The Middle East and Africa CDMO market was valued at USD 9.95 Billion in 2025, driven by the increased disease burden, particularly cancer, and strong government support for domestic pharmaceutical production across the region. The market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.50% during the forecast period of 2026-2035, with the values likely to reach USD 17.00 Billion by 2035.
Base Year
Historical Period
Forecast Period
According to the 2024 UNAIDS report, new HIV infections in the Middle East and North Africa rose by 116% from 2010 to 2023. This growing disease burden is driving demand for CDMO services to accelerate treatment access.
In April 2025, Burjeel Holdings partnered with Caring Cross to produce CAR-T therapies locally at 90% lower costs. This initiative is expected to significantly boost CDMO market growth by enhancing regional biomanufacturing capacity and treatment accessibility.
A key takeaway in the Middle East and Africa CDMO market is the rising demand for cost-effective, regulatory-compliant manufacturing, driving growth as key players expand capabilities, invest in innovation, and strengthen regional partnerships.
Compound Annual Growth Rate
5.5%
Value in USD Billion
2026-2035
*this image is indicative*
Contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) play a crucial role in the pharmaceutical industry by supporting drug development and manufacturing activities for third-party companies. In Middle East and Africa, the CDMO market is experiencing steady growth, driven by rising pharmaceutical demand, increased investments in healthcare infrastructure, and the growing trend of outsourcing to reduce costs and ensure regulatory compliance. Countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa are emerging as key hubs due to supportive government policies and the expansion of local manufacturing capabilities. The market was valued at USD 9.95 Billion in 2025, reflecting increasing regional demand for specialized pharmaceutical services.
Rising Cancer Incidence to Boost Market Growth
An escalating incidence of chronic diseases, particularly cancer, is accelerating demand for biopharmaceutical manufacturing services in the MEA region. For instance, according to the IHE report 2024, breast cancer is the leading cancer among women in Algeria, accounting for 43% of all new diagnoses and 30% of cancer-related deaths. Notably, 86% of these cases occur in women under 65, indicating a younger disease demographic than Western countries. Similarly, the Lung Cancer Policy Network highlights high mortality in MEA due to lung cancer, with 90% of patients dying from the disease. This growing burden is pushing governments and companies to partner with CDMOs for faster and more scalable drug production to meet urgent treatment needs.
Surge in Government Initiatives to Propel Middle East and Africa CDMO Market Value
Proactive government initiatives are catalyzing the development of local CDMO capabilities across the region. For instance, in June 2023, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, PIF, launched Lifera, a commercial-scale CDMO, to enhance national biopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. Lifera will produce vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, CGTs, and more, while partnering with global companies for technology transfer and supply chain development. This initiative is expected to strengthen national health resilience, localize production, and support regional access to cutting-edge therapies, thereby propelling CDMO market growth in MEA.
The market is experiencing several trends, notably the expansion and enhancement of local sterile manufacturing infrastructure.
Sterile Manufacturing Advancements to Strengthen CDMO Capabilities in Africa
The market is witnessing a trend towards strengthening local sterile manufacturing infrastructure to support regional pharmaceutical self-reliance. This is evident from increasing investments aimed at expanding fill-finish capacities for critical products like vaccines. For example, in March 2022, Aspen Pharmacare, Africa’s largest pharmaceutical company, announced a R500 million investment to upgrade its Gqeberha facility. The expansion aims to increase vaccine vial production from 60 million to 150 million units annually. This trend is significantly contributing to the market’s sustained growth trajectory.
Contract Manufacturing Segment Poised to Lead the Market Share by Service Type
The two major service types in the market are contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and contract research organizations (CROs). While both segments play vital roles in supporting pharmaceutical innovation and scalability, the contract manufacturing segment is anticipated to have a significant share in the market. This dominance is fueled by an increasing shift among pharmaceutical companies toward outsourcing manufacturing operations to streamline costs, enhance production efficiency, and meet evolving regulatory standards.
The CDMO market report in the Middle East and Africa includes prominent regions such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Nigeria, and others. These regions are witnessing growing investments in pharmaceutical manufacturing, regulatory alignment, and expanding healthcare infrastructure. Among these, Saudi Arabia is expected to lead the market, driven by government support and strategic healthcare reforms. It reached USD 3.37 billion in 2024 and is projected to attain USD 5.95 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period.
The Middle East and Africa CDMO market research report by Expert Market Research provides an in-depth analysis of the competitive landscape, offering key insights into funding trends, investments, and strategic initiatives by major players. It tracks recent investments, mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships that showcase the market's growth trajectory. Additionally, the report details strategic activities by leading companies, including regional expansions, adoption of new technologies, and efforts to enhance capacity, helping stakeholders better understand the market dynamics and positions of key industry players. Some of the leading players are as follows:
Boehringer Ingelheim, through its BioXcellence™ platform, is a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in biopharmaceuticals. The company offers advanced mammalian and microbial technology-based manufacturing solutions, including monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, and plasmid DNA. With GMP-compliant facilities and regulatory approvals from EMA and FDA, Boehringer Ingelheim is strengthening its role in the CDMO market by supporting regional biopharma production and clinical supply.
Recipharm delivers integrated CDMO solutions across oral solid dosage forms, sterile injectables, and biologics. In October 2024, it expanded its capabilities through a strategic collaboration with Exela Pharma Sciences in North Carolina, boosting annual capacity to over 100 million units of vials and pre-filled syringes, including biologics, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), GLP‑1 therapeutics, and vaccines. The company also launched a state-of-the-art modular Grade A sterile filling line in Germany, enhancing its service offerings from early development through clinical supply for biotech clients.
Patheon, a CDMO brand under Thermo Fisher Scientific, delivers comprehensive development and manufacturing services for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), biologics, injectables, and next-generation therapies, including plasmids and viral vectors. Operating globally with a strong U.S. footprint, it collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies like Merck and Amgen. Patheon’s end-to-end, cGMP-compliant solutions accelerate drug development and commercialization with efficiency and regulatory precision.
Pfizer Inc., through its CDMO platform Pfizer CentreOne, plays an influential role in the contract manufacturing landscape. Backed by Pfizer’s global manufacturing infrastructure, Pfizer CentreOne provides a full spectrum of development and manufacturing services covering oral solids, sterile injectables, biologics, and small-molecule APIs. The division integrates regulatory expertise and lifecycle management, enabling biopharmaceutical partners to accelerate the delivery of high-quality therapeutics across international markets.
*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 Al Hayat Pharmaceuticals, Modern Pharmaceutical Company LLC (MPC), Lonza Group, Balsam Clinical Research, 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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