Critical Metals is planting a firm flag in the Middle East’s industrial landscape, sealing a joint venture with a Saudi-based conglomerate to build and run a rare earth processing facility inside the kingdom.
The partnership brings together Critical Metals and Tariq Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al-Qahtani & Brothers Company in a 50–50 venture aimed at strengthening rare earth processing capacity beyond China’s dominant grip on the sector. The facility will serve as a strategic node in the global supply chain, supporting industries that rely on these minerals for advanced manufacturing and clean technologies.
As part of the agreement, Saudi Arabia will secure long-term offtake rights to a quarter of the rare earth concentrate produced at Critical Metals’ Tanbreez Project. The arrangement not only guarantees feedstock for the planned plant but also anchors Saudi Arabia’s ambition to move deeper into high-value mineral processing rather than remaining a passive participant in raw materials trade.
The deal underscores a broader shift in global mining strategy, where access to processing infrastructure is becoming as critical as access to the minerals themselves.
