health openly and seek professional help. According to Oliver Wyman research, nearly 80% of mental health conditions remain undiagnosed in the region—significantly higher than the 50% gap in many other high-income countries. This is particularly striking given that one in eight people globally experiences a mental health condition, with anxiety and depression accounting for more than half of cases. The acceptance of mental health care as an essential component of overall health continues growing, driving demand for expanded services. King Faisal Specialist Hospital recently announced plans to add advanced technologies including AI for improved diagnosis and treatment, positioning themselves as the first in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province to offer complete mental health services.

Rising prevalence of mental disorders is driving unprecedented demand for professional services. Accelerated urbanization, lifestyle transitions, and socio-economic stress contribute to increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders throughout the region. Providers are responding by expanding services, creating innovative treatment strategies, and investing in cutting-edge diagnostic technology. The growing incidence creates opportunities for mental health providers to scale operations and evolve their offerings. Burjeel Holdings recently inaugurated four specialized mental health centers as part of its Alkalma initiative, incorporating Aspris Healthcare locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. These centers provide tailored, flexible services addressing a broad range of psychological needs. Additionally, Burjeel collaborated with Keralty to unveil a regional mental health platform representing a crucial achievement in closing the region's care gap through accessible, compassionate, prevention-focused services.

Technological innovation and digital health solutions are revolutionizing mental healthcare delivery across the GCC. Telemedicine platforms, mobile applications, and AI-powered screening tools streamline services, improve early intervention, and reduce pressure on providers. Virtual therapy sessions are rapidly growing, with telehealth platforms expanding access particularly in remote communities. Abu Dhabi's Malaffi and Dubai's NABIDH systems enable centralized electronic health records, outcome tracking, and continuous system improvement. These interoperable data systems help standardize mental health data and elevate care quality region-wide. Digital tools triage and support patients with mild to moderate symptoms while supporting clinicians with decision-making by drawing on large medical datasets. Corporate wellness programs increasingly include mental health benefits, with employers recognizing that supporting workforce mental wellbeing translates to increased engagement, lower absenteeism, and greater productivity. This growing corporate attention creates expanding opportunities for workplace mental health interventions throughout the region.

View Comprehensive 2026 Industry Forecasts

GCC Mental Health Market Industry Segmentation:

The report has segmented the market into the following categories:

Disorder Insights:

• Schizophrenia
• Alcohol Use Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Depression and Anxiety
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
• Substance Abuse Disorder
• Eating Disorder
• Others

Service Insights:

• Emergency Mental Health Services
• Outpatient Counselling
• Home-based Treatment Services
• Inpatient Hospital Treatment Services
• Others

Age Group Insights:

• Pediatric
• Adult
• Geriatric

Country Insights:

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Qatar
• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with detailed profiles of all major companies.

Recent News and Developments in GCC Mental Health Market

• June 2025: Burjeel Holdings inaugurated four specialized mental health centers as part of its mental health and wellness initiative, Alkalma, by incorporating Aspris Healthcare locations. The centres, situated in City Walk and Dubai Healthcare City in Dubai, Al Bateen in Abu Dhabi, and King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, are acknowledged for providing tailored, flexible mental health services addressing a broad range of psychological requirements.
• June 2025: Burjeel Holdings, collaborating with Keralty, a leader in global value-based care, unveiled a regional mental health platform named Alkalma. The coordinated merger of four leading mental health facilities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia represents a crucial achievement in closing the region's care gap by offering accessible, compassionate, and prevention-focused services.
• December 2024: Saudi Arabia announced its plans to launch five new hospitals, increasing bed capacity by 963 in important provinces as part of a larger SR 260 billion (USD 69.3 billion) budget for health and social development. The newly established facilities in Rijal Almaa, Dhahran Al-Janoub, Hail, Makkah, and Riyadh feature a specialized mental health hospital in the capital. The goal of these projects is to improve access to healthcare and strengthen the healthcare infrastructure throughout the Kingdom.

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