Saudi Arabia begins 10 drilling across 13,000 km² in drive to unlock $2.51trn mineral wealth
The Ministry of Industry and Cooperative Services said the belts contain gold, silver, copper and zinc, forming part of a national push to improve exploration and expand the mining sector as a long-term economic pillar.
The belts span Madinah, Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim and Hail, and include new sites that expand the nine declared circular areas.
Saudi mine
Among them is the Nabithah / Ad Duwayhi (Dahlat Shabeb) Belt, which includes the Ad Duwayhi mine, which produces approximately 180,000 ounces of gold annually.
The Sukhaybarat / al-Safra belt, one of the most important mineral deposits, contains gold, copper, silver, zinc and nickel. Advanced projects in this Bell include:
- The Sukhaybarat mine, with an estimated resource of 729,000 meters of gold
- The Belgha mine, which produces over 50,000 ounces of gold every year
- Al-Nuqrah Belt, Host of Massive Gold and Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS)
The technical data supporting the new opportunities are derived from historical exploration work and the latest Geological Survey program, which includes detailed geological and geophysical studies in the Arabian Peninsula.
Automatic automatic license and Q1 2026 Realt Live
The Ministry said that the next section will remain open until December 15, with country and technical information available through the taadeen digital platform.
The licensing process consists of three stages:
- Verification, which requires technical strength and financial solvency
- Site selection through a competitive electronic GIS system
- Multiple live auctions in Q1 2026, where companies compete based on a commitment fee assessment
The ministry stressed that providing high-quality national data through Taadeen ensures equal access to all competitors and increases transparency and efficiency.
Driving investment
The move is expected to increase exploration spending, expand the National Geological Database, create new jobs and support long-term economic growth.
It aligns with the State’s commitment to building the mining sector in accordance with the best practices in the world, with an emphasis on environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
Since the testing cycles started in 2021, the scale of the contributions has expanded rapidly – from one site in Al-Km² at 353 km², to more than 24,000 km², in twelve kM now.
Saudi Private-Sctur COIPTINCKINCCOMINATIONS COSE from sr155m ($41.4m) in 2021 to SR770M ($205.6m) in 2024, about SAR1.05BN ($280.8M).
Government funding, competitive investment investment law, improved area survey and digitally accessible data through the National Gemoalogical Database Continue to strengthen investor interest. The Evaluation Program Eabilisement provides SR7.5m ($2m) for the appropriate operating system to support evaluation activities.
