Aim: This paper reviews healthcare provision in Saudi Arabia and the development of nursing together with its current challenges.
Background: Health care in Saudi Arabia is developing fast with multiple governmental and independent service providers. Economic growth has impacted upon health needs through population and health behaviour change. The development of the indigenous nursing workforce has been slow resulting in much nursing care being delivered by migrant nurses.
Conclusion: There is a need to increase the proportion of indigenous nurses so that culturally appropriate holistic care can be delivered. Without shared culture and language, it will be difficult to deliver effective health education within nursing care to Saudis.