Saudi Health Ministry to launch biotech and pharma partnerships at GHE 2025

Saudi Arabia's health sector is on a roll. With the Kingdom set to host the 8th Global Health Exhibition (GHE) in Riyadh from October 27 to 30, 2025, the Ministry of Health is pulling out all the stops. The event isn't just another trade show — it's a high-stakes stage where billion-riyal partnerships in biotech, pharma, and digital health are born.

This momentum echoes the ambitions of Vision 2030, the country's blueprint for transforming healthcare into a world-class, innovation-driven powerhouse.

How does it work?

At its core, GHE 2025 is about matchmaking — between ideas, investors, and innovators. The Ministry of Health is using the exhibition as a launchpad for partnerships that can fast-track the country's biotech and pharma capabilities.

Here's what's on the table:

• Collaborations in vaccine production, biotechnology, and medical manufacturing
• New investment avenues in digital health and research innovation
• Localized production that reduces reliance on imports

Last year's edition set the bar high, with more than SAR 50 billion in deals inked. Highlights included:

• A SAR 4 billion pharma manufacturing partnership between Nupco, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi
• SAR 5 billion expansion plans by Fakeeh Care Group
• Over SAR 4 billion in acquisitions by Dallah Health

These deals didn't just make headlines — they built investor confidence and paved the way for even bigger plays at the 2025 exhibition.

Why does it matter?

Because Saudi Arabia isn't just upgrading hospitals — it's reinventing its health economy. The numbers tell the story: the sector's contribution to GDP is projected to leap from SAR 199 billion in 2020 to SAR 318 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, private-sector participation is expected to double to SAR 145 billion.

This isn't growth for growth's sake. It's strategic. By localizing production and driving R&D at home, the Kingdom aims for self-sufficiency, resilience, and global competitiveness.

As one health official put it during last year's exhibition, "We're not just investing in buildings and machines. We're investing in people, in partnerships, and in possibility." That sentiment captures what's at stake — a future where Saudi Arabia becomes not just a buyer of medical technology but a creator and exporter of it.

The context

The timing couldn't be more opportune. Global healthcare is in flux — shaken by pandemics, propelled by AI, and increasingly dependent on data. Against this backdrop, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 provides a clear roadmap: diversify the economy, empower local industries, and make innovation the lifeblood of every sector.

Healthcare sits at the heart of that vision. With opportunities estimated at over SAR 130 billion by 2040, the Ministry's playbook is clear — turn Riyadh into a magnet for biotech investors and a nerve center for next-gen health technologies.

As the countdown to GHE 2025 begins, the Ministry of Health's goal is more than to host another global event. It's to make the exhibition a permanent catalyst for transformation — a gathering where policy meets practice, and ambition turns into action.