The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources Announces 10th Round of Exploration License Competitions Across Three Mineralized Belts Covering a Total Area of 13,000 km²

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has announced the 10th round of exploration license competitions across three mineralized belts covering a total area of 13,000 km2. These belts are rich in strategic minerals, including gold, silver, copper, and zinc, and form part of the Ministry’s efforts to accelerate mineral exploration across the Kingdom, home to mineral resources valued at approximately SAR 9.4 trillion.

The mineralized belts offered in this round span five regions in the Kingdom—Madinah, Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim, and Hail—and include new exploration sites that extend from belts offered in the Ninth Round: • Nabithah/Ad Duwayhi (Dahlat Shabeb) Belt, which includes the Ad Duwayhi Mine with an annual production capacity of about 180,000 ounces of gold. • Sukhaybarat/Al-Safra Belt is one of the most important mineralized belts containing gold, copper, silver, zinc, and nickel. This region has undergone extensive exploration studies over the past decades by the Saudi Geological Survey. Notable advanced projects in this belt include the Sukhaybarat Mine, with estimated resources of 729,000 ounces of gold, and the Bulghah Mine, which produces more than 50,000 ounces of gold annually. • Al-Nuqrah Belt, which hosts significant gold deposits and volcanic massive sulfide (VMS) mineralization rich in copper and zinc deposits.

The technical information supporting these opportunities is based on both historical exploration work and the recent Regional Geological Program by the Saudi Geological Survey SGS, which covers the Arabian Shield through detailed geological and geophysical surveys.

The exploration licensing rounds have witnessed significant growth since their launch in 2021. From offering only one site in Al-Khunayqiyah, spanning 353 km² in the First Round, to offering over 24,000 km² in Round Nine in 2024, and announcing more than 13,000 km² in the 10th Round.

This progression reflects Saudi Arabia’s success in attracting over 86 top-tier global mining companies, which led to a surge in private-sector exploration spending from SAR 155 million in 2021 to SAR 863.5 million in 2024, nearly a sevenfold increase, totaling SAR 1.05 billion.

This tremendous growth reflects strong government support, driven by an attractive investment environment, a reformed mining investment law and regulations, ranked among the best globally, and ongoing geological survey programs. Geological and geophysical data are made accessible through the National Geological Database Platform, and the government continues to provide incentives through the Exploration Enablement Program, which offers up to SAR 7.5 million in funding per eligible application to support exploration activities and related costs.

The Ministry explained that the prequalification stage for the new exploration sites will remain open until December 15, 2025. All geological and technical data for the sites have been made available on the Ta’adeen digital platform, including previous license reports and survey data, ensuring investors have access to the necessary information.

The Ministry affirmed that this year’s exploration license competitions are fully automated, transparent, and fair for all investors. The process consists of three main phases:

1. Prequalification, which closes mid-December and requires both technical capability and financial solvency.
2. Site selection through the electronic competition platform, where qualified companies may choose from available areas through grid-based GIS system
3. Multi-round live auction, where companies compete based on exploration spending commitments for contested sites. This stage is planned for Q1 2026.

The Ministry emphasized that providing comprehensive geological data for the targeted belts through Taadeen platform ensures equal access for all competitors, enhancing transparency and efficiency in exploration processes. This step is expected to increase exploration spending, enhance the national geological database with high-quality technical information, create new job opportunities, and promote sustainable economic growth. It also demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to developing the mining sector in line with global best practices, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

For more information on mining competitions and to apply for the prequalification stage, please visit the Taadeen platform: https://taadeen.sa