Saudi Arabia Localizes Veterinary Vaccine Manufacturing Through Strategic Partnership with CEVA

Under the patronage of H.E. the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, and in the presence of several sector leaders, the Program signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CEVA to localize veterinary vaccine manufacturing in the Kingdom, transfer technology and technical expertise, and expand industrial and commercial production across various regions.
According to the MoU, both parties will work to enhance mass production scale-up efficiency and establish a clear, sustainable commercial operating pathway that meets national market needs and strengthens Saudi Arabia’s biosecurity and food security systems.
Areas of cooperation include the development and advancement of mRNA vaccine technologies, as well as joint research and development of a vaccine for MERS-CoV in camels through the design, evaluation, and development of targeted vaccines to combat the virus. The collaboration also covers the development of rabies vaccines and related solutions, while supporting national disease control efforts through vaccine supply, capacity building, and the implementation of integrated prevention strategies.
The partnership aims to meet the needs of the Kingdom’s poultry vaccine market, currently valued at approximately SAR 750 million. The plan includes covering around 30% of the market, with an initial investment of nearly SAR 250 million. With continued government support for the poultry sector and rising production levels, the market is expected to grow at an annual rate exceeding 10%, reaching approximately SAR 1.25 billion by 2030.
CEVA’s joining of the Veterinary Biotechnology Future City, Biotech Park in Dhurma Governorate, represents a strategic milestone. It reflects the Program’s pivotal role in developing advanced industries within the livestock and fisheries sector and in building international partnerships with leading companies, research centers, and global universities.
The MoU seeks to ensure that locally manufactured vaccines align with the poultry disease strains prevalent in the Kingdom, alongside the transfer of advanced knowledge and technologies from CEVA. It also includes the implementation of specialized training programs to ensure manufacturing facilities comply with international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, further strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for biotechnology and supporting the sustainable economic development of the sector.