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Saudi Arabia to Establish First Women's Mining Association

Saudi Arabia recently announced the discovery of mineral resources with an estimated value exceeding SAR 9.3 trillion ($2.5 trillion). (SPA)
Saudi Arabia recently announced the discovery of mineral resources with an estimated value exceeding SAR 9.3 trillion ($2.5 trillion). (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia to Establish First Women's Mining Association

Saudi Arabia recently announced the discovery of mineral resources with an estimated value exceeding SAR 9.3 trillion ($2.5 trillion). (SPA)
Saudi Arabia recently announced the discovery of mineral resources with an estimated value exceeding SAR 9.3 trillion ($2.5 trillion). (SPA)

The mining sector in Saudi Arabia has made remarkable strides since 1997, when the Kingdom first developed a strategy for the industry. However, the sector underwent a significant transformation with the introduction of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the national economy.

Given the wealth of natural resources in Saudi Arabia’s mineral sector, efforts have been focused on expanding job opportunities while fostering an environment that encourages women's participation. In line with this vision, Saudi Arabia plans to establish its first dedicated Women in Mining Association.

Rana Zamai, Chair of the Women’s Empowerment Committee in Mining at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, revealed that the committee is currently laying the groundwork for the association. The new body will operate under the supervision of the ministry and in compliance with regulations set by the National Center for Non-Profit Sector Development.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Zamai emphasized that the association will function as an independent, non-profit entity aimed at empowering Saudi women in the mining sector, enhancing their roles in decision-making, and creating a supportive and inclusive work environment.

The association’s focus will be on empowering women across the Kingdom, including those in remote areas near mining sites. By connecting women to private sector projects supported by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the association aims to create sustainable income opportunities for women in these regions, she underlined.

Increasing awareness

Zamai explained that the new association will build on the work of the committee, but with greater authority and resources. This will include securing sponsorships and forging partnerships with both private and public sectors.

One of the committee’s primary initiatives is implementing an agreement signed between the ministry and the Women in Mining initiative in the UK.

Zamai emphasized that the new organization will play a crucial role in the Saudi mining sector's future. The committee also focuses on sustainability and creating new opportunities for women, encouraging them to share their experiences and raise awareness of the diverse roles available in the industry.

The mining sector is not limited to traditional extraction roles; it offers a wide variety of opportunities, supported by advancements in technology.

Zamai highlighted that the committee’s framework mirrors similar organizations in countries such as the UK, Australia, Central America, and South Africa. These international initiatives bring women together under a unified umbrella to share their successes and experiences in a relatively new and evolving industry.

She also noted that Saudi Arabia remains rich in untapped mineral resources, ready for discovery and development.

Committee structure and roles

The Women’s Empowerment Committee in Mining consists of six carefully selected members, each with expertise in various fields, including executive management, entrepreneurship in mining with private companies, human resource development, mining supervision, and regulatory systems to prevent violations at remote mining sites.

Reflecting the broader progress in women’s empowerment in Saudi Arabia, Zamai announced that the King Abdulaziz University’s Faculty of Earth Sciences in Jeddah has, for the first time, admitted 22 female students in 2024. This milestone represents a significant turning point for Saudi women in geology and mining, opening new career paths in a crucial industry.

Zamai stressed the importance of connecting theoretical knowledge with hands-on field experience. She emphasized the need for geology and mining engineering graduates to become familiar with the latest technologies, safety policies, and the social and cultural diversity of local communities.

Additionally, Zamai underlined the importance of collaboration between men and women to ensure progress and continuity in the mining sector.

Infrastructure development

In her role as Senior Director of Corporate Communication and Knowledge and Editor-in-Chief of Ardhona, the scientific journal of the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), Zamai highlighted that the SGS is actively working on developing the infrastructure for the mining sector.

The SGS manages and maintains geological data, serving as a repository for all survey and exploration information.

She also pointed out that women are increasingly holding leadership roles in critical areas such as geological mapping, sample analysis, and cybersecurity, where they protect sensitive geological and mining data.

Saudi Arabia recently announced the discovery of mineral resources with an estimated value exceeding SAR 9.3 trillion ($2.5 trillion), a significant increase from earlier estimates in 2016, which valued the resources at SAR 5 trillion ($1.3 trillion)—reflecting a near 90% rise.

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US Economy Grew at Solid 3% Rate Last Quarter, Government Says in Final Estimate

FILE - The New York Stock Exchange, at rear, is shown on Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)
FILE - The New York Stock Exchange, at rear, is shown on Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)
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US Economy Grew at Solid 3% Rate Last Quarter, Government Says in Final Estimate

FILE - The New York Stock Exchange, at rear, is shown on Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)
FILE - The New York Stock Exchange, at rear, is shown on Sept. 24, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

The American economy expanded at a healthy 3% annual pace from April through June, boosted by strong consumer spending and business investment, the government said Thursday, leaving its previous estimate unchanged.
The Commerce Department reported that the nation's gross domestic product — the nation's total output of goods and services — picked up sharply in the second quarter from the tepid 1.6% annual rate in the first three months of the year, The Associated Press reported.
Consumer spending, the primary driver of the economy, grew last quarter at a 2.8% pace, down slightly from the 2.9% rate the government had previously estimated. Business investment was also solid: It increased at a vigorous 8.3% annual pace last quarter, led by a 9.8% rise in investment in equipment.
The final GDP estimate for the April-June quarter included figures showing that inflation continues to ease, to just above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The central bank’s favored inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE — rose at a 2.5% annual rate last quarter, down from 3% in the first quarter of the year. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core PCE inflation grew at a 2.8% pace, down from 3.7% from January through March.
The US economy, the world's biggest, displayed remarkable resilience in the face of the 11 interest rate hikes the Fed carried out in 2022 and 2023 to fight the worst bout of inflation in four decades. Since peaking at 9.1% in mid-2022, annual inflation as measured by the consumer price index has tumbled to 2.5%.
Despite the surge in borrowing rates, the economy kept growing and employers kept hiring. Still, the job market has shown signs of weakness in recent months. From June through August, America's employers added an average of just 116,000 jobs a month, the lowest three-month average since mid-2020, when the COVID pandemic had paralyzed the economy. The unemployment rate has ticked up from a half-century low 3.4% last year to 4.2%, still relatively low.
Last week, responding to the steady drop in inflation and growing evidence of a more sluggish job market, the Fed cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point. The rate cut, the Fed’s first in more than four years, reflected its new focus on shoring up the job market now that inflation has largely been tamed.
Some other barometers of the economy still look healthy. Americans last month increased their spending at retailers, for example, suggesting that consumers are still able and willing to spend more despite the cumulative impact of three years of excess inflation and high borrowing rates. The nation’s industrial production rebounded. The pace of single-family-home construction rose sharply from the pace a year earlier.
And this month, consumer sentiment rose for a third straight month, according to preliminary figures from the University of Michigan. The brighter outlook was driven by “more favorable prices as perceived by consumers” for cars, appliances, furniture and other long-lasting goods.
A category within GDP that measures the economy’s underlying strength rose at a healthy 2.7% annual rate, though that was down from 2.9% in the first quarter. This category includes consumer spending and private investment but excludes volatile items like exports, inventories and government spending.
Though the Fed now believes inflation is largely defeated, many Americans remain upset with still-high prices for groceries, gas, rent and other necessities. Former President Donald Trump blames the Biden-Harris administration for sparking an inflationary surge. Vice President Kamala Harris, in turn, has charged that Trump’s promise to slap tariffs on all imports would raise prices for consumers even further.
On Thursday, the Commerce Department also issued revisions to previous GDP estimates. From 2018 through 2023, growth was mostly higher — an average annual rate of 2.3%, up from a previously reported 2.1% — largely because of upward revisions to consumer spending. The revisions showed that GDP grew 2.9% last year, up from the 2.5% previously reported.
Thursday’s report was the government’s third and final estimate of GDP growth for the April-June quarter. It will release its initial estimate of July-September GDP growth on Oct. 30.