Medical City of Aghlabides Takes a Decisive Step Forward
After being announced, debated, and sometimes contested, the Medical City of Aghlabides has reached a new milestone. Thanks to the consistent political commitment of President Kaïs Saïed, this regional transformation project, which has been awaited for years, is finally moving from the realm of promises to reality.
Progress Update
On October 23, 2025, Minister of Equipment and Housing M. Salah Zouari chaired a working session to monitor the progress of the Medical City of Aghlabides project. The first phase of the feasibility study was presented, aiming to develop a strategic action plan that defines the financial, technical, and legal requirements necessary for the successful execution of the project. Minister Zouari emphasized the importance of respecting contractual deadlines for the completion of studies related to the Medical City of Aghlabides.
The Ministries of Health and Equipment and Housing will ensure the follow-up of studies and development plans related to infrastructure and various components of the future medical city.
Upcoming Finalization of Technical and Financial Studies
On October 30, 2025, Minister of Health M. Mustapha Ferjani announced during a hearing session held by the Finance and Budget Committee at the ARP that the technical and financial studies necessary for the establishment of the Medical City of Aghlabides in Kairouan will be finalized soon. He added that this megaproject will create 200 jobs and will be implemented under a protocol agreement signed between Tunisia and China.
Project Overview
The Medical City, which will contribute to the development and investment in the central regions, will be built on a 553-hectare site in the Menzel Mhiri delegation and will be partially funded by donations and foreign investments. The initial cost of the project is estimated at 3 billion dinars. The components of this large project will include:
- A health services space composed of 14 hospital poles
- A multidisciplinary military clinic
- Private medical centers
- A university complex consisting of a military medical academy, a higher institute of medical sciences, a national school of biomedical engineering, a simulation center, and an air evaluation unit
- An industrial space
- A space with tourist, cultural, recreational, and sports vocations
- A residential space consisting of 100 luxury villas and 1,000 apartments
- A public services space of 42 hectares, including high schools, schools, banks, and security and administrative establishments
A Promise Kept
In an interview with Watania 1 on February 2, 2020, President Kaïs Saïed announced his intention to create a large medical hub in the Aghlabides city, which will include several hospitals in various specialties, residential complexes dedicated to medical staff, a cultural and tourist complex, schools, kindergartens, commercial spaces, and university institutions. The President emphasized that this important project, which is close to his heart and has been discussed with high-ranking foreign officials, will provide adequate health services to the inhabitants of the Center-West and South governorates, as well as to Algerian and Libyan visitors.
Diplomatic Efforts and Progress
Despite skepticism and criticism from some, the President has continued his diplomatic efforts to move the project forward. On September 17, 2024, he examined a series of projects, including the decree establishing the Medical City of Aghlabides, defining its administrative and financial organization, as well as its management mode, during an audience with former Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri. A protocol agreement was signed with the People's Republic of China for this purpose.
On September 18, 2024, the Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia, Wangli, stated that his country had presented preliminary feasibility studies containing major projects, including the Medical City of Aghlabides, which constitutes the first step towards advancing the realization of this megaproject.
A New Era for Kairouan
In this month of November, where the atmosphere is positive, with the expected start of construction of the King Salman-Ibn Abdelaziz University Hospital after 8 years of waiting, and the commencement of construction of a category B hospital in Haffouz on November 4, we can only rejoice at the determination of the President of the Republic to fulfill his promises, alleviating the suffering of the Kairouan governorate, which has been marginalized, forgotten, and deprived of basic amenities for decades.
Acknowledging the Efforts of Minister Mustapha Ferjani
We must not forget to mention the current Minister of Health, M. Mustapha Ferjani, whose seriousness, dynamism, and competence have enabled the realization of several blocked projects in various governorates, which were living in precarious conditions, with difficult access to care and inadequate infrastructure, under the impetus of the President of the Republic.
