Diaverum, one of the world's largest independent renal care providers, said on Sunday it has signed a joint venture agreement to expand into the Middle East.
The agreement has been inked with Nazer Group, a Saudi Arabian holding company with major investments in the medical sector including Bupa Arabia.
A substantial part of the agreement will be the opening of a new dialysis clinic in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, the company said in a statement.
Diaverum, currently present in 16 countries in Europe, Latin America and Australia, will make its first foray into the Middle East under the deal, the statement added.
Ercan Ebcin, managing director Diaverum Saudi Arabia, said: "Our goal is to provide first-class dialysis care with the highest safety standards in Saudi Arabia."
Dag Andersson, president and CEO Diaverum said the need for renal replacement therapy was increasing steadily across the globe.
More than five percent of the world´s adult population is estimated to suffer from kidney injury or chronic kidney disease (CKD). The number of end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients exceeded two million globally in 2010.
In Saudi Arabia, approximately 12,000 patients are in need of renal replacement treatment.
"Diabetes, one of the most important risk factors for chronic kidney disease, is spreading in the Arabian world. Approximately 50 percent of the male population in Saudi Arabia above the age of 45 suffer from this disease - one of the highest percentages in the world," added Loay Nazer, chairman of Nazer Group.