Middle East and Africa Diabetes Drug Market Outlook, 2030

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) diabetes drug market is witnessing a steady rise due to increasing prevalence of diabetes, driven by rapid urbanization, unhealthy lifestyles, rising obesity rates, and aging populations. Countries like Saudi Arabia are seeing high diagnosis rates and improved healthcare access, which is prompting demand for advanced treatment options such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors. Innovations in the market include the growing adoption of biosimilars and the introduction of novel GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are becoming accessible in high-income parts of the region.

Moreover, the increasing penetration of digital healthcare tools, such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices and telemedicine platforms, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, is transforming diabetes care management. In general, most Middle Eastern countries require that diabetes drugs be approved by their respective regulatory agencies before they can be sold in the country. For example, in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is responsible for regulating the approval and registration of all drugs, including diabetes drugs. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for example, the government provides free healthcare services to all UAE nationals and subsidizes healthcare services for expatriates.

This includes coverage for a range of diabetes drugs, including insulin, oral medications, and injectable medications. In other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the level of reimbursement for diabetes drugs may be more limited. In these cases, patients may need to pay out of pocket for some or all of their diabetes medications. Furthermore, health inequalities between high-income GCC nations and resource-constrained African countries create disparities in access and outcomes. Nonetheless, public-private collaborations, increased healthcare funding, and international support from global health organizations are gradually improving the situation.

According to the research report "Middle East and Africa Diabetes Drug Market Overview, 2030," the Middle East and Africa Diabetes Drug market is anticipated to grow at more than 6.31% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. Urban centers like Riyadh, Dubai, Cairo, and Johannesburg are witnessing increased diagnosis rates, partly due to improved access to healthcare and rising awareness, which in turn fuels the demand for advanced diabetes drugs. Newly published 2024 hospital registry updates confirm double-digit diabetes prevalence across GCC states, with Saudi clinics reporting baseline HbA1c readings above 10% in incoming patients, underscoring the severity of metabolic deterioration.[1]Elsevier, “Oral Semaglutide Effectiveness in Real-World Practice,” deman.elsevier.com Urban migration, dietary westernization, and sedentary work patterns continue to raise body-mass indices, lengthening lifetime treatment duration. The trend is spreading southward as processed foods penetrate major African cities where healthcare access is fragmented. For pharmaceutical companies, this enlarges the addressable population for basal insulin, GLP-1 agonists, and emerging once-weekly pills. It also strengthens the case for preventive public-health spending, which in turn supports formularies covering weight-control agents. Regional champions Hikma and Julphar extend portfolios with biosimilar insulin and metformin-sitagliptin fixed combinations, addressing price-sensitive tender markets. Digital-health entrants such as Sihatech and Vezeeta integrate e-pharmacy, teleconsultation, and lab scheduling to capture data-driven revenue streams, making them attractive co-marketing partners for device makers. Sanofi’s 2024 agreement with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health adds AI-powered rare-disease screening that could cross-pollinate diabetes-complication detection. The favorable government policies encouraging local production, fast-track drug approvals, and pricing control frameworks are ensuring smoother market penetration. For instance, Egypt and the UAE have introduced accelerated drug registration systems to encourage innovation and timely market entry.

Market Drivers

• Alarming Rise in Diabetes Prevalence Due to Lifestyle Shifts and Urbanization: One of the strongest growth drivers in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) diabetes drug market is the sharp increase in the prevalence of diabetes, especially Type 2, driven by rapid urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, and poor dietary habits. In many Gulf countries, high sugar consumption, reduced physical activity, and a growing obesity crisis are significantly contributing to the diabetes burden. Similarly, in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, increasing migration to urban areas and lifestyle transitions are triggering a rise in non-communicable diseases like diabetes.
• Government Health Reforms and Rising Healthcare Investments: Governments across the Middle East and parts of Africa are stepping up efforts to combat the diabetes epidemic through national health strategies, public health education, and investments in primary healthcare systems. Many countries are expanding healthcare coverage, improving diagnosis infrastructure, and subsidizing the cost of essential diabetes drugs. For example, wealthier Gulf nations are offering free or low-cost access to chronic disease medication through national insurance programs.

Market Challenges

• Limited Access to Advanced Therapies and Diagnostic Infrastructure: One of the major obstacles in the MEA diabetes drug market is the limited access to advanced therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists or insulin analogs. While affluent regions like the UAE and Saudi Arabia may afford and distribute newer drugs, many countries in Africa still rely on older, low-cost medications due to constrained healthcare budgets. Furthermore, there is a lack of diagnostic tools, trained healthcare professionals, and consistent monitoring infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved areas. These gaps result in underdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and poor long-term disease control.
• Socioeconomic Barriers and Poor Treatment Adherence: Widespread poverty, low health literacy, and cultural beliefs contribute to poor treatment adherence across many parts of the region. In low-income communities, patients may not fully understand the need for continuous therapy or may prioritize other expenses over medication. Additionally, irregular drug supply chains and fragmented healthcare systems in parts of Africa disrupt consistent access to treatment. These challenges reduce the effectiveness of national health programs and limit the growth potential of the diabetes drug market in these areas.

Market Trends

• Growth of Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Generic Drugs: A key trend emerging in the MEA region is the rise of local pharmaceutical companies producing generic versions of essential diabetes drugs. As healthcare systems seek cost-effective solutions, governments are encouraging local manufacturing to reduce dependence on imports and improve affordability. This shift is particularly significant in North African countries and South Africa, where regulatory authorities are promoting domestic production of metformin, glibenclamide, and even biosimilar insulin. This trend supports greater drug accessibility and stimulates competition in pricing, which is crucial for market expansion.
• Increasing Use of Digital Health and Mobile Solutions: The integration of mobile health technologies is beginning to reshape diabetes care in MEA, especially in urban areas. Mobile apps for medication reminders, glucose tracking, and telemedicine consultations are gaining traction, helping overcome geographical barriers to care. In more developed markets like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, digital health platforms are being linked with electronic prescriptions and remote monitoring devices, allowing patients and doctors to manage diabetes more efficiently. In Africa, mobile-based health education programs are helping raise awareness about diabetes and the importance of regular medication, representing a cost-effective and scalable solution in resource-limited settings.

The insulin drug class dominates the Middle East and Africa (MEA) diabetes drug industry primarily due to the high prevalence of uncontrolled diabetes and limited access to early diagnosis and oral antidiabetic therapies, necessitating insulin-dependent management.

A significant portion of the diabetic population in MEA remains undiagnosed until the disease has advanced, mainly due to limited access to primary healthcare, poor health literacy, and cultural stigmas surrounding chronic disease management. Consequently, when patients finally seek treatment, oral antidiabetic medications may no longer be sufficient, and insulin becomes the only viable option to manage blood glucose levels effectively. Furthermore, the region has seen a rise in lifestyle-related risk factors such as sedentary behavior, unhealthy diets, and rising obesity rates, contributing to more aggressive diabetes progression and earlier onset of insulin dependency.

In many parts of the MEA, particularly in lower-income and rural settings, health systems often rely on standardized treatment protocols that emphasize insulin over newer or more expensive oral or injectable non-insulin drugs, primarily because insulin, especially older formulations like human insulin, is more accessible through public health programs and international aid.

Additionally, the lack of robust infrastructure for continuous diabetes monitoring and follow-up care makes long-term glycemic control with oral therapies more challenging, increasing the reliance on insulin. Governments and NGOs have focused heavily on securing insulin supplies through procurement partnerships, reinforcing its availability compared to newer drug classes.

Cultural factors also play a role, as some communities view insulin as a stronger and more definitive treatment, leading to greater acceptance despite initial resistance to injectable therapy. Urban centers like Riyadh, Cairo, and Johannesburg may offer modern antidiabetic drugs, but these are often limited to private healthcare settings and remain unaffordable or inaccessible to much of the population.

Type 1 diabetes is moderately growing in the MEA diabetes drug industry due to increasing awareness, improving diagnostic capabilities, and better survival rates among children and adolescents with the condition.

The moderate growth of type 1 diabetes in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) diabetes drug industry can be attributed to a combination of demographic, healthcare, and epidemiological changes that have gradually improved both diagnosis and management of this chronic autoimmune condition. Historically underdiagnosed in many MEA countries due to limited healthcare infrastructure, low disease awareness, and lack of access to diagnostic tools, type 1 diabetes is now being more frequently identified, especially in urban centers with expanding healthcare access.

Efforts by governments, NGOs, and international health organizations have focused on enhancing pediatric and adolescent healthcare services, which has led to better early detection of type 1 diabetes in children a group traditionally vulnerable to missed or late diagnoses. Public awareness campaigns, school health initiatives, and increased media coverage about childhood diabetes have also contributed to earlier intervention and improved disease recognition among families and general practitioners.

Moreover, advancements in neonatal and pediatric care have significantly improved the survival rates of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, especially when supported by the availability of insulin, glucometers, and education on disease management. Many countries, such as Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Egypt, have started investing in pediatric endocrinology departments and specialized diabetes clinics, enabling more structured and consistent care for type 1 patients.

The oral route of administration is the largest in the MEA diabetes drug industry due to its convenience, patient preference, cost-effectiveness, and widespread use in early-stage type 2 diabetes management.

Oral antidiabetic drugs, such as metformin, sulfonylureas, and DPP-4 inhibitors, are often the first line of therapy recommended in national and international treatment guidelines for type 2 diabetes, especially during early and moderate disease stages. The MEA region, characterized by varying levels of healthcare infrastructure and income disparities, benefits from the affordability and ease of distribution of oral medications, making them accessible to a broader population through both public and private healthcare systems.

Patients often show greater adherence to oral medications due to the psychological and practical barriers associated with injectables, such as insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonists, including fear of needles, complexity of administration, and storage challenges. In rural and under-resourced settings where access to healthcare professionals is limited, oral drugs offer a more feasible self-managed treatment option, as they typically do not require intensive monitoring or administration training. Furthermore, government and donor-funded healthcare programs frequently prioritize essential oral medications for procurement and reimbursement, further entrenching their usage across clinics and pharmacies in the region.

As urbanization and dietary shifts fuel the rise of type 2 diabetes across MEA, particularly among middle-aged adults, oral medications provide a scalable and cost-effective response to the growing disease burden. Pharmaceutical companies have also focused on expanding the availability of fixed-dose combinations in oral form, improving treatment adherence and reducing pill burden.

Hospital pharmacies are moderately growing in the MEA diabetes drug industry due to the rising number of diabetes-related complications requiring inpatient care and increasing government investments in hospital infrastructure and specialized diabetes treatment centers.

The moderate growth of hospital pharmacies in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) diabetes drug industry is largely driven by the increasing prevalence of diabetes-related complications that necessitate inpatient management and specialized therapeutic support. As type 2 diabetes continues to surge across the region, many patients are being diagnosed at later stages, often presenting with comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, kidney dysfunction, diabetic foot ulcers, and severe hyperglycemia, which require intensive care in hospital settings.

This clinical burden has led to a greater reliance on hospital pharmacies to provide a wider array of antidiabetic medications, including insulin, injectable therapies, and emergency glucose management drugs. Furthermore, governments across the MEA region particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and South Africa are making substantial investments in expanding and upgrading their public healthcare systems, which includes enhancing hospital infrastructure, increasing the number of inpatient beds, and improving pharmacy services. These developments have created a more structured and dependable supply chain for diabetes medications within hospital settings.

In addition, hospital pharmacies are typically equipped to handle more complex medication regimens, such as those required for critically ill or multi-morbid diabetes patients, as well as providing professional oversight for proper dosage, drug interactions, and patient education. They also serve as key distribution points for newer or more expensive medications that may not be widely available in retail settings, especially in public sector hospitals that partner with international health organizations for subsidized access.

Saudi Arabia is leading the Middle East and Africa (MEA) diabetes drug industry due to its exceptionally high diabetes prevalence, rising healthcare investments, and strong government initiatives focused on chronic disease management.

The country’s rapid economic development and urbanization over the past few decades have significantly altered dietary habits and lifestyle patterns, resulting in a dramatic surge in obesity and physical inactivity two major risk factors for type 2 diabetes. A significant portion of the Saudi adult population is now affected by diabetes or prediabetes, creating an urgent demand for effective and sustained pharmacological management. Recognizing the critical public health implications, the Saudi government has integrated diabetes prevention and management into its national health agenda, particularly under the framework of Vision 2030.

This includes expanding access to healthcare services, upgrading hospitals and clinics, and ensuring the availability of essential and advanced diabetes medications through public and private channels. The country’s Ministry of Health offers free diabetes medications including insulin, metformin, and newer drug classes like SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists to citizens through its extensive public healthcare network. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is increasingly embracing digital health technologies such as mobile health apps, telemedicine platforms, and remote glucose monitoring, which enhance patient engagement and medication adherence.

The pharmaceutical market is also becoming more robust, with domestic companies growing in capacity and international pharmaceutical giants actively entering into partnerships and licensing agreements to tap into the expanding demand. Government-supported public awareness campaigns, regular screening programs, and educational efforts in schools and workplaces are helping with early detection and preventive care, thereby increasing diagnosis rates and further driving medication demand.

Considered in this report

• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report

• Diabetic Drug Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Drug Class

• Insulin
• GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
• DPP-4 Inhibitors
• SGLT2 Inhibitors
• Others (metformin, sulfonylureas, and combination therapies)

By Diabetes

• Type-1
• Type-2

By Route of Administration

• Oral
• Subcutaneous
• Intravenous

By Distribution Channel

• Hospital Pharmacies
• Retail pharmacies
• Online Pharmacies

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases.

After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to this industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.