Prime Highlights:
- Saudi Arabia approved over 1,000 chemical permits in November and awarded 172 mining licenses in its largest licensing round ever.
- The move supports Vision 2030 by boosting industrial growth, attracting investment, and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s global role in mining.
Key Facts:
- The mining sites cover more than 24,000 square kilometers and include valuable minerals like gold, copper, silver, zinc, and nickel.
- Companies have committed over SR671 million for exploration in the first two years, with more tenders planned across Madinah, Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim, and Hail.
Background:
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has approved more than 1,000 chemical permits and awarded 172 exploration licenses in what officials have described as the largest licensing round in the Kingdom’s history.
In November alone, the ministry processed 1,095 chemical clearance requests, including 1,041 approvals for non-restricted chemicals and 54 for restricted substances, covering a total of 2,081 product classifications, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The chemical clearance service, provided through the digital “Sanaei” platform, enables industrial investors to obtain import and export permits for chemicals used in manufacturing.
Ministry spokesperson Jarrah Al-Jarrah said the service aims to streamline procedures and ensure timely approval of chemical permits, facilitating smoother material entry through ports of entry and supporting industrial production. He added that the automation and digitalization of these processes are part of the ministry’s broader efforts to enhance efficiency and industrial output.
In a separate development, 24 domestic and international companies and consortia were granted exploration rights across 172 mining sites. Of these, 76 sites were awarded through a multi-round public auction covering three key mineral belts in Riyadh, Madinah, and Qassim. Companies participating in the tender have committed to spending over SR671 million during the first two years of project implementation.
The mining sites cover over 24,000 square kilometers and contain important minerals like gold, copper, silver, zinc, and nickel. The ministry said these projects aim to explore new areas, make better use of resources, and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s role in global supply chains.
Further exploration license tenders covering an additional 13,000 square kilometers in Madinah, Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim, and Hail are expected to be announced at the 5th Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh from January 13 to 15.
These initiatives are part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy, attract foreign investment, create jobs, and position the mining sector as a central pillar of the national industrial sector.
