Saudi Arabia has concluded its debut at the BIO International Convention 2025, having signed more than a dozen partnerships, launched a national biotech accelerator programme with Biolabs and established the Kingdom as a global hub for life sciences.
Over four days, Saudi delegates showcased an ecosystem ready for collaboration across scientific discovery, clinical research, and advanced therapeutics.
The Kingdom’s presence spanned the entire biotech value chain – from early research to manufacturing, from regulatory frameworks to commercialization pathways.
“Saudi Arabia is stepping into biotech with intention and scale,” said His Excellency the Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development, Eng. Abdulaziz AlRamaih.
“Biotech sits at the intersection of our health transformation and economic ambition, and we are investing with that dual mandate in mind.”
Throughout the week, Saudi Arabia hosted one of the most active national pavilions at the conference, convening more than 25 entities across government, research, investment and innovation. More than a dozen new memoranda of understanding were signed with international partners, including leaders in genomics, AI-enabled diagnostics, gene therapy, and biomanufacturing.
The Ministry of Health also formally launched its national biotech accelerator programme with BioLabs, welcoming an inaugural cohort of eight Saudi-founded biotech startups in areas ranging from protein engineering to precision genomics. The launch event brought together venture capitalists, researchers, and biotech executives to discuss the Kingdom’s innovation momentum.
The delegation held more than 50 one-to-one meetings with global biotech firms and visited US innovation hubs to explore collaboration in research, manufacturing, and translational medicine. The Kingdom also participated in a dedicated gathering for Saudi research talent studying in the US.
The Kingdom’s ambition in genomics also drew interest. Through the Saudi Genome Program, the Kingdom has developed one of the region’s most comprehensive population-specific genomic datasets, paving the way for earlier diagnosis, localized drug development, and new therapeutic approaches for inherited diseases.
National screening efforts – led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Health Authority, Weqaya – are expanding access to genetic risk detection through prenatal and newborn programs. Institutions like KFSH&RC and KAIMRC continue to drive forward clinical trials and translational research, supporting a growing pipeline of personalized treatments rooted in real-world data.
Already, over 130 peer-reviewed publications have leveraged Saudi genomic data to inform rare disease research and advance precision diagnostics. The Kingdom’s cell and gene therapy readiness now spans regulation, clinical trials, and talent development, with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority’s fast-track approval of advanced therapies positioning it as one of the world’s most agile regulators.
Under the National Biotechnology Strategy, with the continued support of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Saudi Arabia is making biotech central to its national transformation, and the health and economic prosperity of its people.
Jim Cornall is editor of Deeptech Digest and publisher at Ayr Coastal Media. He is an award-winning writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, designer and author. Contact Jim here.
