Dr. Mehmood Khan, a Pakistani scientist raised in England and educated at a medical university is among the first recipients of Saudi citizenship, according to a list published by the financial news portal Argaam. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to attract and retain exceptional global talent to boost the kingdom’s economic and social development, opened citizenship to highly skilled professionals. A royal decree issued in November 2021 allows individuals in specialized fields such as science, medicine, culture, sports, and technology to apply for citizenship.
Dr. Mehmood Khan, who earned his medical degree from the University of Liverpool Medical School in England, was listed among the high achievers awarded Saudi citizenship. Khan’s distinguished career includes senior corporate roles, such as Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Global Research and Development at PepsiCo and President of the Global R&D Center at Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
In an interview with OPEN Silicon Valley, an international organization of Pakistani entrepreneurs, Khan expressed his pride in his Pakistani heritage, despite having grown up in England. He is now the CEO of Hevolution Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Riyadh that funds research through grants and invests in biotechnology to advance health sciences. Khan has also managed academic programs, including the Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Nutrition Trials Unit at the Mayo Clinic.
