Baxter, a global medical products company and an innovator in renal care, has signed an agreement with the Olayan Group, a private multinational enterprise, on increasing its investment in Baxter Company Limited (BCL), a joint venture and manufacturing plant of both companies in the southern region of Saudi Arabia.
Baxter and Olayan established their partnership 10 years ago to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to produce medical solutions for peritoneal dialysis and IV solutions, which currently serve more than 1,500 renal dialysis patients in the Saudi region. In the future, the factory will expand its supply beyond Saudi Arabia to the entire Middle East as part of a global supply chain ecosystem.
The agreement underscores the partners’ commitment to Saudi Arabia and the region to further improve clinical outcomes for a wide range of patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, in addition to expanding capacity in the current manufacturing facility.
“For more than 60 years, Baxter has partnered with the nephrology community to focus on pioneering care in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis,” said Mazen Dalati, general manager of Baxter Middle East Africa. He added: “The agreement with Olayan is an important milestone on our way to bring that pioneering spirit to Saudi through new therapies and remote patient management.”
Baxter is bringing into this venture Claria with Sharesource, a new technology that allows remote monitoring of peritoneal therapy patients while in their home.
Sharesource extends health care providers’ reach by allowing visibility to their home patients’ adherence patterns, which may allow for earlier intervention. The telehealth platform was introduced to the Saudi market in 2016. It is the only globally available two-way technology that enables health care professionals to remotely monitor and manage therapy from their clinic. Furthermore, Sharesource includes the ability to change a patient’s prescription setting remotely.
Baxter and Olayan consider themselves partners of the Ministry of Health in their joint effort to facilitate Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by providing lifesaving therapies to patients. Additionally, Baxter and Olayan said they are committed to localizing the latest technology and know-how for the benefit of the Saudi market.
Every day, millions of patients and caregivers rely on Baxter’s portfolio of critical care, nutrition, renal, hospital and surgical products. The company’s products, technologies and therapies are available in over 100 countries.
Meanwhile, with offices in Saudi Arabia, Europe, and the US, the Olayan Group’s global investment team focuses on public and private equities, real estate, fixed income securities, and other specialized assets. The commercial side of the group comprises more than 40 companies.
Baxter, Olayan expand renal therapy services in KSA
Baxter, Olayan expand renal therapy services in KSA
Tourism Minister opens Radisson Hotel Madinah
Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of the Tourism Development Fund Ahmed Al-Khateeb recently inaugurated the Radisson Hotel Madinah. The hotel has been enabled by the TDF, a Saudi government fund dedicated to supporting and developing the Saudi tourism sector. The opening of the new property falls within ongoing efforts to enhance the hospitality infrastructure in Madinah and increase its readiness to receive visitors, thereby improving the quality of tourism services in line with the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.
The minister stated that the opening of Radisson Hotel Madinah reflects TDF’s commitment to high-quality and diversified projects that meet visitors’ needs. He said: “Saudi Arabia continues to advance the development of the hospitality sector across different regions to ensure the provision of exceptional accommodation experiences that enhance the visitor journey and support the sustainable growth of tourism, particularly in cities of religious and historical significance such as Madinah.”
TDF CEO Qusai Al-Fakhri said that the fund continues to perform its role as the national enabler of the tourism sector by supporting projects that generate tangible economic and developmental impact. He explained that the hotel’s opening represents a model of TDF’s role in diversified tourism investments and support for the private sector’s hotel projects, which increase accommodation capacity, create job opportunities, and enhance quality of life in Madinah.
The four-star Radisson Hotel Madinah spans an area exceeding 2,300 square meters and comprises 165 rooms. It is located next to Quba Mosque, 12 minutes by car from the Prophet’s Mosque, and 20 minutes from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, making it a convenient choice for city visitors and pilgrims. The hotel includes a restaurant serving guests and visitors, dedicated meeting and event spaces, and sports facilities.
The hotel contributes to stimulating the local economic activity and supporting the tourism and hospitality ecosystem, enhancing Madinah’s readiness to receive increasing numbers of visitors and pilgrims in the coming years.
This project is part of the TDF’s portfolio of tourism projects in various regions of the Kingdom. The TDF has contributed to more than 130 tourism projects in Madinah, with total contributions exceeding SR1.5 billion ($400 million) and accommodation capacity surpassing 2,100 hotel rooms, reaffirming its role in advancing tourism investment, sustainable development objectives, and the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy, in line with the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.
