عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

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)
TT
TT

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.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Gulf, International Initiative to Assess War’s Impact on Private Sector

A previous meeting of the Federation of GCC Chambers in Riyadh. (SPA)
A previous meeting of the Federation of GCC Chambers in Riyadh. (SPA)
TT
TT

Gulf, International Initiative to Assess War’s Impact on Private Sector

A previous meeting of the Federation of GCC Chambers in Riyadh. (SPA)
A previous meeting of the Federation of GCC Chambers in Riyadh. (SPA)

Asharq Al-Awsat has learned of a joint initiative by the Federation of GCC Chambers and the International Labor Organization to conduct a rapid assessment of the impact of the war on the private sector and labor markets across Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The initiative is expected to contribute directly to the formulation of actionable recommendations aimed at preserving labor market stability and supporting business continuity.

The initiative seeks to assess the impact of the current crisis and conflict on private sector institutions, with particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as on labor markets across GCC states.

According to the information obtained, the Federation of GCC Chambers has asked private sector companies and institutions across member states to document the impact of the war, whether they market their products domestically or in regional and international markets.

The federation is also seeking to determine the effects of the current regional crisis on supply chains and private sector operations, including delays in receiving imported inputs, shortages of critical materials affecting operations, higher transportation and logistics costs, and disruptions in the distribution of goods and services to markets and customers.

It is also examining the direct impact of disruptions to maritime trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, on businesses, particularly in terms of rerouting shipments through alternative routes or transport methods, difficulties shipping or receiving goods by sea, increased shipping and insurance costs, declining import and export volumes, and shipment or order delays and cancellations.

The federation has further requested information on the extent to which the crisis has affected overall operating expenses, whether significantly, moderately or not at all, as well as its impact on companies’ investment plans, including whether firms intend to cancel, reduce or indefinitely postpone investments, or instead increase spending to adapt, restructure or respond to new conditions.

Among the challenges the federation is seeking to assess are companies’ ability to cover operating and fixed costs, revenue conditions, and the immediate measures taken regarding their workforce in response to the crisis, including reducing working hours, shifting employees to part-time arrangements, freezing recruitment and hiring, cutting wages and benefits, or reallocating staff to different roles and functions.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Albudaiwi recently said that a series of Gulf economic and financial achievements had strengthened regional integration and reinforced financial stability in the face of evolving challenges.

Speaking during the 125th meeting of the GCC Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee in mid-May, Albudaiwi said the current war crisis requires Gulf states to move beyond traditional coordination toward a higher level of practical integration and effective response.

He said the accelerating crises and growing economic challenges facing the region underscore the urgent need for a conscious response and measures capable of mitigating their impact on GCC economies, which have long been characterized by openness and deep engagement with the global economy.

Albudaiwi also stressed the need to expedite the completion of key joint Gulf projects, including transportation and logistics initiatives, while accelerating implementation of the GCC railway project and strengthening the regional electricity interconnection network.

He further called for studying the establishment of oil and gas pipeline networks, a GCC water interconnection project, strategic Gulf stockpile zones, and measures to ensure adequate liquidity reserves at central banks.

Business

Saudi Arabia Builds its Own Digital Sovereignty Model

A woman stands in front of an information screen at the LEAP tech exhibition in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
A woman stands in front of an information screen at the LEAP tech exhibition in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Builds its Own Digital Sovereignty Model

A woman stands in front of an information screen at the LEAP tech exhibition in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
A woman stands in front of an information screen at the LEAP tech exhibition in Saudi Arabia (SPA)

In a world where digital borders are blurring and countries are racing to control data and build technological power, Saudi Arabia has chosen to carve out its own digital path.

Through an ambitious strategic vision, the Kingdom has launched a network of policies, investments, and high-value partnerships that have turned it into a global model for digital transformation. It ranked first in the International Telecommunication Union’s 2025 Digital Readiness Framework, scoring 94 out of 100.

But the score tells only part of the story. More important is what it signals, a deep shift in how Saudi Arabia views digital sovereignty. It is no longer just a shield for protecting data. It has become a driver of growth and a tool for shaping the future.

To understand that shift, the concept itself must be redefined.

Ayman AlRashed, IBM’s regional vice president in Saudi Arabia, says digital sovereignty is often wrongly reduced to a technical question of where data is stored.

“It is important to look at digital sovereignty as an integrated operational capability,” AlRashed told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said it covers an organization’s ability to control and govern its data, operate its digital systems, and manage outcomes with confidence and continuity over the long term.

That broader definition gives digital sovereignty a far deeper meaning. It is not a wall built to stop data from leaving. It is a full governance system that ensures accountability, access controls, oversight and auditability, while preserving the reliability of digital systems and their ability to scale securely and in compliance with regulations.

Mohamed Talaat, vice president for Saudi Arabia, Egypt, North Africa and the Levant at Dell Technologies, said the Kingdom has translated that approach into practical policy through clear regulatory frameworks, led by the Personal Data Protection Law.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the law helped create an environment that supports global expansion while maintaining strict control over data.

Saudi Arabia has also made itself more attractive to international technology companies through economic zones, tax incentives, and partnerships with cloud service providers.

How fintech flourished

The fintech sector offers one of the clearest examples of how digital sovereignty is reshaping the Saudi economy.

The sector has expanded sharply in recent years. AlRashed says digital sovereignty was one of the main factors behind that growth.

The reason is straightforward. Once sensitive financial data could be processed and stored inside the Kingdom under local regulatory frameworks, investors, banks, insurers and end users became more confident in fintech solutions.

Digital sovereignty removed one of the biggest barriers to growth, concern over where sensitive data sits and who controls it.

Crucially, that did not come at the expense of innovation. IBM provided sovereign and hybrid cloud solutions that allow financial institutions to keep sensitive data locally while still using advanced cloud capabilities.

That model gave fintech firms a practical way to balance fast innovation with strict regulatory compliance, without sacrificing either.

From compliance to expansion

Digital sovereignty has not only helped large institutions. It has also changed the equation for Saudi startups.

AlRashed says that storing and processing data within the Kingdom under clear regulatory frameworks has enabled startups to launch and grow while remaining compliant from day one.

But the economic impact goes beyond easier compliance. Digital sovereignty has strengthened trust among customers and partners in local solutions. That has helped speed up the adoption of digital products, expand customer bases, improve access to investment, build partnerships with major institutions, and increase the likelihood of early revenue.

AlRashed says the deeper impact lies in preparing startups for regional expansion.

By building digital solutions on strong, sovereign standards within the Kingdom, Saudi companies have gained a clear competitive edge, especially as regulatory policies across several regional markets converge. What they built locally has become easier to export and scale.

A delicate balance

One of the toughest questions is how Saudi Arabia managed to attract major global technology firms to invest locally without giving up control over national data.

Talaat says the Kingdom struck a careful balance. It offered international companies a clean regulatory environment and attractive incentives, while imposing strict guarantees to keep sensitive data under national control.

He said this approach has taken practical form in a secure local infrastructure that supports national artificial intelligence agendas.

One example is Dell Technologies’ opening in 2024 of a new merger and distribution center in Dammam, part of a multimillion-dollar investment to strengthen local operations and supply chain resilience.

The move reflects a model in which global companies become partners in building sovereignty, not threats to it.

A regional digital hub

What will this ecosystem look like by 2030?

Talaat sketches an ambitious picture, a sovereign digital economy expected to be the largest in the Middle East, with artificial intelligence alone forecast to contribute $135 billion to the economy and local data center capacity exceeding 1.5 gigawatts.

Saudi Arabia is working to cement its position as a global hub for cloud computing, artificial intelligence innovation and sustainable technology manufacturing, supported by integrated smart cities and secure sovereign data systems.

AlRashed says the Kingdom has a real chance to move beyond the domestic arena and help shape global models for digital sovereignty through a growing network of local, regional and international partnerships.

That marks a shift from importing technology to exporting models and standards.

Still, both men acknowledge that the vision faces a central challenge, closing human skills gaps.

Advanced infrastructure is essential, but it is not enough. Saudi Arabia also needs deep, parallel investment in developing national talent capable of managing and leading its digital future.

In the end, Saudi Arabia’s experience shows that digital sovereignty is not a defensive strategy designed to cut data off from the world. It is a way for countries and companies to engage with global innovation from a position of strength, not dependence.

Business

China Signals Tariff Cuts, Advances in Farm Market Access After Trump-Xi Summit

An aerial view of newly imported cars parked at the automobile terminal at the Port of Los Angeles on May 08, 2026 in Wilmington, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
An aerial view of newly imported cars parked at the automobile terminal at the Port of Los Angeles on May 08, 2026 in Wilmington, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
TT
TT

China Signals Tariff Cuts, Advances in Farm Market Access After Trump-Xi Summit

An aerial view of newly imported cars parked at the automobile terminal at the Port of Los Angeles on May 08, 2026 in Wilmington, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
An aerial view of newly imported cars parked at the automobile terminal at the Port of Los Angeles on May 08, 2026 in Wilmington, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

China and the United States have agreed to expand agricultural trade through tariff reductions and tackle non-tariff barriers and market access issues, China's commerce ministry said on Saturday after this week's summit in Beijing.

The agreements are "preliminary" and will be "finalized as soon as possible," the ministry said following US President Donald Trump's visit.

China's farm imports from the US still face an additional 10% levy after last year's rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs sharply curtailed trade, which fell 65.7% year-on-year to $8.4 billion in 2025, according ‌to US ‌Department of Agriculture data.

The commerce ministry said ‌both ⁠sides aim to ⁠promote two-way trade, including in agricultural products, through measures such as reciprocal tariff reductions across a range of goods. It did not specify which products.

China resumed purchases of some US farm goods after an October meeting, fulfilling a US-stated commitment to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans by the end ⁠of February. It has also purchased some US ‌wheat cargoes and large ‌volumes of sorghum.

Market watchers expect a 10% cut in soybean tariffs, which could ‌allow private Chinese crushers to resume purchases that were ‌largely sidelined during last year's US harvest, when state crop traders were the only buyers.

"Tariff reductions on agricultural products would mark a normalization of China-US farm trade, allowing commercial buyers to re-enter the market," ‌said Johnny Xiang, founder of Beijing-based AgRadar Consulting.

The ministry said both sides agreed to "resolve or ⁠make substantive progress" ⁠on non-tariff barriers and market access issues.

China will work to address US concerns over registration of beef facilities and poultry exports from certain US states, it said.

Beijing on Friday granted five-year registration extensions to 425 US beef plants that had largely been shut out after their registrations lapsed last year, and approved new five-year registrations for 77 additional US facilities.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Friday the US expects China to buy "double-digit billions" worth of US farm goods over the next three years, although neither side has yet released details on specific products, values or volume.