In a major step toward advancing Saudi-European trade and regulatory collaboration, H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), held high-level meetings today with H.E. Luigi Di Maio, European Union (EU) Special Representative for the Gulf Region, and Dr. Sabine Weyand, Director General of the EU Directorate-General for Trade. Saudi Ambassador to the EU, Ms. Haifa Al Jedaie, was also present, reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to deepening economic and regulatory ties with the EU.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, contributed his insights to a prominent panel discussion on “Regulatory Pathways: Balancing Innovation and Safety” at the Global Healthspan Summit 2025 in Riyadh on Tuesday. The session centered on the pivotal role of regulatory frameworks in fostering innovation while ensuring public safety, particularly in efforts to extend healthy lifespans.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has issued its first license for a medical software and applications factory, marking a significant step forward in healthcare innovation in Saudi Arabia. This initiative is part of the results of the Licensing Initiative for Medical Software Developers in Digital Health, which was launched during the Global Health Exhibition 2024 in Riyadh.

Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, January 26, 2025 - The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Center of Excellence for Smart Health (KCSH) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) hosted a workshop today, uniting prominent researchers, scientists, and officials to discuss the regulation and innovation of medical devices utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has achieved a landmark milestone by becoming the first organization in the Middle East to be elected to the Management Committee of the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), joining seven international counterparts and eight representatives from global organizations.

H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), recently conducted an inspection tour of the Authority’s Eastern Province branch, visiting several affiliated facilities.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) seized 571 unlicensed facilities engaged in the manufacture and storage of food, medicines, and medical devices in the regions of Makkah and Madinah, referring the violating establishments to the competent authorities for legal action.

The SFDA explained that it conducted 3,676 inspection visits to the facilities under its supervision during intensive supervisory tours as part of its role during the Hajj season, ensuring the safety of food, medicines, and medical products.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) detected 187 violating facilities and 277 types of products during 1,959 monitoring and inspection tours conducted across all regions of the Kingdom in May 2024.