The UK will sign a new partnership deal on critical minerals with Saudi Arabia this week, as part of a British ministerial visit to the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.
UK Industry Minister Sarah Jones is leading a trade mission of 16 British critical minerals companies, including Cornish Lithium and Beowulf Mining to the Forum, where they will show their skills and expertise at the UK Pavilion.
Critical minerals, like lithium, cobalt and manganese, are essential in the manufacture of smartphones, laptops and many modern appliances. They are also necessary in industries like artificial intelligence (AI) and clean energy, which are considered to be at the forefront of the UK's future economic growth.
“Critical minerals are increasingly vital to our economy as we turbocharge AI, clean energy and new technologies,” Ms Jones said. “In the global race for economic growth, and in an increasingly uncertain world, the UK must secure supplies of these critical minerals.
“That’s why this government is developing a Critical Minerals Strategy. And it’s why we are forging new partnerships with our allies like Saudi Arabia to secure our minerals supply chains for the long term.”
Free-trade agreement
The partnership deal seeks to strengthen UK co-operation with Saudi Arabia in developing secure critical minerals supply chains, as well as attracting Saudi investment into the UK. A secure supply of critical minerals will play a key role in delivering the UK government’s Industrial Strategy, which is due to be published this year. Many of the strategy's growth areas, like advanced manufacturing and clean energy, rely on building products like electric vehicles and wind turbines, both of which require a steady supply of critical minerals.
Critical minerals are also essential for the development of the data centres needed to build AI systems. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the importance of AI to UK economic growth when he unveiled the government's plan to make Britain an “AI superpower” on Monday.
While in Riyadh, Ms Jones will hold a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Alkhorayef, and take part in a ministerial round-table with key players from across the sector, before signing the preliminary agreements.
The ministerial visit comes as the UK and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states are on the cusp of a free-trade agreement (FTA). Trade with the six countries of the GCC, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, is already worth £57 billion. It is estimated that an FTA would add an extra £8.6 billion a year to trade in the long run.
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
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