Saudi Arabia’s mining sector recorded major developments during the second week of February 2026, reflecting strong regulatory momentum and continued investor confidence.
220% Surge in New Mining Exploitation Licenses
According to the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the Kingdom issued 61 new mining exploitation licenses in 2025, compared to 19 licenses in the previous year, marking a 220% year-on-year increase.
This growth highlights the attractiveness of Saudi Arabia’s mining investment environment and ongoing efforts to accelerate mineral exploration and development. The Kingdom’s mineral wealth is estimated at more than SR9.4 trillion.
Key Highlights:
- Total investments in newly licensed projects exceed SR44 billion
- 275 valid exploitation licenses are currently active, covering 2,160 sq. km
- Exploration spending surpassed SR1.05 billion in 2024
- Active exploration companies increased from 6 in 2020 to 226 in 2024
- Foreign investors account for 66% of total license bidders
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to enabling mining investments and maximizing sector returns in line with Saudi Vision 2030, positioning mining as a key pillar of economic diversification.
Additionally, 11 new mining sites were recently opened for competitive bidding at the Al-Summan Crushers Complex in the Eastern Province.
Strategic Partnership Between Maaden and Hatch
In parallel, Maaden selected Hatch as its strategic delivery partner across several growth projects.
The partnership aims to implement a portfolio-wide development approach focused on:
- Integrating and aligning technical studies across projects
- Establishing realistic capital and schedule baselines
- Embedding data-driven systems to support informed decision-making
A core pillar of the collaboration includes developing national talent and strengthening workforce capabilities to support the long-term growth of Saudi Arabia’s metals industry.
Bob Wilt, CEO of Maaden, stated: “Maaden’s growth ambitions are bold, and achieving them requires speed and scale. Strategic partnerships like our collaboration with Hatch provide the expertise to deliver results today while building Saudi talent and shaping the future of the Kingdom’s mining sector.”
