Prime Highlights:
- Saudi Arabia issued 61 new mining licenses in 2025, a 220% increase from the previous year, showing strong growth in the sector.
- The surge reflects rising international interest, with foreign investors now making up 66% of license bidders.
Key Facts:
- Saudi Arabia’s mineral resources are valued at over SR9.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion), attracting both local and global investment.
- By the end of 2025, the Kingdom held 275 valid mining licenses covering 2,160 square kilometers.
Background:
Saudi Arabia’s mining sector grew strongly in 2025, with new mining licenses rising 220 percent compared to last year, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said. The Kingdom issued 61 new permits, up from 19 in the previous year, highlighting the growing attractiveness of Saudi Arabia’s mining investment environment.
The ministry said the sector is a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s industrial economy, contributing SR136 billion to gross domestic product in 2024. Mining investments have exceeded SR170 billion, while exploration spending has risen fivefold since 2020, reaching over SR1.05 billion in 2024.
Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Jarrah, spokesperson for the ministry, said the newly licensed projects alone involve investments exceeding SR44 billion for the extraction of high-quality mineral ores, including gold and phosphate. By the end of 2025, the Kingdom had 275 valid mining exploitation licenses covering 2,160 square kilometers.
Investor interest in Saudi mining has grown rapidly. The number of active exploration companies grew from six in 2020 to 226 in 2024, with foreign investors making up 66 percent of license bidders. This shows strong international interest in Saudi Arabia’s mineral resources, which are valued at over SR9.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion).
The ministry said recent reforms have made the investment environment stronger and easier to navigate for both local and international investors. These steps support Saudi Vision 2030 by helping diversify the economy and make mining a key growth sector.
In the past month, Saudi Arabia made 11 mining sites at the Al-Summan Crushers Complex in the Eastern Province available for competitive bidding. The 9-square-kilometer sites will be used to extract aggregates and crusher materials, giving new opportunities to investors.
With government support, more investments, and rising international interest, Saudi Arabia’s mining sector is becoming an important part of the economy.
