The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia has announced that 31 local and international companies have qualified to compete in Round 9 of the exploration tender across three new mineral belts in Saudi Arabia, covering a total area of 24,423 square kilometers.
These companies successfully passed the pre-qualification stage, which initially included 61 applicants, as part of the ministry’s efforts to accelerate mineral exploration in the Kingdom.
These new belts are part of the ministry’s broader plan to offer more than 50,000 square kilometers of mineral exploration areas and belts during 2025, a plan unveiled during the most recent Future Minerals Forum.
The initiative aims to boost exploration spending and unlock the full potential of the Kingdom’s mineral resources, estimated at over SAR9.4 trillion.
The offered mineral belts are located in Riyadh and Madinah regions and include the Al-Naqrah and Sukheibrah (Al-Safra) belts in Madinah Region, as well as the Al-Duwaihi (Nabitah) belt in Riyadh Region. These belts contain a variety of base and precious metals, including gold, copper, silver, zinc, and nickel.
The list of qualified bidders includes eight consortia:
- AMAK & Asas Al Tadeen & Arab Mining Co. Consortium
- Technology Experts & Andiamo Exploration Ltd. Consortium
- Khalig Al Arabi & Skylark Infra Company Limited Consortium
- Demir Engineering & Dahrouge & Kaz United Mining Consortium
- Shandong Gold Group International Mining Development Co. Limited, Ajlan & Bros Mining Company Consortium
- Kenz Global Resources Ltd., Manahil Al Sharq Mining, Al Rayyan Mining Resources Co. Consortium
- McEwen & Sumou Holding Consortium
- Hancock Prospecting, Midana & Exploration Pty Ltd, and Ma’aden Consortium.
Independent companies include
- Al Ghazal Al Arabi Mining Company
- Al Tasnim Enterprises
- Al-Eitilaf Al Mumayaz for Mining
- Almasar Minerals Holding Limited
- Altius Minerals Corporation
- Arabian Discovery Co.
- Arumu Global Group
- Barrick Gold (T7) Limited
- Batin Al Ard for Gold Company
- Branch of China National Geological and Mining Corporation
- Brunswick Exploration
- DesertEx Pty Ltd
- EQLEED – INDOTAN Mining Company
- Gold Fields Australia Pty Ltd
- Helderberg Limited
- Maaden Barrick Two Limited
- Maaden Ivanhoe Electric Exploration and Development Limited Company
- Royal Road Arabia
- Rwafad Alola for Mining
- Saudi Gold Refinery (SGR)
- Sierra Nevada Gold
- Vedanta Limited
- XM Minerals Company
The mining licensing process is structured into three key stages: the pre-qualification stage; the site selection stage via the ministry’s “Taadeen” digital platform and bidding guidelines publication; and finally, the awarding of licenses to successful bidders.
In the upcoming phase, qualified companies will be required to select specific sites within the three belts using the digital platform, based on clear and transparent criteria designed to ensure fair competition. Winners are expected to be announced in the third quarter of 2025.
This latest licensing round underlines the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening the mining sector as a cornerstone of economic diversification and attracting foreign direct investment. The strong interest shown by both local and international companies reflects the private sector’s confidence in the Kingdom’s promising mining opportunities.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to launch two further exploration licensing rounds in the fourth quarter of this year. These upcoming rounds will include belts containing strategically essential minerals critical to the clean energy transition, including quartz, tin, and iron, with a total area of approximately 21,000 square kilometers.
