Critical Raw Materials in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region
The global transition towards climate neutrality and digital transformation has significantly increased demand for Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), placing supply security at the centre of the European Union’s Green Deal Industrial Plan and the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). At the same time, supply chain concentration and growing geopolitical tensions have underscored the need for diversified, resilient, and sustainable sourcing partnerships. In parallel, countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are rapidly expanding their mining, refining, and downstream processing capacities as part of broader economic diversification strategies. With substantial mineral potential and ambitious industrial development agendas, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is emerging as a potential strategic partner in global CRM value chains. Against this backdrop, strengthening EU–GCC cooperation in sustainable mining, processing, and value addition presents both economic opportunities and regulatory challenges that require structured policy assessment and dialogue.
The study Critical Raw Materials in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region: Opportunities, Constraints, and EU–GCC Cooperation Pathway supports the EU-funded project EU–GCC Cooperation on Green Transition by providing an evidence-based policy assessment of the evolving CRM landscape in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Focusing on Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, the study examines national mining strategies, regulatory frameworks, and trade dynamics, and assesses complementarities and gaps between EU sustainability requirements and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) industrial policies. It develops actionable recommendations and a structured cooperation framework for sustainable mining, processing, circular economy initiatives, and business cooperation between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
As part of the GFA Group and working alongside GFA Consulting Group, Projekt-Consult provides the policy expertise underpinning the study — from the strategic mapping of CRM value chains to the stakeholder consultations and recommendations that will inform future EU–GCC dialogue, including at the Future Minerals Forum.
