United Pharmacy

What United Pharmacy does

United Pharmacy, legally United Pharmaceuticals Company for Medicines and Medical Supplies Limited (شركة المتحدة للأدوية واللوازم الطبية المحدودة), is a privately held Saudi Arabian retail pharmacy chain founded in 1989 and headquartered in Jeddah. It sells prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements, skin care, hair care, oral care, baby and maternity products, personal care items, and medical devices across 53+ physical branches covering all 13 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia, alongside an e-commerce storefront at unitedpharmacy.sa, iOS and Android mobile applications, and WhatsApp ordering. The business generates revenue through unit-priced retail sales (in-store and online), insurance prescription claim processing for chronic and acute medications, and fulfillment under the Saudi government's Wasfaty national e-prescription program, with free delivery on orders above SAR 100 and supplementary logistics via Aramex for non-covered areas.

The technology stack is conventional e-commerce infrastructure rather than proprietary platform IP: a Magento-style storefront, standard social/email login (Facebook, Google, Apple), payment processing with Tamara BNPL, last-mile delivery coordination, and an e-prescription portal (oss.unitedpharmacy.sa) built on CyberAgora. Differentiated service layers include a 24/7 free pharmacist consultation powered by FTMS, a free telemedicine Consult Doctor service, and the MAKSAB loyalty program with tiered Silver/Gold/Diamond benefits. The company is licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Health, complies with Saudi FDA regulations, and operates as a VAT-registered entity, with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities or proprietary model assets.

United Pharmacy's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across four primary channels — 53+ retail branches, owned e-commerce site, mobile apps, and WhatsApp — supported by a 500,000+ subscriber newsletter, an active social media presence, and promotional discounts of up to 50%. Customer segments are horizontally distributed across general consumers, insurance-covered patients, Wasfaty government program patients, and families with infants, with no enterprise or anchor-customer concentration. Pricing is pay-as-you-go retail supplemented by installment plans (Tamara) and subscription-style loyalty point accrual, and the company has not disclosed any external funding rounds, parent ownership, or M&A activity.

Name

United Pharmacy

Legal name

شركة المتحدة للأدوية و اللوازم الطبية المحدودة (United Pharmaceuticals Company for Medicines and Medical Supplies Limited)

Website

https://unitedpharmacy.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

United Pharmacy is a privately held Saudi Arabian retail pharmacy chain founded in 1989, operating 53+ branches across all 13 Saudi regions plus an e-commerce site and mobile apps. It sells prescription drugs, OTC medications, vitamins, skin care, baby care, and medical devices to individual consumers, processing insurance and Wasfaty government prescriptions and offering a MAKSAB loyalty program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Pharmacy

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail & Community Pharmacies (Chain/Independent) (HLAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharmacy & Health Essentials Delivery (CRAFAFAI), Health & Pharmacy Omnichannel (CRAFAEAK), Discount Drugstores (Value-Focused Chain Pharmacies) (CRAEAHAA)

Keywords

• Retail pharmacy services
• Pharmaceutical products
• Online pharmacy
• Personal care products
• Health and wellness

Headquarters

HQ city

Jeddah

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Pharmacy Sales: Revenue generated from selling pharmaceutical products, OTC medications, vitamins, supplements, personal care, baby care, medical devices, and cosmetics through both online and physical retail stores. Products include prescription medications, OTC drugs, beauty and skincare products, vitamins, baby formula, and medical equipment.
2. Insurance Prescription Fulfillment: Processing insurance claims for chronic disease medications and regular prescriptions. Customers present valid insurance cards and prescriptions to receive medications covered under their insurance plans.
3. Wasfaty Government Program: Dispensing medications through Saudi Arabia's Wasfaty e-prescription program, allowing patients to receive medications via online orders with free delivery or in-store pickup.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

United Pharmacy is a retail pharmacy chain that sells prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements, skin care, hair care, baby and mom care, oral care, personal care, medical devices, and home care products through 53+ physical branches and an e-commerce platform serving Saudi Arabia. Complementary offerings include a free 24/7 doctor consultation service, e-prescription (e-dispensing) for Wasfaty, insurance, and cash customers, and a tiered MAKSAB loyalty program.

Product overview

United Pharmacy operates a retail pharmacy platform offering a comprehensive range of health and wellness products across multiple categories. The core offering consists of physical and online retail of pharmaceuticals (OTC and Rx medications), skin care products, vitamins and supplements, baby and mom care items, hair care, personal care, medical devices, and oral care products. The company also provides digital services including an e-prescription dispensing platform, a free doctor consultation service available 24/7, and a loyalty program (MAKSAB) with tiered membership benefits. United Pharmacy has over 35 years of experience serving customers across Saudi Arabia through both physical branches and an e-commerce platform, positioning itself as one of the first retail companies in the pharmacy sector in the Kingdom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MakSab: Loyalty rewards program operated by United Pharmaceutical & Medical Supply co. LTD offering points for purchases at United Pharmacy branches and online store.

Products and services

• Skin Care Products Comprehensive skin care portfolio including face cleansers, moisturizers, serums, toners, sunscreens (Korean, medical, tinted, gel, spray, kids), face masks, exfoliants, and specialized care for eyes, lips, hands, and feet, sold to individual consumers in Saudi Arabia.
• Vitamins and Supplements Multivitamins, essential vitamins (B, C, D, E, K), health vitamins for sleep and energy, dietary supplements (fish oil, probiotics, collagen, melatonin), family vitamins for women, men, and children, herbal vitamins, and minerals offered to individual consumers.
• Medications (OTC and Prescription) Both over-the-counter and prescription medications available through licensed pharmacy branches and the e-prescription portal for individual consumers, insurance patients, and Wasfaty government-program patients.
• Baby and Mom Care Full range of baby care products including diapers, baby formula (various types for different needs such as colic, allergies, reflux), baby healthcare, feeding accessories, and mom care products including pregnancy vitamins, breastfeeding devices, and maternity belts, sold to families with infants.
• Hair Care Products Hair care offerings including treatments for hair fall, dandruff, and lice; hair styling products; shampoos and conditioners; hair coloring products (permanent, ammonia-free, temporary); and hair devices and accessories, sold to individual consumers.
• Personal Care Personal care items including body care, feminine care products, men's grooming products, sanitizers, soaps, deodorants, and body accessories, sold to individual consumers.
• Medical Devices Medical devices including diabetes care devices (glucometers, strips, lancets), blood pressure monitors, nebulizers, thermometers, and weight scales sold to individual consumers for home health monitoring.
• Oral Care Products Oral care portfolio including toothpaste (medical, natural, daily, sensitive, whitening), toothbrushes (electrical and manual), mouthwash, dental floss, gum care products, and kids oral care products, sold to individual consumers.
• Vitabiotics Specialized vitamin sub-brand with products formulated for men, women, and children, sold through United Pharmacy retail and e-commerce channels.
• Health and Home Care Home care products including first aid supplies, mosquito repellents, cotton products, and geriatric care products including adult diapers, pill boxes, wheelchairs, and walking aids for individual consumers and caregivers.
• Consult Doctor Service Free medical consultation service with general practitioners and family doctors via video calls, chat, and phone for minor and urgent cases including fever, cold, allergies, and skin problems, available to individual consumers.
• MAKSAB Loyalty Program Points-based loyalty program with Silver, Gold, and Diamond tiers allowing customers to earn and redeem points across all United Pharmacy branches and online store, with one point per 1 SAR spent and each point valued at 0.75 halalah.
• E-Prescription (E-Dispensing) Service Electronic prescription dispensing service via the oss.unitedpharmacy.sa portal enabling electronic prescription processing for cash clients, insurance clients, Wasfaty clients, and Namaa members.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TamaracoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTamara provides installment payment services allowing United Pharmacy customers to divide their purchases into multiple payments without late fees. This partnership enables customers to afford higher-value purchases through flexible payment options.
• WasfatycoreTechnology or IntegrationWasfaty is Saudi Arabia's government e-prescription platform. United Pharmacy integrates with Wasfaty to process electronic prescriptions, allowing patients to receive government-subsidized medications through online orders with free delivery or in-store pickup.
• Insurance CompaniescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnerships with insurance companies to process and fulfill prescription claims. United Pharmacy accepts insurance for chronic disease medications and regular prescriptions, requiring valid insurance cards, national IDs, and approvals for processing.
• FTMS (Future Medical Technologies Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationFTMS provides the 'Ask the Pharmacist' consultation service integrated into United Pharmacy's digital channels. The service offers free pharmacist consultations with an estimated 3-minute wait time, available 24/7.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Walgreens: US pharmacy retail giant offering OTC/Rx medications, beauty, and wellness products through physical stores and digital channels. Comparable as a chain pharmacy with omnichannel distribution and pharmacist-led services, but at a very different geographic and scale profile.
• McKesson: Global pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution giant supplying retail pharmacies. Comparable as an upstream counterpart to United Pharmacy's retail operations, indicating supplier-side dynamics and competitive benchmarks for the Saudi pharmacy supply chain.
• CVS Health: Largest US pharmacy retailer, combining drugstores, clinics, and pharmacy benefit management. Comparable as a chain pharmacy with prescription fulfillment, clinic services, and loyalty-driven retail, but vastly larger and with a vertically integrated healthcare model.
• Boots Pharmacy (Walgreens Boots Alliance): One of the world's largest pharmacy-led health and beauty retailers. Comparable to United Pharmacy in product mix (pharma, beauty, baby, vitamins) and loyalty-driven retail model, although operating at vastly larger scale and primarily in the UK/Europe.

Direct peers

• Nahdi Medical Company: Saudi Arabia's largest retail pharmacy chain (1,100+ branches) and the dominant direct competitor to United Pharmacy. Both operate omnichannel pharmacy retail under MoH and Saudi FDA licenses, with similar product mixes spanning OTC, Rx, baby care, beauty, and supplements.
• Al-Dawaa Pharmacies: Major Saudi pharmacy chain with hundreds of branches and an active e-commerce platform. Directly comparable to United Pharmacy in store format, product categories (pharma, beauty, baby, supplements), and target consumers across Saudi Arabia.
• Whites Pharmacy: Smaller Saudi pharmacy retail chain operating physical stores and online ordering. Comparable as a chain pharmacy in the same regulatory and consumer environment, although at a smaller scale than United Pharmacy.

Emerging players

• Amazon Pharmacy: Digital-first pharmacy offering online prescription and OTC fulfillment. Comparable as an alternative channel for pharmacy e-commerce, and a potential disruptor to United Pharmacy's online OTC and supplement business over time.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UnitedPharmacy0
• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedpharmacies.ksa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-pharmaceuticals-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/united.pharmacy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Pharmacy