In brief
Klea Holding launched Klea Pharma, a new subsidiary set up to bring licensed medicines to fast growing markets across the Middle East and Africa, holding a 46% stake with an option to increase to 70% within three years. Ten weeks later the company moved from formation to commercial operation, announcing a partnership with Al Khayyat Investments — a family-owned Emirati healthcare group with roots dating back to 1965.
Table of contents
April 2026: Klea Pharma is born
On 1 April 2026, Klea Holding announced the creation of Klea Pharma, a new company set up to market a portfolio of licensed medicines across the Middle East and Africa (MEA).
Starting position:
- Based in Dubai, with a scientific office dedicated to portfolio management, regulatory affairs, and business development
- Launching with 59 medicines registered under both the Dubai Drug Code (DDC) and the HAAD Code (Abu Dhabi) — giving access to both public and private markets
- A distribution network already reaching 1,611 pharmacies (51% of the UAE) and 51 hospital groups
- Manufacturing outsourced to CDMOs across 18 international production sites, all US FDA– or EU GMP–certified
Why the Middle East and Africa
The region's pharmaceutical market is worth $32.6 billion and growing at 7.8% annually — more than double the pace of mature markets. The UAE, growing at 16.5%, stands out as the ideal entry point, backed by universal health insurance and one of the highest individual coverage rates in the world (68%).
The roadmap: UAE first, then Saudi Arabia from 2027, followed by gradual expansion into West Africa in 2027/2028 — a region where 420 million people remain underserved for essential medicines. Klea Pharma also has 33 additional products already identified for future portfolio expansion, with a focus on chronic and autoimmune conditions.
The company's initial financing — AED 12.5 million, fully funded by Klea Holding and its partners — was structured to be entirely non-dilutive for shareholders. Klea Pharma is targeting AED 14.3 million in revenue by 2026, scaling to over AED 200 million by 2032.
June 2026: The business goes live, with a major distribution partner
Just over two months later, on 11 June 2026, Klea Pharma moved from formation to operation — announcing its commercial launch in partnership with Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), a family-owned Emirati holding company with deep roots in regional healthcare.
What changed:
- The transfer of the acquired medicines portfolio into Klea Pharma's own operational structure officially began, with 57 medicines now registered with the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE)
- The company's scientific office, regulatory approvals, and local teams — covering regulatory affairs, quality, supply chain, and business development — are now in place
- Full transfer of regulatory assets is expected to complete by the end of June 2026, at which point Klea Pharma will be fully operational in the UAE
Why AKI matters
AKI brings over four decades of experience in the region, tracing back to 1965 and the founding of the UAE's first pharmacy chain, BinSina Pharmacy (now 150+ pharmacies across the UAE and Oman).
Through its Healthcare division, AKI holds a leading position in pharmaceutical distribution across the Middle East — over 4% regional market share, and more than 15% in the UAE alone — supported by a portfolio of 60+ pharmaceutical companies, integrated logistics, full cold-chain control, and a workforce of over 12,000.
With AKI on board, Klea Pharma's distribution footprint remains at 1,611 pharmacies and 51 hospital groups — but now with an established commercial partner capable of driving both near-term roll-out and future regional expansion.
Updated financial outlook: Klea Pharma confirmed it is targeting turnover of over AED 8.5 million in 2026 — its first year of first revenues — rising to over AED 14 million in its first full year of operation, and over AED 200 million by 2032.
The bigger picture
Klea Pharmaceuticals is the latest expression of Klea Holding's strategy of building an integrated healthcare platform in the Middle East and Africa — alongside Smart Salem, the UAE's first DHA-accredited network of digital medical testing centres, and Smart Health, its joint venture bringing digital medical testing to Saudi Arabia.
Together, these ventures reflect a clear ambition: to diversify Klea Holding's revenue and margins while increasing exposure to high-growth healthcare markets — built on self-financed and non-dilutive investment.