Saudi Arabia's mining sector will likely struggle to attract significant foreign investment. which will constrain its growth, though certain resources closely linked to the kingdom's robust oil industry, such as lithium, are expected to fare better. As its ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy enters the home stretch, Saudi Arabia has recently been seeking to expand its mining sector by securing bilateral agreements with Western countries and inking investment deals to extract and refine mineral resources. In the first six months of 2025, Saudi Arabia issued 22 mining licenses, an increase from nine during the same period in 2024. On Jan. 14, representatives from the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia signed a critical minerals cooperation deal in efforts to secure British critical minerals supply chains and support the development of British industries that rely on critical mineral supplies, including artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and clean energy technologies. During U.S. President...
