Industry Ministry issues 46 new mining licenses in March 2025
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has issued 46 new mining licenses during March 2025, as part of its efforts to develop the Kingdom’s mining sector and maximize its contribution to diversifying national economic income.
The official spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Jarah bin Mohammed Al-Jarrah, stated that the new mining licenses included 29 exploration licenses, 7 prospecting licenses, 4 mining and small mine exploitation licenses, 4 construction materials quarry licenses, and 2 surplus mineral licenses, according to the report of the National Center for Industrial and Mining Information under the Ministry on mining indicators for March 2025.
Al-Jarrah indicated that the total number of active mining licenses in the sector by the end of March reached 2,435 licenses, topped by construction materials quarry licenses with 1,472 licenses, followed by exploration licenses with 679 licenses, mining and small mine exploitation licenses with 225 licenses, prospecting licenses with 42 licenses, and surplus mineral licenses with 17 licenses.
Al-Jarrah pointed out that the Mining Investment Law and its executive regulations define six types of mining licenses, including the prospecting license, which covers all types of minerals for a period of two years, renewable; the exploration license for all types of minerals for five years for category (A) and (B) minerals, and one year for category (C) minerals; and a general-purpose license linked to a mining or small mine license.
He added: “The law also specifies exploitation licenses, including the license for mining category (A) and (B) minerals, which does not exceed a licensing period of 30 years, renewable or extendable; the small mine license for category (A) and (B) minerals, valid for no more than 20 years; the construction materials quarry license for category (C) minerals, with a license period of up to 10 years, extendable; and the law includes the surplus mineral license in project sites or privately owned lands.”