Arab Therapy has signed a memorandum of understanding with King Abdulaziz University to expand scientific research, training and digital psychological support, giving the mental-health platform a stronger institutional foothold in Saudi Arabia’s fast-evolving healthcare sector.
The agreement was signed on 11 May 2026 by King Abdulaziz University, represented by the King Fahd Medical Research Center, and Arab Therapy, a digital healthcare company focused on psychological and psychiatric care. Dr Mohammed bin Hassan AlHashmi, director of the research centre, signed on behalf of the university, while Dr Tareq Dalbah, chief executive officer of Arab Therapy, represented the company.
The partnership covers joint scientific studies and research papers in mental health, professional rehabilitation and medical care. It also includes capacity-building for trainees and university staff through specialised clinical supervision programmes linked to remote psychological services. Students and employees of the university are expected to gain access to confidential professional psychological support under the framework.
The memorandum also provides for workshops, awareness programmes, training scholarships for graduates in psychology and clinical mental health, and joint production of public awareness content. The arrangement places academic research, professional training and digital service delivery within a single cooperation model, reflecting a broader shift in Saudi healthcare towards preventive care, early intervention and technology-enabled access.
King Abdulaziz University, based in Jeddah, has been expanding its health and research partnerships through the King Fahd Medical Research Center, a major platform for biomedical and clinical research. The university’s clinical psychology ecosystem has also been developing specialised training in diagnosis and treatment of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders and behavioural conditions.
Arab Therapy’s role in the agreement is closely tied to its positioning as a culturally focused online mental-health platform. The company provides therapy and psychiatric consultations through video, audio and messaging channels, with services designed for Arabic-speaking users and those seeking care that reflects linguistic and cultural context. Its model combines licensed psychologists, psychiatrists and supervised care pathways.
The company was founded in 2021 by Dr Tareq Dalbah, Omar Koudsi and Hekmat Al-Hasi, and has presented itself as a platform built to address gaps in Arabic-language mental-health support. Its expansion into Saudi Arabia gained momentum after it obtained a telemedicine licence from the Ministry of Health and secured strategic backing from Value Makers Studio, strengthening its ability to build local infrastructure and operate within domestic regulatory requirements.
The King Abdulaziz University agreement comes as Saudi Arabia places greater emphasis on digital health, preventive services and quality-of-life goals under its healthcare transformation agenda. The Health Sector Transformation Programme includes wider use of e-health services, digital solutions and internationally benchmarked care standards, while public health authorities are also expanding data collection and system-level monitoring.
Mental-health demand remains a significant policy challenge across the Kingdom. National survey research has shown that more than one-third of Saudis may experience a mental disorder at some point in life, with young people particularly exposed to anxiety, mood and behavioural disorders. Treatment gaps, stigma, cost, shortage of culturally aligned specialists and delayed help-seeking continue to affect access.
Digital platforms are increasingly seen as one way to reduce those barriers, especially for users who prefer privacy, flexible scheduling and remote consultations. For universities, the model offers a channel to support students and employees while also creating a base for applied research, trainee supervision and mental-health literacy campaigns.
The agreement also reflects growing competition in the regional digital-health market, where telemedicine, electronic health records, artificial intelligence and remote care services are becoming central to healthcare investment. Saudi Arabia’s young, connected population has accelerated demand for app-based and hybrid services, while regulators are seeking to balance innovation with clinical governance, privacy and professional accountability.
For Arab Therapy, the partnership gives access to an academic and research environment that can support evidence-based service design and professional development. For King Abdulaziz University, the arrangement brings a private digital-health operator into its mental-health research and awareness agenda, potentially widening the reach of psychological support beyond conventional clinical settings.
Clinical supervision is a key part of the agreement because remote mental-health services depend heavily on professional oversight, quality control and clear referral pathways. The inclusion of scholarships and graduate training also points to a longer-term workforce objective, as Saudi Arabia seeks more qualified specialists capable of serving both face-to-face and digital-care environments.
The agreement was signed on 11 May 2026 by King Abdulaziz University, represented by the King Fahd Medical Research Center, and Arab Therapy, a digital healthcare company focused on psychological and psychiatric care. Dr Mohammed bin Hassan AlHashmi, director of the research centre, signed on behalf of the university, while Dr Tareq Dalbah, chief executive officer of Arab Therapy, represented the company.
The partnership covers joint scientific studies and research papers in mental health, professional rehabilitation and medical care. It also includes capacity-building for trainees and university staff through specialised clinical supervision programmes linked to remote psychological services. Students and employees of the university are expected to gain access to confidential professional psychological support under the framework.
The memorandum also provides for workshops, awareness programmes, training scholarships for graduates in psychology and clinical mental health, and joint production of public awareness content. The arrangement places academic research, professional training and digital service delivery within a single cooperation model, reflecting a broader shift in Saudi healthcare towards preventive care, early intervention and technology-enabled access.
King Abdulaziz University, based in Jeddah, has been expanding its health and research partnerships through the King Fahd Medical Research Center, a major platform for biomedical and clinical research. The university’s clinical psychology ecosystem has also been developing specialised training in diagnosis and treatment of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders and behavioural conditions.
Arab Therapy’s role in the agreement is closely tied to its positioning as a culturally focused online mental-health platform. The company provides therapy and psychiatric consultations through video, audio and messaging channels, with services designed for Arabic-speaking users and those seeking care that reflects linguistic and cultural context. Its model combines licensed psychologists, psychiatrists and supervised care pathways.
The company was founded in 2021 by Dr Tareq Dalbah, Omar Koudsi and Hekmat Al-Hasi, and has presented itself as a platform built to address gaps in Arabic-language mental-health support. Its expansion into Saudi Arabia gained momentum after it obtained a telemedicine licence from the Ministry of Health and secured strategic backing from Value Makers Studio, strengthening its ability to build local infrastructure and operate within domestic regulatory requirements.
The King Abdulaziz University agreement comes as Saudi Arabia places greater emphasis on digital health, preventive services and quality-of-life goals under its healthcare transformation agenda. The Health Sector Transformation Programme includes wider use of e-health services, digital solutions and internationally benchmarked care standards, while public health authorities are also expanding data collection and system-level monitoring.
Mental-health demand remains a significant policy challenge across the Kingdom. National survey research has shown that more than one-third of Saudis may experience a mental disorder at some point in life, with young people particularly exposed to anxiety, mood and behavioural disorders. Treatment gaps, stigma, cost, shortage of culturally aligned specialists and delayed help-seeking continue to affect access.
Digital platforms are increasingly seen as one way to reduce those barriers, especially for users who prefer privacy, flexible scheduling and remote consultations. For universities, the model offers a channel to support students and employees while also creating a base for applied research, trainee supervision and mental-health literacy campaigns.
The agreement also reflects growing competition in the regional digital-health market, where telemedicine, electronic health records, artificial intelligence and remote care services are becoming central to healthcare investment. Saudi Arabia’s young, connected population has accelerated demand for app-based and hybrid services, while regulators are seeking to balance innovation with clinical governance, privacy and professional accountability.
For Arab Therapy, the partnership gives access to an academic and research environment that can support evidence-based service design and professional development. For King Abdulaziz University, the arrangement brings a private digital-health operator into its mental-health research and awareness agenda, potentially widening the reach of psychological support beyond conventional clinical settings.
Clinical supervision is a key part of the agreement because remote mental-health services depend heavily on professional oversight, quality control and clear referral pathways. The inclusion of scholarships and graduate training also points to a longer-term workforce objective, as Saudi Arabia seeks more qualified specialists capable of serving both face-to-face and digital-care environments.
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