The Saudi Geological Survey was created in 2000 to continue the acquisition of geoscientific data, mainly in the Arabian Shield. This is an attractive area for mineral exploration and investment in the Kingdom’s resources sector.  One of the key ways to help increase resource exploration by companies is the provision by the government of new, high quality geoscience information, which will stimulate increased private sector resource exploration and ultimately lead to new mineral discoveries. The Department of Geochemical Survey in the SGS is responsible for conducting reconnaissance-scale stream-sediment geochemical surveys and providing complementary research and orientation studies designed to promote the effective use of exploration geochemistry in the Arabian Shield. The program comprises the collection of -2 mm fractions from second-order streams at density of one sample per 25 km². To date, over 5,000 stream sediment samples have been collected from 11 quadrangles covering approximately 10 per cent of the Arabian Shield. The survey program continues to maintain sample collection, preparation and analysis with the aim of covering the entire Arabian Shield. The database produced from these regional programs and subsequent detailed studies is used to generate spot-plot and iso-concentration geochemical maps for different elements that can be used for mineral exploration, resource management, land use planning, and environmental assessment.