Over 15 years, the programme has issued more than 34,000 health insurance policies, providing thousands of children across Saudi Arabia with access to medical care.
For a child growing up without parental care, access to healthcare should never be another uncertainty. For the past 15 years, Bupa Arabia has been working to address that need through a programme that has grown from covering just 18 children to supporting thousands of orphans across Saudi Arabia.
Since launching the initiative in 2011, Bupa Arabia Cooperative Insurance Company has invested SAR 84 million in providing health insurance to orphans at no cost to beneficiaries. More than 34,000 policies have been issued, with between 2,000 and 3,000 children receiving coverage annually.
The company highlighted the programme’s achievements during its participation in the Global CSR Forum 2026 in Riyadh, hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
Fifteen Years of Healthcare Support
What began as a relatively small initiative has developed into a nationwide programme operating through 25 orphan care centres across 12 Saudi cities.
Delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the programme provides benefits under the standard health insurance policy approved by the Insurance Authority, with an annual coverage limit of up to SAR 500,000 per beneficiary.
Children covered by the programme also have access to dedicated support for medical approvals and claims. A defined process allows requests for exceptional treatment to be reviewed when care falls outside standard coverage.
In 2025 alone, the programme settled 22,985 medical claims worth SAR 11.5 million and processed 11,911 pre-authorisation requests. Of these, 78.6% were approved based on medical evidence, while 91% of requests received a response within ten minutes.
These figures illustrate both the scale of the programme and the importance of making healthcare accessible when it is needed.
When Standard Coverage Isn’t Enough
Beyond routine medical treatment, the programme has supported children whose healthcare needs required exceptional approvals.
Among the cases highlighted by Bupa Arabia were a teenager who needed a prosthetic limb that fell outside standard coverage and an infant requiring a finger implant. Other cases involved dental treatment and reconstructive surgery.
Such cases demonstrate why access to healthcare involves more than issuing an insurance policy. For vulnerable children, navigating treatment approvals and obtaining specialised care can be just as important as the coverage itself.
A Commitment Beyond Financial Contributions
Eng. Loay Hisham Nazer, Chairman of Bupa Arabia, emphasised the importance of long-term commitment in corporate social responsibility.
“Corporate social responsibility is not limited to launching initiatives or providing support. It is about fulfilling commitments and turning them into sustainable, measurable impact.”
He explained that the company’s approach focuses on applying its existing healthcare expertise to support beneficiaries, rather than relying solely on financial donations.
That philosophy is reflected in the programme’s longevity and its emphasis on monitoring medical claims, approvals, response times and beneficiary needs.
Supporting Education, Confidence and Connection
Bupa Arabia’s work with orphans also extends beyond healthcare.
Since 2023, the company has provided school supplies to more than 200 orphans annually. Career-readiness workshops have introduced young beneficiaries to practical skills such as CV writing, interview preparation and job searching.
The workshops reached 416 orphans in 2021 and more than 200 in 2025, with Bupa Arabia employees volunteering their time and expertise.
During Eid celebrations in 2025, 148 employee volunteers visited 300 orphans, distributing gifts and organising activities. The company also arranged gatherings involving foster families and employees to encourage social connections and community inclusion.
In 2025, Bupa Arabia introduced an initiative allowing employees to sponsor orphans on behalf of themselves and their families.
A Wider Culture of Giving
The company’s corporate social responsibility efforts reach several other communities across Saudi Arabia.
In 2025, activities marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities reached 314 beneficiaries.
Another 94 employees volunteered to visit patients living with cancer and chronic diseases at hospitals in Jeddah, Riyadh and Al Khobar, offering companionship and humanitarian support.
Older people were also included, with 75 volunteers spending time with 230 residents in care homes.
Bupa Arabia’s community initiatives additionally supported the rebuilding of nine homes for families in need and provided household appliances to 49 brides.
Through collaborations with charitable organisations and platforms, including Ehsan and the Furejat debt-relief initiative, the company has supported donations, clothing campaigns and financial assistance.
A total of 414 employees participated in donation initiatives during 2025, while approximately 320 to 400 employees take part in blood donation campaigns each year.
The company also established a charitable Waqf through the Ehsan platform in 2025, committing to match employee donations and thereby double their contributions.
Making Social Responsibility Measurable
Corporate social responsibility is often discussed in terms of campaigns, donations and awareness. Bupa Arabia’s orphan healthcare programme offers another perspective: the value of providing a service consistently over time.
Its strategy is built around measurable impact, sustainability, the use of the company’s core expertise, employee involvement and partnerships with government and community organisations.
Bupa Arabia received a Silver Award for Corporate Social Responsibility in 2024, recognising its ongoing community engagement and volunteering efforts.
But perhaps the programme’s most meaningful measure is its continuity.
From 18 children in 2011 to thousands receiving coverage each year, the initiative demonstrates how a company’s professional capabilities can be used to address a long-term social need.
For the children and families benefiting from the programme, its value lies not simply in the SAR 84 million invested, but in the access to care that investment has made possible.
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