With an investment exceeding 15 million Omani Rials and an area of 22,000 square meters, the Dhofar Pharmaceutical Industries factory (Dhofar Pharma) inaugurated today, Wednesday, in the Raysut Industrial City, part of the Public Authority for Industrial Estates (Madayn) in Dhofar Governorate under the patronage of H.E. Qais Mohammed Al-Yousef - Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion.
Dhofar Pharma specializes in the production of intravenous solutions and dialysis solutions using German technologies, adhering to the highest global quality standards. It aims to supply the Omani and international markets with effective and safe medications, utilizing the best manufacturing materials while strictly complying with the Ministry of Health standards in the Sultanate of Oman and current good manufacturing practices.
The factory will cover the local market, as it aims to localize pharmaceutical industries and achieve drug security in Oman, the Middle East, and North Africa. 
H.E. Qais Al-Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion pointed out that this factory is a product of the outcomes of the investment lab in the health sector organized by the Ministry of Health in December 2022, in collaboration with the National Investment and Export Development Program (Nazdhar) and supported by the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit. The inauguration is considered an achievement in expanding free and industrial zones in Dhofar Governorate and a step toward supporting national trends and the goals of Oman Vision 2040 in the fields of industry and health security in Oman.
The Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion indicated that there is a strategic focus on advanced medical industries. The industrial strategy for Oman 2040 emphasizes achieving certain goals related to pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical supplies. It highlights the importance of enhancing medical industries and creating investment facilitation for establishing factories for medical products, surgical equipment, and orthopedic devices.
Sheikh Salem Ali Amer Jeed al-Mahri, Chairman of Dhofar Pharmaceutical Industries, indicated that this project is the first of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman. He stated that the total annual production capacity for I.V. solutions is 15 million bags, and 2.3 million for dialysis Jerrycans per year. The factory will meet the demand from the health sectors for these solutions, estimated at around five million units annually. He also expressed the factory's ambition to export its products to countries in the Middle East and North Africa in the coming years.
The Chairman of Dhofar Pharmaceutical Industries added that the factory aims to employ around 80% of the national workforce within the first five years of the project.
Dr. Mohammed Hamdan Al-Rubaie, Director General of the Drug Safety Center at the Ministry of Health, stated that the inauguration of this factory strengthens drug security in Oman. It has been constructed according to the specifications of the Ministry of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and complies with the requirements of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Al-Rubaie added that Dhofar Pharmaceutical Industries aims to manufacture a diverse range of intravenous solutions, including saline and nutrient solutions, focusing on attracting highly skilled technical personnel to ensure the efficiency of operations.
This project is considered one of the important strategic initiatives, playing a vital role in building a sustainable and reliable healthcare system that effectively treats patients and responds quickly to emergencies. It also contributes to price stability through local production, reducing reliance on imports and mitigating the impact of global market fluctuations.
Furthermore, it raises the quality standards for health regulations, minimizes risks associated with products, and promotes research and innovation in the local pharmaceutical industry.