Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gives blood to launch country's donation drive

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman initiated the kingdom's annual national blood donation drive by donating blood himself, according to Saudi state media. The campaign's goal is to encourage regular voluntary blood donations, raise public awareness of their importance, and ensure an adequate supply of blood and blood products for patients with various conditions, including cancer, blood disorders, and emergency medical situations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In 2025, over 900,000 people donated blood in Saudi Arabia, the news agency noted, as the kingdom aims to boost voluntary donations and maintain a stable national blood supply. The previous year's campaign, also spearheaded by Prince Mohammed, successfully quadrupled the number of donors, recording a record-high 65,000 donations, which is the highest in the history of Saudi blood banks, authorities said.

All donations made during the campaign were voluntary, with more than 85 percent coming from first-time donors. The collected blood helped support over 63,000 patients, while platelet and plasma donations benefited approximately 10,000 individuals each, the SPA reported.