Ras Al Khaimah Launches Sustainable Minerals Framework for Precious Metals Sector

For Immediate Release

RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE — Ras Al Khaimah has launched a Sustainable Minerals Framework covering all precious metals and minerals sector businesses registered within RAKEZ, establishing environmental, social, and governance standards that align the emirate's growing commodities sector with international sustainability expectations and the UAE's national climate and sustainability commitments.

The framework, developed in coordination with the Ras Al Khaimah Environment Protection and Development Authority and international sustainability consultants, covers four areas: carbon footprint disclosure for minerals supply chains passing through RAKEZ, environmental standards for any extractive or processing operations within the emirate, responsible sourcing requirements covering the origin and supply chain governance of incoming minerals material, and community and worker welfare standards for RAKEZ metals sector employees.

The launch of RAK's framework follows and complements the UAE's national Gold Sector Sustainability Framework published in September 2025, applying the same principles to the RAKEZ-specific context and providing RAK-registered metals companies with a clear, emirate-level implementation guide for the national standards.

The responsible sourcing element of the framework is particularly aligned with the needs of African-origin gold supply chains. It establishes documentation requirements for incoming gold material that are consistent with Uganda's, Tanzania's, and Ghana's existing formalisation programme standards, ensuring that gold from these countries meets RAK's sustainability requirements without requiring additional documentation beyond what operators in those countries are already producing.

"RAK's Sustainable Minerals Framework is a well-designed policy instrument because it builds on what African producing nations have already developed rather than creating parallel requirements that operators must meet separately. By aligning its documentation requirements with the standards in force in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana, RAK creates a genuine incentive for African operators to formalise and comply — because that compliance directly unlocks market access." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold

The carbon disclosure component of the framework requires RAKEZ metals companies to calculate and report the carbon footprint of their supply chains using a standardised methodology developed in partnership with the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. Reported data will be used to establish baselines and develop reduction targets from 2027 onwards.

"Carbon disclosure for gold supply chains is an emerging requirement that is moving from optional best practice to mandatory reporting in international markets. RAK establishing a standardised carbon disclosure methodology for its metals sector companies positions them ahead of the curve on a requirement that will become universal. The companies that build this capability now will have a meaningful advantage when carbon reporting becomes a condition of market access." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold

RAKEZ has committed to publishing an annual Sustainable Minerals Sector Report aggregating anonymised data from member company disclosures, providing a transparent public record of the sector's sustainability performance and demonstrating the emirate's commitment to responsible minerals governance.

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