Integrating Smart Healthcare into Residential Design: Global Lessons and Policy Implications for Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s demographic shift toward an aging population highlights the urgent need to integrate smart healthcare systems into housing as part of its healthcare and urban agendas. This paper examines ICT-enabled senior housing models from South Korea, the United States, and the European Union, with a focus on their adaptability to the Saudi context. Key barriers include regulatory ambiguities, fragmented data governance, and limited intersectoral coordination, which hinder the adoption of large-scale aging-in-place solutions. The study distinguishes between clinical care and wellness services, emphasizing the need for clear frameworks to ensure compliance and effectiveness. International examples, such as Korea’s u-health platforms and Europe’s Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) programs, provide transferable lessons in policy integration, technology use, and citizen engagement. Based on these insights, the paper outlines strategic recommendations for Saudi Arabia that align with Vision 2030, positioning smart senior housing as a foundation for inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered urban development.