New Authority in Jeddah Seeks to Promote Development

The city of Jeddah is preparing for a new phase of development, with the transformation of the city’s project management office into the Jeddah Governorate Development Authority.  (SPA)
The city of Jeddah is preparing for a new phase of development, with the transformation of the city’s project management office into the Jeddah Governorate Development Authority. (SPA)
TT

New Authority in Jeddah Seeks to Promote Development

The city of Jeddah is preparing for a new phase of development, with the transformation of the city’s project management office into the Jeddah Governorate Development Authority.  (SPA)
The city of Jeddah is preparing for a new phase of development, with the transformation of the city’s project management office into the Jeddah Governorate Development Authority. (SPA)

The city of Jeddah, located on the western coast of Saudi Arabia, is preparing for a new phase of development, with the transformation of the city’s project management office into the Jeddah Governorate Development Authority.

Jeddah is the gateway to international trade and foreign markets. It accommodates one the most important global ports in the Kingdom, the Jeddah Islamic Port, which stretches over an area of 12.5 square kilometers.

The city is also home to many factories that meet international standards and embraces more than 320 commercial centers and markets, which account for more than 21 percent of the commercial centers in the Kingdom.

The authority will seek to develop the city in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the economic transformation plan.

Dr. Faisal Al Fadel, member of the Shura Council, said that the Cabinet’s decision to transform the Governorate Projects Management Office into an authority is a qualitative and major organizational shift for the development of the Jeddah region.

He added that the move targets comprehensive development in the various urban, demographic, economic, social, cultural, tourism, environmental, transportation, infrastructure, and digital fields. It also aims to provide the governorate’s needs of services and public facilities.

The authority will have a key role in unifying and harmonizing development decisions among the concerned authorities, with the aim of maximizing the benefits of the community economy, achieving optimal utilization of potentials and resources and meeting the needs of the Jeddah Governorate, Fadel underlined.

The authority will be an independent legal entity that will supervise the governorate’s development initiatives, projects and programs.

“This is a major qualitative leap,” he stated.



Saudi Arabia Advances to Become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Mining

The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Arabia Advances to Become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Mining

The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is pushing to become a global hub for critical minerals, aiming to be the “Silicon Valley” of mining. At the fourth Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, the kingdom announced new deals, investment plans, and discoveries.
Industry Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef said Saudi Arabia will explore mineral opportunities across 50,000 square kilometers this year. The Kingdom also unveiled a $100 billion mining investment plan, with $20 billion already in advanced stages or under construction.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced that Aramco has identified “promising” lithium concentrations exceeding 400 parts per million in its operational areas, with lithium production in the kingdom expected to begin as early as 2027.
In line with this, Aramco revealed a joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) to explore and produce minerals critical to the energy transition, including extracting lithium from high-concentration deposits.
The latest edition of the Future Minerals Forum brought together over 20,000 participants from 170 countries and featured 250 speakers across more than 70 sessions.
Saudi ministers and international officials highlighted key challenges facing the mining sector, including the need for increased private sector investment, advanced technology, regulatory frameworks, supply chain issues, carbon emissions from production, and a shortage of skilled talent.
In early 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources raised its estimate of the kingdom’s untapped mineral resources from $1.3 trillion to $2.5 trillion, driven by new discoveries.
At last year’s forum, the ministry launched a $182 million mineral exploration incentive program to reduce investment risks, support new commodities, promote green projects, and empower small-scale mining operators.
Additionally, Al-Khorayef launched the Mining Innovation Studio at the Future Mineral Forum 2025.
In his opening remarks, Al-Khorayef stated that the new studio was designed to attract global talent and accelerate cutting-edge technology, in alignment with Riyadh’s vision to become the “Silicon Valley of mining”.
He clarified that the Kingdom is promoting upcoming exploration opportunities across 5,000 square kilometers of mineralized belts in 2025 as it continues its steadfast growth in the mining sector.
Al-Khorayef further noted that the Saudi mining sector is the fastest growing globally, and affirmed that its mineral potential stands at an estimated $2.5 trillion.
He elaborated that the allocation of new exploration sites to tap mineral wealth is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish mining as the third pillar of the Kingdom’s industrial economy.