Samples for this study were collected from pristine granites and their surface-derived soils from the Um Shaddad area, central Eastern Desert, Egypt. The elemental concentration was determined using Induced Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). The influence of the fresh peraluminous granites of Um Shaddad on the distribution of the major, trace, and rare earth elements in the derived soils was investigated. The analysis revealed that Al2O3 and Fe2O3 are immobile during weathering. The LILE elements V, Co, Cu, Sr, and Cs are mobile and the ferromagnesian elements Ni, Co, Cr, V, and Sr are mobile in the soil environment. Rb together with all the HFSE elements Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, and Hf are immobile. The normative mineralogy showed a loss of quartz (19.75–40.02) and orthoclase (11.29–31.24) with the enrichment of plagioclase (25.78–41.24) for the surface soils relative to their parent rocks. Using different weathering indices the parent rocks and their derived surface soils are classified as un-weathered to weakly weathered. REEs, Th, and U concentrations showed a sample-to-sample variation, due to the difference in the concentration of the accessory minerals present. The average concentration of the rare earth elements in the altered soils adheres to their fresh rocks. The high concentration of Ce and Th is related to the presence of monazite in the fresh rocks and altered soils. The chondrite normalized patterns reveal LREEs’ enrichment relative to HREEs for the fresh rocks and their soils, with distinct Eu anomalies. The ferromagnesian elements showed a preference in soils over fresh granite. Sphene and monazite are probably the most stable minerals in fresh granites. Many geochemical ratios were tested as weathering ratios, and only the ratios LREE/U and LREE/Th, proved to be reliable. Despite the similarity in mineral constituents, sequential mineralogical response to weathering, and geochemical composition of the fresh granites and their soils, this study enhances the understanding of chemical weathering in the arid environment.