RIYADH: A national water safety campaign led to a 31 percent decline in drowning deaths across the Kingdom since its 2021 launch, according to the Public Health Authority.
The decline brought about by the National Drowning Prevention Policy, through the end of 2025, also helped avert an estimated economic burden of SR1.33 billion ($353 million), the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The announcement coincides with events held across the Kingdom to mark World Drowning Prevention Day, observed annually on July 25.
The Kingdom has developed a comprehensive national drowning prevention system led by the Public Health Authority through the Joint Standing Committee for Drowning Prevention, which brings together 13 government entities to coordinate efforts and protect high-risk groups.
During the 2026 World Health Assembly in Geneva, the authority highlighted the Kingdom’s experience, demonstrating how national policies have translated into measurable public health outcomes.
