Constructionweekonline.com -Saudi Arabia is promoting increased specialization in its hospitals to account for domestic lifestyle factors, private healthcare requirements for expats, and a growing regional demand for top class healthcare facilities. The emergence of lifestyle-related diseases has created new opportunities for growth, according to the Colliers Q1 2012 ‘Healthcare Overview.’ With sector expertise already established, government investment is providing opportunities for ambitious healthcare projects. The healthcare budget in Saudi Arabia more than doubled between 2008, when it was $8bn (6.3% of the total budget), and 2011, when it was $18.bn (11.8% of the total budget). Medical cities are receiving extensive government investment. These facilities have considerable resources for dealing with non-communicable diseases and rare conditions, and act as regional centers of expertise. In December,$114.6m worth of contracts were signed for medical cities. Other facilities are being developed that specifically target health tourism. In January, HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Mishaal Al Saud, CEO of Al Shoula Holding Group, reached an agreement with a Brazilian company to design a luxury female-only healthcare complex.