As Saudi Arabia rapidly reshapes under the ambitious goals of Vision 2030, one name stands out as a historic pillar and forward-thinking innovator: Tamer Group. With over a century in health care, Tamer is not only a national asset, it’s a strategic enabler of growth across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. With partnerships spanning five continents, a workforce grounded in meritocracy and inclusion, as well as an unmatched supply chain and biotech capabilities, Tamer is contributing to the next chapter of Saudi Arabia’s health care and innovation story.
Since 1922, when Dr. Mohamed Said Tamer opened Jeddah’s first pharmacy, Tamer Group has evolved into a leading integrated health care organization — a reflection of Saudi Arabia’s own transformation. The company now employs over 4,000 people, offering pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical devices, nutrition, e-commerce and logistics services throughout the region.
“From day one, we’ve seen ourselves as responsible not just to customers, but to society as a whole,” said Ayman Tamer. “That’s the ethos behind our vision to create shared value, empower future generations and drive health care transformation.”
From the start, the group has been defined by a mission not only to succeed commercially but also to serve society.
“The aim of Tamer Group is to leverage our culture, talent and governance to transform society through better health,” Tamer said. Its evolution from a family pharmacy to a national conglomerate reflects the very same values of service, agility and trust that guide it today. “Supporting Vision 2030 has long been part of our DNA. We have been localizing pharmaceuticals with our Japanese partners since the 1990s and are now focusing on ‘biosimilars’ and other high-potency molecules.”
That vision is manifested in long-standing joint ventures, such as Saja with Daiichi Sankyo and Astellas, and more recently in a strategic tripartite agreement with Sanofi and the Public Investment Fund-backed Lifera to produce seven essential vaccines in the kingdom. Vaccines for influenza, meningitis and pediatric immunizations are being localized to meet domestic demand and to enable regional exports across the MENA region.
Pre-filled surgical trays, wound care products and biosimilar therapies are now being co-developed and localized in Saudi Arabia through Tamer Molnlycke Care, a joint venture with Sweden’s Molnlycke Health Care. These initiatives not only improve access and outcomes but also create skilled jobs and enhance national self-sufficiency.
These partnerships are strategic in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role as a health care exporter. Tamer’s subsidiary, Arabio, has expansion plans that include supplying vaccines to neighboring Gulf countries and selected sub-Saharan markets.
Tamer’s forward-thinking logistics strategy is rooted in resilience, digitization and efficiency. Today, given the frequent disruption of supply chains, it is becoming more agile and resilient by diversifying suppliers and introducing artificial intelligence-driven forecasting tools to manage critical disruptions. That experience informed its decision to build the $200 million Tamer Logistics Park in Riyadh, due to launch in early 2026. Solar-powered and incorporating AutoStore retrieval systems, the site will serve as a central node in Saudi Arabia’s growing medical and wellness logistics.
“Centralizing operations in Riyadh has significantly improved service and reduced costs,” Tamer said. “It’s about building for the next 50 years, not just reacting to today’s demand.” The park also supports Vision 2030’s logistics pillar by enabling smarter warehousing, greener transportation and stronger last-mile connectivity to remote areas.
The group has also entered into exclusive partnerships with international logistics providers like Kuehne+Nagel to enhance distribution capabilities. This allows Tamer to operate across multiple verticals with greater agility and increased cold chain compliance for temperature-sensitive products.
The future of digital health care
Digital transformation is central to Tamer’s growth model. The group is transitioning its enterprise resource planning platform to Oracle Cloud, improving front-end operations while deploying AI, data analytics and cybersecurity across departments.
In 2023, Tamer launched LumineticsCore, an AI diagnostic platform approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority for diabetic retinopathy.
Developed with Digital Diagnostics, this system will help protect the eyesight of more than 8 million Saudis, particularly in underserved regions. It is also developing AI-powered dashboards that provide real-time analytics to health care clients, reducing procurement waste, improving delivery times and helping hospitals manage high-volume caseloads more effectively.
Meanwhile, Tamer’s e-commerce portfolio — including VitaCare (a business-to-business digital wholesaler) and Mumzworld (an online baby supplies store) — is achieving double-digit growth, driven by rising demand for telehealth, home delivery and preventative care products.
Strategic health care solutions
Tamer Group has become a global voice in vaccine equity and pandemic preparedness. As a majority shareholder in Arabio, it leads the local production of vaccines (including those for meningitis) in partnership with Sanofi and Lifera, aligning with the National Biotechnology Strategy. It now commands over 40% of the market in local vaccines in the kingdom.
The initiative supports MENA-wide pandemic response capacity, enabling local fill-and-finish capabilities and faster deployment during crises.
“We were early advocates of this model, co-authoring a white paper with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations at the World Economic Forum,” Tamer said.
“This partnership represents a new era for Saudi Arabia’s biopharmaceutical sector,” noted Faisal Tamer, chairman of Arabio and vice chairman of Tamer Group.
In 2024, the group launched Taam, a strategic services platform supporting both public and private health care operators. It provides supply chain advisory, digitization consulting and third-party logistics services.
“Just over a year in, it’s already established a solid market presence,” Ayman Tamer said. “This is about being more than a supplier. We want to help institutions design smarter, leaner and more agile systems.”
Its service architecture includes system audits, digital integration road maps and turnkey outsourcing packages for regional hospitals. By offering modular services and tailored analytics, the firm supports both state-driven and private health care reform.
Taam is poised to become a key national ally in health care reform, especially as Saudi Arabia expands private-sector participation in primary and specialty care.
Impactful talent empowerment
At Tamer, culture is extremely important. It invests heavily in employee development, well-being and fairness. Its human resources model is rooted in the belief that performance flourishes where respect, opportunity and support exist.
“Talented employees tolerate pressure, but never tolerate unfair treatment,” Ayman Tamer noted. “We measure our success by how we develop people, not just numbers.”
The company uses internal scorecards that balance business metrics with colleague development and ethics. An internal ethics committee enables confidential reporting and managers are trained to promote inclusive leadership. It has achieved platinum standard for its Saudization levels, highlighting that “women now represent 18% of our total staff, a figure we are committed to increasing over time, in alignment with the aspirations of Vision 2030,” Tamer said. Jeddah remains at the heart of Tamer’s legacy and ambition. “What makes Saudi Arabia unique is its ongoing transformation,” said Ayman Tamer. “Jeddah is now a bridge between the past and future, mixing heritage with a smart city ethos.”
With new infrastructure, better air and sea connectivity and proximity to Mecca, Jeddah is emerging as a logistics and health care innovation hub. Tamer is investing heavily in making the city a regional center for digital health, AI diagnostics and cross-border pharmaceutical distribution.
With partners from the U.S., Japan, Sweden and beyond, Tamer Group has perfected what it calls the “glocalization” model: combining global expertise with local infrastructure and market knowledge. Whether through vaccine supply, medical tray localization, or AI-enabled diagnostics, the company ensures that technologies are adapted to the local environment, ensuring better access, faster results and stronger outcomes.
Sustainability and governance in action
Tamer stands at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s corporate sustainability movement. The company is actively upgrading its fleet with electric and fuel-efficient vehicles, despite global challenges with battery recycling and resale value. It is also enhancing its lighting infrastructure for greater energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy generation, thereby directly contributing to the reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions.
“Good governance, environmental stewardship and social equity are not checkboxes for us. They’re how we run the business every day,” said Ayman Tamer.
“I am proud of my team and optimistic about Saudi Arabia and the Tamer Group’s future. We welcome companies, institutions and researchers interested in investing and exploring opportunities in this promising market.”
“In a nation undergoing a most profound transformation, Tamer Group is more than a company — it’s a platform for progress, a force for equity and a partner for the future.”
https://info.japantimes.co.jp/international-reports/pdf/20251002-GI_Saudi Arabia.pdf
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