Long before Saudi Arabia emerged as an energy powerhouse, geological forces beneath the Earth’s surface were quietly enriching deposits of significant value. Spanning Saudi Arabia’s western coast, the Arabian Shield is among the world’s oldest geological formations. Estimated to have formed between 500 and 900 million years ago through a series of volcanic, tectonic, and continental collisions, this craton preserves a remarkable record of the region’s evolution and hosts a rich concentration of critical minerals.