The Saudi Ministry of Health is backing a significant launch event scheduled for December in Riyadh, which aims to showcase the ambitious pharmaceutical objectives of Saudi Arabia. The event is expected to attract over 400 exhibitors and more than 30,000 attendees, with discussions on industry trends, challenges, and opportunities taking place across four distinct stages.
Tahaluf, recognized as Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing organizer of business events, has introduced its latest vertical industry exhibition—CPHI Middle East, the leading pharmaceutical event in the region. This event represents a pivotal moment for the rapidly developing pharmaceutical sector in the Middle East.
Scheduled for December 10-12, 2024, at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Center, this landmark event has received the endorsement of the Saudi Ministry of Health and is organized in collaboration with the Events Investment Fund.
As Saudi Arabia positions itself as a global frontrunner in biotechnology, the country is pursuing an ambitious agenda aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in vaccine production, biomanufacturing, and genomics. The pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia, the largest in the Middle East, is projected to reach US$11.5 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.52 percent, according to research from IMARC Group.
Mohaned El Mahgoub, Group Director at Tahaluf, stated, “The MENA region, being the fifth largest pharmaceutical market globally, positions Saudi Arabia as a vital international hub for the pharmaceutical sector. This region is highly appealing to multinational pharmaceutical companies, with expectations of double-digit annual market growth through 2032. CPHI Middle East & Africa will serve as a platform where the future of pharmaceuticals converges to establish enduring partnerships across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond.”
Healthcare and life sciences are among the most critical sectors in Saudi Arabia and are central to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. In the 2024 budget, healthcare and social development expenditures are allocated approximately US$57 billion, making it the third-largest segment after general and military spending.
Adam Andersen, Executive Vice President of Pharma at Informa Markets, remarked that the company's entry into the Middle East marks a pivotal moment as they commemorate 35 years of CPHI this year. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia's strategic position, along with the growing demand for high-quality healthcare products, positions CPHI Middle East to provide significant value to stakeholders, exhibitors, and attendees, effectively bringing the essence of the pharmaceutical industry to the Kingdom. This inaugural event also supports a crucial objective of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to increase domestic manufacturing from 20 percent to 40 percent. With numerous international pharmaceutical firms already planning to establish operations in Saudi Arabia, CPHI Middle East is set to attract key global brands interested in positioning the country as a regional hub.
Tahaluf anticipates that the event will cover 30,000 square meters of exhibition space, drawing in 30,000 visitors, over 400 exhibitors, and representatives from more than 100 countries, indicating robust early support. Notable regional industry leaders are among the initial sponsors and exhibitors, including Sudair Pharma, Tabuk Pharmaceuticals, Hikma Pharmaceutical, Pioneer Company for Pharmaceutical Industries, SPIMACO, and Julphar, as well as EIPICO. Other participants include Dallah Pharma, MS Pharma, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Zeta Pharma, and Dietrich Engineering Consultants.
CPHI Middle East is crafted as an immersive event featuring four specialized stages: The Future, Innovation, Next-Gen Bio, and Discovery. These platforms will host industry experts who will guide attendees through the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities within the sector. A prominent speaker lineup is already forming, with notable global leaders committed to sharing their insights, including Anil Kane, Executive Director and Global Head of Technical & Scientific Affairs at Thermo Fisher Scientific; Zakiya Al-Kurdi from US Pharmacopeia; Claudia Palme, Senior Executive Advisor at PwC Middle East; Faisal Bin Dail, Chairman of the National Committee for Pharmaceutical Industries and Baxter; Musaed Al Kholief, Commissioner and Health Specialties Strategy Advisor; Bikash Chatterjee, President and Chief Science Officer at Pharmatech Associates; and Hala Audi, CEO of Unizima.
CPHI Middle East represents the latest initiative among a series of new vertical events being introduced in Saudi Arabia by Tahaluf, a strategic partnership between Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP), and the Events Investment Fund. The introduction of CPHI is a key component of Tahaluf’s ambitious expansion plan, marking the largest single-event growth initiative in Saudi Arabia's history. The company aims to launch over 20 new B2B and B2C events in the Kingdom by the end of 2025, which is expected to generate an economic impact exceeding US$1 billion for Riyadh.