Gulf states look to critical minerals as global supply chains shift
Gulf states are expanding their ambitions in critical minerals, deploying capital, industrial infrastructure and international partnerships as governments and companies seek to diversify supply chains that remain heavily dependent on China. Saudi Arabia has emerged as the region’s most active player, putting mining and mineral processing at the centre of its wider industrial diversification plans. The UAE is building exposure through overseas mining investments and its established logistics and commodity trading networks, while Qatar has taken a more investment-led approach. The result is an emerging Gulf role in a sector increasingly shaped by concerns over security of supply. China remains dominant in the processing and refining of many minerals considered critical to industries ranging from electric vehicles and renewable energy to advanced electronics and defense manufacturing. Building alternatives requires not only access to mineral deposits, but also large investments in processing facilities, infrastructure and downstream manufacturing. For Gulf economies, that shift presents an opportunity to apply some of the capabilities developed through decades of involvement in global
Saudi Gazette Business | discovered by Saudi Gazette Business | Aug 17, 2026, 7:59 PM
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