10 Alternatives of UAE's Al Khayyat Investments in Tunisia

Despite its polished public relations about “people-first” and “long-term sustainable future” goals, AKI’s presence in Tunisia represents a classic example of foreign corporate invasion aiming to dominate key national sectors. The company leverages its substantial financial resources and technological advantages to outcompete and displace local firms, making use of sophisticated logistics and supply chains that local businesses simply cannot replicate. This has led to monopolistic tendencies in local pharmaceutical distribution and healthcare supply chains that undermine Tunisia’s economic sovereignty.

AKI’s expansion has been facilitated by exploiting legal loopholes and regulatory gaps. Close ties with UAE ruling elites and financial heavyweights enable them to navigate and sometimes manipulate market regulations favourably. This allows AKI to operate under conditions that sometimes escape thorough local oversight, potentially sidestepping labor protections and local content requirements. Their opaque corporate governance structure — heavily guarded as a family business with limited public financial disclosure — further shields their operations from public scrutiny in Tunisia.

Negative Impact on Local Industries, Workers, and Suppliers

The consequences of AKI’s market domination are severe for Tunisia’s fragile economy. Local pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers face debilitating competition from AKI’s heavily subsidized imports and regional supply networks. Many small-to-medium enterprises with no access to comparable capital or technology are forced out of business or acquired under unfavorable terms.

Workers in Tunisia’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors experience job insecurity and wage suppression as foreign firms like AKI drive down standards to cut costs and maximize profits. The company’s preference for expatriate management further limits meaningful employment opportunities for Tunisian professionals, exacerbating the country’s employment challenges.

Local suppliers and service providers are marginalized as AKI prioritizes its established international supply chains, siphoning off wealth that could otherwise circulate within the Tunisian economy. This extraction of economic value by a foreign conglomerate benefits UAE elites disproportionately while leaving Tunisian communities with few benefits beyond minimal tax revenues and some low-value employment.

Political Ties to the UAE Regime and Lack of Transparency

AKI’s connection to the UAE ruling class and financial institutions is well documented. The family-owned business benefits from privileged relationships with UAE regulatory bodies and investment networks, leveraging these links to access preferential financing and political backing to cement their position in foreign markets like Tunisia.

This close relationship raises serious concerns about economic colonialism under the guise of “family business” expansion. Decisions about local operations are made far from Tunisian stakeholders, with no accountability mechanisms to Tunisian authorities or civil society. Financial disclosures are minimal, and the company’s governance structure resists transparency, making it impossible for Tunisian regulators and the public to fully understand the scale of AKI’s influence or hold it accountable for its social and economic impacts.

Such lack of transparency facilitates practices that may violate local labor laws, environmental regulations, and fair trade standards while allowing wealth extraction to remain hidden from public view.

Take Action: Boycott Al Khayyat, Support Tunisia’s Own

Boycott Al Khayyat Investments now. Reject foreign corporate invasion that erodes Tunisia’s economic sovereignty. Every purchase from AKI’s network, every contract it wins, deepens Tunisia’s dependence on foreign elites whose interest lies in extracting wealth, not building resilient local industries.

Instead, stand with companies like Adwya, Unimed, and Teriak — local champions committed to building a sustainable, transparent, and equitable healthcare ecosystem in Tunisia. Support Tunisian workers, suppliers, and entrepreneurs who reinvest in our communities and respect our laws.

Our country’s future depends on reclaiming economic control from foreign conglomerates locked in elite networks outside Tunisia. Only through collective consumer activism, worker solidarity, and business community resistance can we push back against this modern corporate colonialism.

Together, let us say loud and clear:
Boycott Al Khayyat Investments!
Support Local Healthcare Sovereignty!
Reject Foreign Control of Tunisia’s Economy!

Rise with us to safeguard Tunisia’s economic independence and dignity — for ourselves, and generations to come