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Senior Regulatory Affairs Leader

SheemazRaza

Regulatory Affairs Manager — MEA & GCC

16+ years leading regulatory strategy across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics in the UAE, GCC, Levant, Egypt, and Iraq. I hold direct health authority relationships and a proven track record of fastest-in-class approvals.

UAE Golden Visa MOHAP · EDE · SFDA Pharma & Med Devices Cosmetics Dubai, UAE
Sheemaz Raza — Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager
UAE Golden Visa · Dubai
Time-to-Market
~80%
Reduction — UAE's fastest-ever botulinum toxin (biological drug) approval
Portfolio Scale
300+
Products managed across OTC, pharma, medical devices, and cosmetics
Regional Reach
12+
Markets covered: UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq
Career Tenure
16+
Years driving regulatory excellence in multinational environments
Measurable outcomes
Regulatory leadership that moves business.

Every regulatory strategy I lead is tied to a commercial outcome — faster launches, market access wins, and compliance infrastructure that scales.

~80%
Time-to-market reduction for UAE botulinum toxin approval
3
Blockbuster aesthetics products repriced via EDE approval
300+
Product renewals managed across UAE at Julphar
89%
Performance target matrix achieved at Actavis / Allergan

Fastest UAE Botulinum Toxin Approval

Delivered the UAE's first-ever fastest approval for a botulinum toxin type A biological drug — achieving approximately 80% reduction in standard time-to-market. Required navigating MOHAP and EDE requirements with precision dossier management.

⬆ ~80% faster time-to-market

EDE Repricing Wins

Secured EDE approval for repricing of three blockbuster aesthetics products (medical devices), directly enabling UAE business growth. Developed and presented the commercial justification to health authority.

⬆ 3 products repriced & approved

Cross-Functional Compliance Infrastructure

Led implementation of an innovative HCP compliance software platform, resolving cross-functional process gaps and creating a scalable governance framework across commercial, medical, and legal teams.

✔ 100% compliance programme launched

Multi-Category Portfolio Leadership

Simultaneously led regulatory strategy across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics — a rare cross-category competency that enables commercial teams to move faster with a single regulatory partner.

✔ Pharma · Med Devices · Cosmetics

Regulatory QMS & Governance

Built end-to-end Regulatory QMS frameworks including SOPs, audit programs, and compliance workflows operating across 12+ markets — creating the internal infrastructure for scalable market expansion.

✔ QMS covering 12+ markets

Geo-Expansion Submissions

Supported regulatory submissions for geo-expansion into Iraq and Lebanon, identifying early-mover opportunities and building the dossier infrastructure for new market entry in complex frontier markets.

⬆ 2 new markets unlocked
Deep dives
Case studies in regulatory excellence

Real challenges, real strategies, real outcomes — across pharmaceutical, medical device, and market access categories.

Biologics · UAE · MOHAP / EDE

UAE's Fastest Botulinum Toxin Approval

MarketUAE
CategoryBiological Drug
AuthorityMOHAP / EDE

A botulinum toxin type A product faced a congested approval pipeline, with the standard market timeline significantly impacting launch timelines and revenue forecasts for the commercial team.

I led a full regulatory strategy redesign — restructuring the dossier to CTD format aligned with MOHAP's evolving requirements, identifying parallel review pathways, and maintaining active health authority dialogue throughout the process.

Result: Achieved the UAE's first-ever fastest approval for a botulinum toxin biological — reducing time-to-market by approximately 80% against the category benchmark.
Medical Devices · UAE · EDE Pricing

EDE Repricing for 3 Blockbuster Aesthetics Products

MarketUAE
CategoryMedical Device
AuthorityEDE

Three high-revenue aesthetics products required price resets to reflect updated global reference pricing and maintain profitability margins. EDE repricing submissions carry high evidentiary standards and require robust commercial justification.

I built the repricing dossiers from scratch — including comparative pricing analysis, market context documentation, and supporting clinical/commercial data packages — and managed the authority engagement process end-to-end.

Result: All three products received EDE pricing approval, directly enabling continued UAE market access and protecting business revenue across the aesthetics portfolio.
HCP Compliance · Cross-functional · Software Implementation

HCP Compliance Platform — From Gap to Governance

ScopeRegional
CategoryCompliance Tech
TeamsCommercial, Medical, Legal

Escalating HCP interaction volumes exposed gaps in documentation, approval workflows, and compliance tracking — creating regulatory and reputational risk across the region's commercial operations.

I led the evaluation, selection, and implementation of a dedicated HCP compliance software platform, building the governance framework, SOP architecture, and cross-functional change management process from the ground up.

Result: Full compliance programme live across regional teams, resolving audit risks and creating a scalable infrastructure for HCP engagement management.
Market Entry · Iraq · Lebanon · Geo-expansion

Regulatory Pathways for Frontier Market Entry

MarketsIraq, Lebanon
CategoryPharma / Med Devices
CompanyActavis / Allergan

Iraq and Lebanon presented significant regulatory complexity for product expansion — underdeveloped formal submission pathways, unpredictable authority timelines, and limited available guidance for multinationals.

I mapped the available regulatory entry routes for each market, designed dossier structures adapted to local requirements, and built the submission infrastructure that enabled the commercial team to activate both markets.

Result: Successful geo-expansion regulatory submissions delivered for both markets, unlocking new revenue streams ahead of competitor entry.
Regional depth
GCC & MEA market expertise

Direct relationships with health authorities across 12+ markets — not just knowledge, but established working relationships built over 16 years.

🇦🇪
United Arab Emirates
MOHAP · EDE · Dubai Health Authority
Primary Market
🇸🇦
Saudi Arabia
SFDA (Saudi Food & Drug Authority)
Active
🇶🇦
Qatar
Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)
Active
🇰🇼
Kuwait
Kuwait Drug & Food Control
Active
🇧🇭
Bahrain
National Health Regulatory Authority
Active
🇴🇲
Oman
Ministry of Health Oman
Active
🇯🇴
Jordan
Jordan Food & Drug Administration
Levant
🇱🇧
Lebanon
Ministry of Public Health Lebanon
Levant
🇪🇬
Egypt
Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA)
Active
🇮🇶
Iraq
Iraqi Ministry of Health
Frontier

Core Regulatory Competencies

eCTD / CTD Submissions Variation Management Post-Market Surveillance CAPA Management Labeling & Artwork Promotional Compliance Lifecycle Management Regulatory Intelligence Risk Management Health Authority Engagement Regulatory QMS SOP Development IMDRF Frameworks ISO 13485

Product Categories

Pharmaceuticals Biologics Medical Devices Cosmetics OTC Products Aesthetic Injectables Dermatology

Credentials & Affiliations

UAE Golden Visa EDE Pharmacist-in-Charge B.Pharm — Mumbai University WHO CTD Training HCP Compliance — Seton Hall GDP & Storage Certified RAPS Member Veeva Vault PromoMats
Professional journey
16 years of regulatory excellence
Galderma · 2016–Present
Actavis / Allergan · 2014–2016
Julphar · 2009–2013
April 2016 — Present · 9 Years
Regulatory Affairs Manager, MEA-GCC
Galderma Middle East FZ LLC · Dubai, UAE
Lead all regional Regulatory Affairs operations across pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics for UAE, GCC, Levant, Egypt, and Iraq. Define and execute regulatory strategies aligned with commercial launch timelines and portfolio value. Partner with Commercial, Market Access, Quality, Supply Chain, and Legal teams.
  • Delivered UAE's fastest-ever botulinum toxin approval (~80% time-to-market reduction)
  • Secured EDE repricing approval for 3 blockbuster aesthetics products
  • Led HCP compliance software implementation across regional teams
  • Built and governed Regulatory QMS frameworks, SOPs, and audit programs
  • Served on committee for Veeva Vault PromoMats implementation and purchase decision
  • EDE-licensed Pharmacist-in-Charge — Scientific Office
January 2014 — February 2016 · 2 Years
Regulatory Affairs Associate
Actavis / Allergan · Dubai, UAE
Supported regulatory submissions and lifecycle management activities across Middle East markets. Contributed to geo-expansion regulatory projects for emerging markets.
  • Led geo-expansion regulatory submissions for Iraq and Lebanon
  • Supported lifecycle management across Middle East portfolio
  • Achieved 89% performance target matrix
July 2009 — December 2013 · 4.5 Years
Regulatory Affairs Officer
Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar) · Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Managed end-to-end renewals for over 300 OTC, pharmaceutical, and medical device products in the UAE. Supported third-party and local manufacturing regulatory projects.
  • Managed renewals for 300+ products across OTC, pharma, and medical devices
  • Supported third-party and local manufacturing regulatory activities
  • Built foundational expertise in MOHAP submission requirements
Regulatory insights
Perspectives on GCC regulation
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Let's connect
Let's connect

I'm always open to meaningful conversations with peers, collaborators, and industry leaders across the GCC and MEA regulatory space. Feel free to reach out.