The GCC CDMO market was valued at USD 0.78 Billion in 2025 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.20%, reaching USD 1.18 Billion by 2035. The market growth is driven by strong regulatory alignment, strategic geographic positioning, and government-backed investment in pharmaceutical infrastructure across the region. Additionally, regional biotech ambitions are opening opportunities in high-value segments like gene therapy. Strategic alliances, such as the Charles River–Lafana Holding partnership, are expanding CDMO service breadth and innovation potential.
Base Year
Historical Period
Forecast Period
Strategic acquisitions and partnerships, such as Acino’s GMP-certified facility in the UAE and Charles River’s alliance in Saudi Arabia, are enhancing local manufacturing standards and diversifying service portfolios.
Cross-border alliances are accelerating the introduction of advanced therapy services like plasmid DNA and viral vector production, positioning the GCC as an emerging hub for biologics outsourcing.
Adherence to EU and GCC GMP standards, combined with localized manufacturing, shortens supply chains, boosts dossier approvals, and increases market competitiveness across the region.
Compound Annual Growth Rate
4.2%
Value in USD Billion
2026-2035
*this image is indicative*
The market is becoming crucial for regional healthcare modernization by providing local biologics and sterile injectable manufacturing. Government investment in biopharma, combined with growing demand for vaccines, cell therapies, and emergency-preparedness capacity, is fueling scalable infrastructure. This supports faster access to critical medicines, attracts global partnerships, and advances the GCC’s pharmaceutical self-reliance and export potential. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.20% during the forecast period of 2026-2035 and attain a market value of USD 1.18 Billion by 2035.
Increasing interest in specialty pharmaceuticals and evolving regulatory pathways is expanding CDMO opportunities in the GCC. For instance, in December 2024, Benuvia Operations secured an exclusive licensing agreement with Avernus Pharma to distribute SYNDROS® (dronabinol) throughout Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar. This deal demonstrates CDMOs’ growing capability to manage complex regulatory processes, such as navigating GCC-DR approvals, and underscores their valued role in bringing niche, cannabinoid-based treatments to regional markets.
Major market trends include strategic initiatives in boosting CDMO services in the GCC region.
Cross-Border CDMO Alliances to Boost Service Offerings and Aid Market Growth
The need for specialized capabilities and clinical-stage support is encouraging international CDMO collaborations. For instance, in October 2024, Charles River partnered with Saudi’s Lafana Holding to launch the Saudi Cell & Gene Therapy Accelerator (SCGA), offering plasmid DNA, viral vectors, and cell/gene development services. This regional alliance enhances the GCC’s advanced therapy CDMO offerings and deepens its appeal to global biotech firms seeking outsourced innovation platforms.
EU- and GCC-Compliant Acquisitions Strengthen GCC CDMO Market Demand
GCC demand for localized, high-quality pharmaceutical manufacturing and tighter supply chain regulations is fueling targeted acquisitions. For instance, in March 2023, Switzerland's Acino acquired Pharmax Pharmaceuticals in Dubai, inheriting its EU- and GCC-GMP‑certified facility, over 100 staff, and capability to formulate tablets, capsules, and injectables. This acquisition embeds advanced manufacturing infrastructure within the region, reduces reliance on imported APIs, shortens supply chains, and enhances dossier approval processes, bolstering the GCC’s CDMO competitiveness and independence.
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Manufacturing to Emerge as a Leading Segment Within the Contract Manufacturing Organization Domain
The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing segment is projected to hold the leading market share. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% throughout the forecast period. The growth is fueled by rising demand for high-quality APIs to support the production of generic drugs, specialty medicines, and complex therapies. The increasing focus on supply chain security, localized production, and regulatory compliance globally is prompting pharmaceutical companies to strengthen API sourcing strategies. Additionally, collaborations with specialized manufacturers are enhancing regional API capabilities to meet evolving healthcare and market demands.
Qatar is expected to hold the largest share of the market due to its advanced biopharma infrastructure, international partnerships, and national focus on clinical research capacity-building. The country’s regulatory streamlining and investment in biotech parks further accelerate outsourcing adoption. Bahrain follows, benefiting from growing interest in generics manufacturing and supportive health policy reforms. Unlike Qatar, however, Bahrain’s CDMO ecosystem remains relatively nascent, with fewer integrated facilities and limited high-value clinical trial output.
The key features of the market report comprise grants analysis, funding and investment analysis, and strategic initiatives by the leading players. The major companies in the market are as follows:
Based in Dubai and established in 2018, Balsam Clinical Research specializes in early-phase clinical and analytical services. Recently, it expanded into CDMO support by offering GMP-grade lab facilities and small-batch manufacturing for biologics, targeting regional orphan drug and biosimilar developers. Its connections with UAE health authorities and clinical networks bolster its position as a niche CDMO service provider in the GCC sector.
Founded in 1995 in Sweden, Recipharm entered the GCC via local partnerships starting in 2023. Offering sterile injectable and oral solid CDMO services, it supports regional biosimilar and generic manufacturing drives, aligned with Gulf healthcare initiatives. Regulatory compliance with GCC authorities and modular fill/finish capabilities position Recipharm as a growing partner for pharma localization projects in the region.
Established 1885 in Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim is active in the GCC through biologics CDMO services. Its collaboration with regional CDMO Lifera and technology demonstration programs in 2024 enabled it to co-develop mammalian cell-based vaccine platforms. BI’s regional expertise in upstream/downstream biologics supports local production targeting infectious disease and chronic treatment demands in the Gulf nations.
Headquartered in Boston and founded in 1956, Patheon supports small- and large-molecule CDMO services in the GCC. Through its UAE logistics and regulatory office, it recently supported multiple rollouts of injectable biosimilars and generic formulations. Investment in regional fill/finish capacity aligns with Gulf public health goals to localize essential healthcare manufacturing.
*Please note that this is only a partial list; the complete list of key players is available in the full report. Additionally, the list of key players can be customized to better suit your needs.*
Other key players in the market include Pfizer Inc., Al Hayat Pharmaceuticals, Lonza Group, WuXi AppTec, Fareva SA, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Nipro Pharma Corporation, B. Braun SE, and WuXi Biologics.
The market report offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:
Market Breakup by Service Type
Market Breakup by Therapeutic Area
Market Breakup by End User
Market Breakup by Region
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*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*
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| REPORT FEATURES | DETAILS |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Historical Period | 2019-2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026-2035 |
| Scope of the Report |
Historical and Forecast Trends, Industry Drivers and Constraints, Historical and Forecast Market Analysis by Segment:
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| Breakup by Service Type |
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| Breakup by Therapeutic Area |
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| Breakup by End User |
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| Breakup by Region |
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| Market Dynamics |
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| Supplier Landscape |
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| Companies Covered |
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