Riyadh | BETH – 12 Feb 2026
24 Shaaban 1447 AH

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources reported a record surge in newly issued mining exploitation licenses in 2025, with a 220% increase compared to 2024, underscoring the growing attractiveness of the Kingdom’s mining investment environment and the accelerating pace of exploration and development of mineral resources estimated at more than SAR 9.4 trillion.

The ministry’s official spokesperson, Jarrah Al-Jarrah, said that the number of mining and small mine exploitation licenses issued in 2025 reached 61 licenses, up from 19 in the previous year. Total investments in projects associated with the new licenses exceeded SAR 44 billion, targeting high-value mineral resources, including gold and phosphate.

He added that the total number of active mining exploitation licenses in the Kingdom reached 275 licenses by the end of 2025, covering a combined area of approximately 2,160 square kilometers.

Al-Jarrah stressed that the ministry continues to facilitate mining investments and streamline the investor journey for both local and international players, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position mining as the third pillar of the national industrial base and a key contributor to economic diversification.

This momentum comes amid a marked improvement in Saudi Arabia’s global standing in the mining sector. According to the 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies issued by Canada’s Fraser Institute, the Kingdom advanced in the Mining Investment Attractiveness Index from 114th place in 2013 to 23rd globally, reflecting the impact of regulatory and legislative reforms implemented across the sector.