RIYADH: Saudi Mining and Minerals 2015, the first ever international mining and minerals conference and exhibition organized in the Kingdom, concluded on Thursday with organizers describing it as a huge success.
It contained brainstorming sessions providing real insight into the mining and minerals sector, which offers $19 billion worth of opportunities in upstream and downstream projects.
Speaking during different technical sessions spread over the three-day conference, international experts highlighted the significance of the valuable sector and maintained that the mining and minerals industry is crucial to the Kingdom’s economy not only in terms of industrial growth but also for talent development.
An exhibition showcasing mining and minerals industry products from international stakeholders was held on the sidelines of the conference.
It also helped in a larger way to put the global spotlight on attracting more investments into Saudi Arabia’s mining and mineral industry.
Notably, in an interview with Arab News on the sideline of the forum Sultan J. Shawli, deputy minister for mineral resources, maintained that the mining and mineral sectors have very good potential as the Kingdom has promising greenfield areas, which will attract Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Investors from the Kingdom and abroad are keen to join the ongoing developments in the sector with the aim of fully exploiting the mining and minerals potentials.
Representatives of various international brands participating in the conference and the exhibition are hopeful of striking new deals in the promising sector.
On the concluding day, the conference discussed the demand and supply dynamics with a focus on the metals and mining resources in the Kingdom and the inherent market structure.
The experts discussed the future commodity provisions for the significantly growing industry for the Kingdom.
In his keynote address bdullah Al-Attas, assistant president, Saudi Geological Survey, analyzed the value of the Kingdom’s rare earth elements.
Reiner Haus, managing director of Dorfner Anzaplan, Germany, made a comprehensive overview on mineral markets and the impact of a changing process on demand and downstream opportunities.
Moreover, the international exhibitors expressed happiness saying it was a good forum for the networking and Business to Business (B2B) interactions.
The forum was organized by MEED, a leading regional tracking and analysis platform in the Middle East, providing comprehensive updates with accuracy on mining projects, with the support of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
Riyadh mining and minerals conference raises optimism
Riyadh mining and minerals conference raises optimism
Building bridges: Saudi Arabia leads Gulf-Asia tech leap
ALKHOBAR: Saudi Arabia is forging new academic connections with Asia as the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 accelerates reforms in education and innovation.
Two academics — Prof. Eman AbuKhousa, a data science professor at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences in Dubai, and Prof. Hui Kai-Lung, acting dean of the HKUST Business School in Hong Kong —emphasize that the Kingdom’s transformation is reshaping the development of artificial intelligence and fintech talent across the region.
For AbuKhousa, responsible AI is not just about technology; it is fundamentally about intention. “It is about aligning technology with human values: ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in every system we build.”
She highlighted that the Middle East’s heritage of trust and ethics gives the region a competitive advantage. “Institutions should embed ethics and cultural context into AI education and create multidisciplinary labs where engineers collaborate with social scientists and ethicists,” she said.
At the University of Europe for Applied Sciences in Dubai, AbuKhousa trains students to question data, identify bias, and integrate integrity into innovation.
“Educators must model responsible use by explaining how data is sourced and decisions are made,” she explained. “Ultimately, responsible AI is less about algorithms than about intention; teaching future innovators to ask not only ‘Can we?’ but ‘Should we?’”
She further noted:“Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has turned digital education into a national movement placing technology and innovation at the heart of human development.”
AbuKhousa emphasized the transformative opportunities for women in the Kingdom: “Today, Saudi female students are designing models, leading AI startups, and redefining what digital leadership looks like.”
Prof. Hui views this transformation through the lens of fintech. “Fintech is deeply embedded in Vision 2030, serving as a key enabler of its three pillars: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation,” he said.
Hui stressed that Saudi Arabia’s investment capacity and modern regulatory framework “create a conducive environment for innovation.” Having collaborated with Aramco, The Financial Academy, and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship, he highlighted the strategic potential of the Kingdom’s young population. “The Kingdom has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a median age below 30,” he said.
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“This demographic presents a tremendous opportunity for higher education to shape future leaders, and our collaborations in Saudi Arabia are highly targeted to support this goal.”
AbuKhousa argued that universities must lead innovation rather than follow it. “Universities must evolve from teaching institutions into innovation ecosystems,” she said. “The real bridge between research and industry lies in applied collaboration: joint labs, shared data projects, and co-supervised capstones where students solve live industry challenges.”
“At UE Dubai, we’ve introduced an Honorary Senate of Business Leaders to strengthen that bridge, bringing decision-makers directly into the learning process,” she added.
DID YOU KNOW?
Vision 2030 has made digital education central to Saudi Arabia’s development strategy.
Women in Saudi Arabia are now designing AI models and leading startups.
Universities are transforming into innovation ecosystems bridging research and industry.
Cross-border collaborations with Hong Kong and Dubai are accelerating fintech and AI growth.
Hui noted that cross-border cooperation between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia is growing rapidly. “Saudi Arabia’s scale, strategic location, and leadership in the Arab world offer Hong Kong an ideal partner,” he said. “Hong Kong’s academic and regulatory experience can help the Kingdom fast-track its digital transformation.”
He highlighted lessons from Hong Kong’s fintech journey. “Hong Kong’s fintech journey offers critical lessons for Saudi Arabia, particularly in creating a balanced ecosystem for innovation,” he said. “Education and regulation are both important. We need education at all levels and beyond schools to expose people to these ideas; having diverse and rich experiences also helps, as the education needs to be supplemented by real-life implementation and usage experience. That is what Hong Kong can offer.”
AbuKhousa emphasized that women’s participation in technology must extend beyond access to influence. “Empowering women in technology begins with reimagining representation: from inclusion to influence,” she said. “We need more women not only learning tech, but leading teams, designing systems, and shaping AI policy. Institutions must normalize women’s presence in decision-making spaces and provide visible mentorship networks to counter imposter syndrome.”
Both experts agreed that innovation must remain human-centered and accountable. “As AI becomes integral to financial systems, governments must strike a careful balance between innovation, data ethics, and compliance,” Hui said. “Establishing clear regulatory frameworks and transparency standards is crucial.”
AbuKhousa concurred, emphasizing the role of education in AI adoption: “Educators must position generative AI as a thinking partner, not a shortcut. The goal is to teach students how to use AI critically, not merely that they can.”
Hui predicts that “AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity will be transformative forces in the region’s financial sector.” AbuKhousa sees a similar momentum in education: “The Gulf is entering a defining phase where AI becomes the backbone of education and workforce development.”
The experts concluded that the Kingdom’s digital transformation, anchored in Vision 2030, is connecting classrooms, industries, and continents through human-centered innovation.
