The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continued its rapid progress in developing the industrial sector, with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announcing the issuance of 138 new mining licenses during November 2025. This step directly reflects the ambitious national strategy aimed at transforming the mining sector into the third pillar of national industry, alongside oil, gas, and petrochemicals.
Details of the new mining licenses
The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Jarrah Al-Jarrah, revealed details of the issued licenses, explaining that they covered various stages of mining operations. According to a report by the National Center for Industrial and Mining Information, the licenses were distributed as follows:
- 114 exploration licenses: This reflects the strong desire to explore the untapped mineral deposits in the Kingdom.
- 13 Building Materials Quarry Licenses: To support the construction sector and existing major projects.
- 7 Exploration Licenses: For the initial survey of geological areas.
- Two licenses for surplus mineral ores.
- Two licenses for mining and a small mine.
Mining investment volume and current situation
Al-Jarrah noted that the active licensing process raised the total number of valid mining licenses in the sector to 2,719 Licenses for building materials quarries topped the list with 1,541, followed by exploration licenses with 842, then licenses for "small-scale mining and quarrying" with 255, survey licenses with 66, and finally, licenses for surplus mineral ores with 15.
The context of Vision 2030 and the legislative environment
These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the Kingdom's overall economic context. The mining sector is a key target of Saudi Vision 2030, aimed at diversifying income sources and reducing reliance on oil. The Mining Investment Law and its implementing regulations have contributed to creating an attractive environment for both local and international investors by establishing six clear types of licenses. These include exploration licenses, prospecting licenses (valid for up to five years for minerals A and B), and general-purpose licenses, thus enhancing transparency and governance within the sector.
Economic and strategic importance
This expansion in licensing is of paramount importance on several levels:
- Locally: It contributes to providing the raw materials needed for mega projects such as NEOM and Qiddiya, in addition to creating thousands of quality jobs for citizens in remote and less developed areas.
- Regionally and internationally: The Kingdom aims to become a global hub for the production and manufacturing of metals, particularly critical metals used in future industries such as electric vehicles and renewable energy. An increase in exploration licenses means a greater likelihood of discovering new deposits, strengthening the Kingdom's position in global supply chains.
The Ministry’s continued issuance of this number of licenses monthly confirms the Kingdom’s seriousness in exploiting its mineral wealth, estimated at trillions of riyals, and putting it at the service of the national economy and sustainable development.
