JEDDAH: According to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia issued 61 new mining exploitation licenses in 2025, a 220 percent increase from the previous year.
According to a ministry statement, this is a reflection of the Kingdom’s mining investment climate’s appeal and the ministry’s continuous efforts to speed up the exploration and development of mineral resources, which are valued at over SR9.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion).
As a result of Saudi Arabia’s designation of mining as the third pillar of its industrial economy, the industry’s share of the GDP has doubled, reaching SR136 billion by 2024. Over SR170 billion has been invested in the sector, and exploration expenditures have increased fivefold since 2020, reaching over SR1.05 billion in 2024 alone.
Foreign investors now make up 66% of all licence bidders, demonstrating the strong international confidence in the Kingdom’s mining potential. The number of active exploration companies has increased from just six in 2020 to 226 in 2024, a 38-fold increase.
The ministry’s official spokeswoman, Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Jarrah, clarified that the ministry issued 61 mining and small-mine exploitation licenses in 2025, up from 19 licenses the year before. He pointed out that by the end of 2025, there were 275 active mining exploitation permits in the Kingdom, encompassing 2,160 square kilometres.
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