Mining

Saudi Arabia’s mining sector has achieved a major leap in global rankings, moving from 104th to 23rd place on the Investment Attractiveness Index, according to the Fraser Institute’s 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies. This progress positions the Kingdom ahead of many established mining regions and highlights its rapid development in the industry. The Fraser Institute report also notes significant...

Ma'aden, Saudi Arabia's leading mining company, has named Donovan Waller as Chief Technology Officer, a move designed to accelerate its digital transformation and reinforce its global leadership. Waller brings over 30 years of international experience in industrial technology, with a strong background in applied research, artificial intelligence, and automation. Under Waller’s guidance, Ma'aden is intensifying its focus on advanced technologies....

Saudi Arabia’s mining sector is undergoing significant transformation, attracting $32 billion in investments for projects in iron, phosphate, aluminium, and copper, according to His Excellency Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, as reported by Asharq Business. This amount represents nearly one-third of the Kingdom’s $100 billion investment goal for the sector by 2030. Since...

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a significant surge in mining exploration, with the number of active exploration companies jumping from 6 in 2019 to over 134, according to His Excellency Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs. He noted that nearly 60% of exploration licenses have been issued to startups, reflecting strong support for new entrants....

MP Materials Corp. and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company, Maaden, have agreed to work together on building a comprehensive rare earth supply chain in Saudi Arabia, according to announcements made at the US-Saudi Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh. This collaboration is designed to take advantage of Saudi Arabia’s favorable energy costs, strong infrastructure, and strategic location to strengthen and diversify...

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the approval of 21 new mining licenses in April, underscoring its ongoing efforts to strengthen the mining sector and broaden the nation's economic base in line with Vision 2030, according to data from the National Center for Industrial and Mining Information. Of these licenses: 11 were granted for building materials quarries...

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has introduced the non-profit Women in Mining Association, an initiative designed to boost the involvement of Saudi women in the nation’s expanding mining industry, according to the Saudi Gazette. This new association is part of the ministry’s broader strategy to strengthen the non-profit sector within both industry and mining, highlighting its importance...

Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with US-based MP Materials to develop a comprehensive rare earth supply chain in Saudi Arabia, according to information presented at the US-Saudi Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh. This partnership will cover the entire process—from mining and separation to refining and magnet manufacturing—aiming to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s industrial base...

MP Materials and Saudi Arabia’s state mining company Ma’aden have agreed to collaborate on building a rare earths supply chain in Saudi Arabia, according to MP Materials. The memorandum of understanding was signed during the US-Saudi Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh and covers every stage from exploration and mining to refining and magnet manufacturing. Bob Wilt, CEO of Ma’aden, described...

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen collaboration in mining and minerals, according to the Saudi Press Agency. His Excellency Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, and His Excellency Bahlil Lahadalia, Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, formalized the agreement in Jakarta. The partnership is set to promote knowledge exchange...