Dr Mehmood Khan, a Pakistani scientist brought up in England, is among the first recipients of citizenship from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh opened citizenship to highly skilled professionals as part of its Vision 2030, aimed at attracting global talent to boost the economic and social development of the country.
As per the media reports, people in specialized fields such as science, medicine, technology, culture and sports were eligible for Saudi citizenship.
Dr Khan who secured a medical degree from the University of Liverpool Medical School in England has a distinguished career. He has served in various prominent positions including Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Global Research and Development at PepsiCo and President of the Global R&D Center at Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
Presently, Dr Khan is holding the position of CEO of Hevolution Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Riyadh that funds research and provides investments in biotechnology to stimulate health sciences.
The prod Pakistani has also managed academic programs like the Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Nutrition Trials Unit at the Mayo Clinic.
The other prominent dignitaries from across the globe who managed to secure KSA citizenship include Islam Zween, CEO of Argaam, Rami Al-Qawasmi, CEO of Mawdoo3.com, Niveen Khashab, founding member of KAUST, Ahmed Mirghani, partner at BIM Ventures, Faraz Khalid, CEO of Noon, and Dr Moutassem Azzubi, Chief Pediatric Neurosurgery at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital.
