SFDA Reports 82% Increase in Licensed Factories, Warehouses in 2024

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) reported a record 82% growth in the number of licensed factories and warehouses in 2024, compared with 2023.
The SFDA attributed the surge to various factors, most notably the development of the regulatory system, which has significantly empowered investors through a plan featuring several initiatives. Among them is one to re-engineer the licensing procedures along with other initiatives aimed at stimulating industries and localizing production, implemented in collaboration with various relevant government entities.
In the food sector, licenses were issued for 693 factories and 3,857 warehouses in 2024, while eight factories and 565 warehouses in the pharmaceutical sector obtained licenses. Furthermore, licenses were issued for 42 factories and 857 warehouses in the cosmetics sector, 24 factories and 1,405 warehouses in the medical devices sector, and 29 factories and 270 warehouses in the feed sector, along with the licensing of nine private laboratories.