Britain's Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy department said the partnership could see Saudi investment in the UK's manufacturing and mining finance sectors, and new opportunities for UK mining firms to do business in Saudi Arabia.

The British government said it was also important "in ensuring the UK's critical mineral supply chains are not overly reliant on any one country, with supplies currently dominated by China".

(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman, writing by Muvija M, Editing by Kylie MacLellan)