UAE firm casts doubt over Saudi aluminium venture

A UAE-based firm threw into doubt on Monday plans to develop a $5 billion aluminium smelter in Saudi Arabia, dealing the second blow in less than six months to the kingdom's industry ambitions.

An executive of state-owned smelter Dubai Aluminium Co (Dubal) said the future of an aluminium plant project at Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Economic City was "uncertain" in the current economic climate.

Dubal held talks with Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Ma'aden) in April over the plan, 13 months after it signed an initial agreement with the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and Emaar Economic City to develop the 700,000 tonne per year smelter.