Saudi Gazette report

DAWADMI — Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Mudaifer announced the start of geophysical survey work in the Arab Shield region on Tuesday.

Al-Mudaifer made the announcement on behalf of the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Geological Survey Bandar Al-Khorayef.

He announced the start on Tuesday after launching in Al-Dawadmi, a governorate in Riyadh, the first geophysical survey aircraft, which began the start of geophysical survey work in the Arab Shield region.

The Geological Survey Authority (GSA) CEO Abdullah Al-Shamrani confirmed that the geophysical survey aims to obtain various high-resolution geological data in the Arabian Shield.

The Arabian Shield, which covers an area of up to 600,000 square kilometers Saudi Arabia, is rich in mineral resources. Various mineral deposits have been detected in the region.

Al-Shamrani clarified that the data will contribute to supporting mineral exploration, which will stimulate the economy and diversify revenues in Saudi Arabia.

The data will also provide a basis to attract investments in the mining sector, achieving one of the major objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Al-Shamrani noted that Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of mineral resources.

Data from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources estimates its value at five trillion riyals, and that in the future mineral wealth will be a third economic driver after petroleum and petrochemicals.