Saudi Opens 9th Mining Exploration Round Across 24,946 km

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has opened pre-qualification applications for the ninth round of its exploration license competitions, covering three mineralized belts that span a combined 24,946 square kilometers. The announcement, released through official Saudi channels, marks another concrete step in the Kingdom’s drive to accelerate greenfield exploration and unlock a mineral endowment valued at approximately $2.5 trillion. The three targeted belts are the Al-Naqrah Belt and the Al-Sukhaybirah “Al-Safraa” Belt in the Madinah region, together with the Al-Duwaihi “Nabaitah” Belt in the Riyadh region. Together they host a range of precious and base metals, including gold, copper, silver, zinc, and nickel. The round forms part of a wider plan to tender exploration licenses across more than 50,000 square kilometers during 2025, a commitment first set out at the fourth Future Minerals Forum in January.

For international investors watching the global race for critical minerals, the timing of this round is significant. Demand for copper, nickel, and other transition metals continues to rise as economies pursue electrification and clean energy, and jurisdictions that can offer transparent, data-rich licensing processes are attracting growing attention. Saudi Arabia is positioning itself firmly within that group. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has emphasized that this year’s competitions are fully automated, transparent, and fair, with geological and technical data made available to all applicants through the Taade’en electronic platform. That combination of scale, transparency, and official backing gives the ninth round a prominence beyond the Kingdom’s borders, and raises a natural question for global investors: which jurisdiction will move fastest to convert geological potential into production?

Context and Background

How did Saudi Arabia move so quickly from an oil-centered economy to a serious player in global mining? The answer lies in a deliberate, multi-year strategy. Mining was identified as the “third pillar” of the Saudi economy under Saudi Vision 2030, alongside hydrocarbons and petrochemicals, and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has spent recent years building the legal, regulatory, and data infrastructure needed to attract world-class exploration companies. The Mining Investment Law introduced a modern framework that allows 100 percent foreign ownership of mining companies and offers funding of up to 75 percent of capital costs through the Saudi Industrial Development Fund. These measures were designed to remove the barriers that historically kept international explorers on the sidelines.

The licensing rounds themselves have become a regular fixture of that strategy. Over the past several years, the ministry has tendered more than 10,000 square kilometers for exploration, and the offering of 50,000 square kilometers in 2025 represents a substantial acceleration. The fourth Future Minerals Forum, held in January, served as the platform for announcing the year’s plans, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global hub for minerals and a convening power for producing and consuming nations alike. Each successive round has refined the process, and the ninth round now benefits from a fully digital workflow on the Taade’en platform, where applicants can review geological data, submit documents, and track the competition’s stages.

What does this mean for the Kingdom’s long-term resource governance? It signals that Saudi Arabia intends to develop its minerals sector with the same care and ambition it has applied to energy. The ministry has stressed environmental sustainability and social responsibility as core requirements, asking qualified bidders to submit social and environmental impact management plans alongside their technical proposals. That approach reflects a broader recognition that modern mining must earn its social license, and it aligns with the Kingdom’s commitment to meeting global standards in the sector.

Key Details of the Ninth Licensing Round

What exactly is being offered, and how can companies take part? The ninth round covers three mineralized belts. The Al-Naqrah Belt and the Al-Sukhaybirah “Al-Safraa” Belt are located in the Madinah region, while the Al-Duwaihi “Nabaitah” Belt lies in the Riyadh region. The ministry has confirmed that these sites contain a variety of precious and base metals, including gold, copper, silver, zinc, and nickel, making the round attractive to companies with diverse exploration portfolios. The total area of 24,946 square kilometers is substantial by international standards, comparable to the scale of major licensing programs in other resource-rich jurisdictions.

The competition follows a structured, three-stage process. The first stage is pre-qualification, which began at the Future Minerals Forum in January and will continue until early May. During this stage, the ministry assesses the technical competence of applicant companies. Qualified bidders are then invited to submit technical expertise proposals together with social and environmental impact management plans. The ministry aims to conclude the ninth round by the end of August, at which point winners will be announced and exploration licenses granted. The full sequence is designed to ensure that licenses go to companies with the capability to explore responsibly and effectively.

Transparency is a central feature of the round. All relevant geological and technical data has been made available on the Taade’en electronic platform to ensure equal opportunities among competitors. The ministry expects this to enhance transparency and efficiency in exploration processes, increase exploration expenditure in the Kingdom, and enrich the National Geological Database with additional technical information. Investors seeking further information about the ninth licensing round can visit the Taade’en platform at https://taadeen.sa/en/mining-bids, where the ministry has published the details and documentation for the competition.

Support Programs for Exploration Companies

How is Saudi Arabia reducing the risks that typically deter early-stage exploration? In January, the Ministry of Investment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, launched the second phase of the “Mining Exploration Enablement” program. The program provides financial support of up to SAR 7.5 million per project for companies holding valid exploration licenses for less than five years. Its purpose is to support mineral exploration in Saudi Arabia, mitigate risks for exploration companies in their early stages, and encourage investment in the sector. For junior explorers in particular, such support can be decisive in turning promising geological targets into drill-ready projects.

The enablement program complements the incentives already stipulated in the Mining Investment Law. As noted, the law permits 100 percent foreign-owned companies to operate in the sector and provides funding of up to 75 percent of capital costs through the Saudi Industrial Development Fund. Together, these measures create a layered support system: early-stage grants for exploration, capital cost funding for development, and a legal framework that gives international investors confidence. The ministry has consistently presented these incentives as part of a transparent and attractive investment environment that supports the growth of the mining sector and stimulates investment in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

What does this mean in practice for a company considering the ninth round? A qualified bidder can access geological data, prepare a technical proposal, plan for social and environmental management, and, if successful, apply for exploration enablement support and development funding as the project advances. That continuum, from data access to financing, is relatively rare among emerging mining jurisdictions and reflects the Kingdom’s intention to build a complete minerals value chain rather than simply award licenses.

International and Regional Impact

Why should the international mining community pay attention to a licensing round in Saudi Arabia? The global energy transition depends on reliable supplies of copper, nickel, and other metals, and demand is projected to outpace supply from existing mines in the coming decades. New exploration is therefore essential, and jurisdictions that can offer large, underexplored areas with modern data and stable regulation are increasingly valuable. Saudi Arabia’s three targeted belts, with their combination of gold, copper, silver, zinc, and nickel, speak directly to that demand. The ninth round also reinforces the Kingdom’s role as a bridge between mineral-producing regions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the consuming markets of Europe, Asia, and North America.

Regionally, the round strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a mining hub for the Middle East. The Future Minerals Forum has become a major international gathering, and the ministry’s annual licensing plans give the region a predictable pipeline of opportunities. For neighboring countries and partners, Saudi Arabia’s approach offers a model of how to combine resource development with environmental and social safeguards. The Kingdom’s emphasis on transparency and equal opportunity among competitors also supports its broader diplomatic message of responsible global engagement, a message that resonates with international institutions and investors alike.

Economic and Strategic Significance

What does the ninth round contribute to Saudi Arabia’s economy? Mining is central to the Kingdom’s economic diversification agenda. The mineral endowment valued at approximately $2.5 trillion represents a long-term asset base that can generate revenue, create jobs, and support downstream industries. By offering 50,000 square kilometers in 2025, the ministry is signaling that it intends to move from exploration to development at scale. Increased exploration expenditure enriches the National Geological Database, which in turn improves the quality of future licensing rounds, creating a virtuous cycle of data, investment, and discovery.

The strategic significance extends beyond revenue. Value-added mineral supply chains, from processing to manufacturing, are a stated objective, and they connect directly to Saudi Arabia’s industrial ambitions. Minerals such as copper and nickel are inputs for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing, all of which feature in the Kingdom’s diversification plans. By developing these supply chains domestically, Saudi Arabia can capture more value from its resources, create skilled employment, and reduce its exposure to imported materials. The ministry has also highlighted job creation and sustainable economic growth as expected outcomes of the licensing program, linking the round to the quality-of-life objectives of Vision 2030.

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does the ninth exploration licensing round fit into Saudi Vision 2030? Mining has been designated the third pillar of the Saudi economy, and every element of this round reflects the Vision’s core themes: economic diversification, private sector participation, transparency, and sustainable development. The ministry’s plan to tender more than 50,000 square kilometers in 2025, its automated and fair competition process, and its support programs for exploration companies all serve the goal of building a mining sector that meets global standards. The round also advances the National Geological Database and the Taade’en platform, which together form the digital backbone of a modern, data-driven resources sector.

As the pre-qualification stage continues until early May and the ministry works toward concluding the ninth round by the end of August, the world will be watching how one of the most ambitious mining programs in the region unfolds. For Saudi Arabia, the round is another step toward a diversified, knowledge-driven economy and a more prominent role in global mineral supply. For international investors, it is an invitation to participate in a transparent process backed by official Saudi institutions and aligned with the long-term vision of the Kingdom. Further details are available on the Taade’en platform at https://taadeen.sa/en/mining-bids.

20 Questions

Q1. What did the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announce?

A1. The ministry opened pre-qualification applications for the ninth round of exploration license competitions, covering three mineralized belts spanning 24,946 square kilometers, as part of its plan to offer more than 50,000 square kilometers for exploration in 2025.

Q2. Which mineral belts are included in the ninth licensing round?

A2. The round covers the Al-Naqrah Belt and the Al-Sukhaybirah “Al-Safraa” Belt in the Madinah region, along with the Al-Duwaihi “Nabaitah” Belt in the Riyadh region, all of which contain a variety of precious and base metals.

Q3. What metals are found in the targeted belts?

A3. The ministry stated that the sites contain a variety of precious and base metals, including gold, copper, silver, zinc, and nickel, making the round attractive to companies with diverse exploration interests and portfolios.

Q4. When did the pre-qualification stage begin and end?

A4. The pre-qualification stage commenced at the Future Minerals Forum in January and will continue until early May, after which qualified bidders will be invited to submit technical expertise proposals and management plans.

Q5. When does the ministry aim to conclude the ninth round?

A5. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources aims to conclude the ninth round of competitions by the end of August, at which point winners will be announced and exploration licenses granted to successful applicants.

Q6. What are the three main stages of the competition process?

A6. The process consists of pre-qualification, which assesses technical competence; submission of technical proposals and social and environmental impact management plans; and finally the announcement of winners and granting of exploration licenses.

Q7. How is transparency ensured in the ninth licensing round?

A7. The ministry emphasized that this year’s competitions are fully automated, transparent, and fair, with relevant geological and technical data made available on the Taade’en electronic platform to ensure equal opportunities among all competitors.

Q8. What is the Taade’en electronic platform?

A8. Taade’en is the ministry’s electronic platform that hosts geological and technical data for the licensing rounds, allowing investors to review information, submit applications, and learn more about the ninth round at https://taadeen.sa/en/mining-bids.

Q9. What is the value of Saudi Arabia’s mineral resources?

A9. The ministry has stated that the Kingdom’s mineral resources are valued at approximately $2.5 trillion, a long-term asset base that supports economic diversification and the development of value-added mineral supply chains.

Q10. How much area has the ministry tendered in past years?

A10. Over the past years, the ministry has tendered more than 10,000 square kilometers for exploration, and the offering of 50,000 square kilometers in 2025 represents a substantial acceleration of that program.

Q11. What is the Mining Exploration Enablement program?

A11. Launched in January by the Ministry of Investment with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the program provides financial support of up to SAR 7.5 million per project for companies holding valid exploration licenses for less than five years.

Q12. What are the goals of the Mining Exploration Enablement program?

A12. The program aims to support mineral exploration in Saudi Arabia, mitigate risks for exploration companies in their early stages, and encourage investment in the sector, complementing the incentives available under the Mining Investment Law.

Q13. What incentives does the Mining Investment Law provide?

A13. The Mining Investment Law allows for 100 percent foreign-owned companies and provides funding of up to 75 percent of capital costs through the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, creating a supportive environment for international investors.

Q14. Which Saudi agencies are involved in supporting the mining sector?

A14. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources leads licensing and regulation, while the Ministry of Investment supports exploration enablement and the Saudi Industrial Development Fund provides capital cost funding for qualifying projects.

Q15. How does the round support the National Geological Database?

A15. Increased exploration activity enriches the National Geological Database with additional technical information, which improves the quality of future licensing rounds and supports better-informed investment decisions across the sector.

Q16. What economic benefits are expected from the ninth round?

A16. The ministry expects the round to increase exploration expenditure in the Kingdom, create new job opportunities, promote sustainable economic growth, and enhance value-added mineral supply chains that support industrial development.

Q17. How does the round address environmental and social responsibility?

A17. Qualified bidders are required to submit social and environmental impact management plans, reflecting the ministry’s focus on environmental sustainability and social responsibility and its commitment to meeting global standards in mining.

Q18. Why is the ninth round important for international investors?

A18. It offers access to large, underexplored mineralized belts, a transparent and automated competition process, and support programs that reduce early-stage risk, all within a stable regulatory framework that permits full foreign ownership.

Q19. How does the licensing round connect to Saudi Vision 2030?

A19. Mining is the third pillar of the Saudi economy under Vision 2030, and the round advances diversification, private sector participation, transparency, and sustainable development while building a mining sector that meets global standards.

Q20. Where can investors find more information about the ninth round?

A20. Investors can visit the Taade’en platform at https://taadeen.sa/en/mining-bids to learn more about the ninth licensing round, review available geological data, and access the application details published by the ministry.

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