Saudi Arabia has launched the 10th round of exploration licence competitions, opening more than 13,000 km² of highly mineralised belts across five regions as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to unlock mineral resources valued at approximately SR9.4tn ($2.51tn).
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said the belts contain gold, silver, copper and zinc, forming part of a national push to scale up exploration and expand the mining sector as a core pillar of long-term economic diversification.
The belts offered span Madinah, Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim and Hail, and include new sites that extend areas announced in Round Nine.
Saudi mining
Among them is the Nabithah/Ad Duwayhi (Dahlat Shabeb) Belt, which includes the Ad Duwayhi Mine, producing about 180,000 ounces of gold annually.
The Sukhaybarat/Al-Safra Belt, one of the Kingdom’s most important mineralised zones, contains gold, copper, silver, zinc and nickel. Advanced projects in this belt include:
- Sukhaybarat Mine, with estimated resources of 729,000 ounces of gold
- Bulghah Mine, producing more than 50,000 ounces of gold annually
- Al-Nuqrah Belt, hosting significant gold and Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits
The technical data supporting the new opportunities is based on historical exploration work and the recent Regional Geological Survey Program, which includes detailed geological and geophysical studies across the Arabian Shield.
Fully automated licensing and Q1 2026 live auction
The ministry said the prequalification stage will remain open until December 15, with geological and technical information available through the Taadeen digital platform.
The licensing process consists of three phases:
- Prequalification, requiring technical capability and financial solvency
- Site selection via an electronic GIS-based competition system
- Multi-round live auction in Q1 2026, where companies compete based on exploration spending commitments
The ministry emphasised that providing high-quality geological data through Taadeen ensures equal access for all competitors and increases transparency and efficiency.
Driving investment
The initiative is expected to increase exploration spending, expand the national geological database, create new jobs and support sustainable long-term economic growth.
It aligns with the Kingdom’s commitment to developing the mining sector in line with global best practices, with emphasis on environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
Since exploration rounds began in 2021, the scale of offerings has expanded rapidly—from one site in Al-Khunayqiyah at 353 km², to more than 24,000 km² in Round Nine in 2024, and now 13,000 km² in Round Ten.
Saudi private-sector exploration spending rose from SR155m ($41.4m) in 2021 to SR770m ($205.6m) in 2024, nearly a sevenfold increase and totalling SAR1.05bn ($280.8m).
Government support, a competitive mining investment law, advanced geological surveys and digitally accessible data via the National Geological Database Platform continue to strengthen investor interest. The Exploration Enablement Program also offers up to SR7.5m ($2m) per eligible application to support exploration operations.
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