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RIYADH: ������Ƶ’s healthcare sector is set for another round of strategic expansion, with new biotechnology and pharmaceutical partnerships expected to be unveiled at the Global Health Exhibition 2025 in Riyadh later this month.

Held with the support of the Ministry of Health, the eighth edition of the event will run from Oct. 27-30.

The event will serve as a platform for the Kingdom to attract investment and accelerate progress toward the goals of Vision 2030 to improve healthcare quality and boost the sector’s contribution to the economy.

The value of ������Ƶ’s healthcare industry is projected to rise from SR199 billion ($53 billion) in 2020 to SR318 billion by 2030, with the private sector’s contribution expected to double to SR145 billion.

The ministry said it was working to create a more competitive investment environment, simplify regulatory processes, and support innovation across fields including biotechnology, vaccine production, pharmaceuticals, health tourism, and digital health solutions.

These areas are seen as central to positioning the Kingdom as a regional and global hub for healthcare innovation and manufacturing.

Last year’s Global Health Exhibition generated investments of more than SR50 billion, including major deals such as the SR4 billion drug manufacturing partnership between NUPCO, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi; the SR5 billion expansion plan by Fakeeh Care Group; and acquisition agreements worth over SR4 billion by Dallah Healthcare.

The ministry said this year’s edition would build on that momentum, with new agreements expected in biotech, advanced medical technologies, artificial intelligence, and digital health, further supporting the Kingdom’s drive toward self-sufficiency and an innovation-led healthcare ecosystem.

RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla will organize an educational seminar as part of the “Journey Through the Stars” series on Oct.12 at 5 p.m.

The event will be staged in collaboration with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and the team from AlUla Manara, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The seminar will be presented by specialist in physics and astronomy Dr. Thamer Al-Refay and will cover the fundamentals of astronomy and methods for identifying its components.

The “Journey Through the Stars” series is an educational initiative launched by the RCU to raise awareness of astronomy, in collaboration with several entities, including KACST.

The series features seminars and educational sessions in Arabic, focusing on astronomy, stars, and space science concepts, with an emphasis on connecting astronomical knowledge to the local environment.

AlUla is the site of several pioneering projects in this field, most notably the AlUla Manara observatory project, the first of its kind in the region, as a research and astronomical center that opens new horizons for scientific discoveries.

AlUla is renowned for its dark skies, considered among the clearest in the world.

The RCU obtained DarkSky accreditation for the AlUla Manara observatory site and the Gharameel Nature Reserve, making them the first certified dark-sky locations in ������Ƶ and the Gulf region.

The recognition reflects the RCU’s commitment to promoting astro-tourism and stargazing, as well as supporting space sciences and scientific discoveries.