Al-Mudaifer: The Kingdom has strategic components that make it a global mining center

He explained during his participation in a session entitled "Paving the way towards global mineral security" Within the work of the ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), the Kingdom has all the ingredients for success to be a global center for metals industries and related supply chains, and combines a strategic geographic location that connects 3 continents, enormous geological potential, qualified human capital, and a clear vision for its leadership.

Building a world-class mining sector

Al-Mudaifer said: "Vision 2030 laid the foundation for building a world-class mining sector, just as one of the largest oil, gas and petrochemical sectors in the world was built previously. Today, we are working to make mining and minerals the third pillar of our industrial strength, and we have everything we need to achieve this from natural resources and talent to legislative structure and investment stability."He indicated that the Arabian Shield, which extends over an area of 700 thousand square kilometers, is still not fully explored, pointing out that the value of the Kingdom’s mineral resources has risen from 5 trillion riyals ($1.3 trillion) to about 9.4 trillion riyals ($2.5 trillion), thanks to the expansion of geological survey and exploration programmes, stressing that this natural wealth represents a starting base for a global mining industry.

He pointed out that the Kingdom has built a modern mining system based on Transparency, stability and attracting investors, explaining that foreign investment today constitutes about 66% of total mining investments, and the volume of spending on exploration in 2024 exceeded double what it was in the previous year, reaching 1.05 billion riyals in 2024 compared to 501 million riyals in 2023, making the Kingdom one of the fastest growing mining regions in the world.

The Kingdom welcomes international partnerships

The Deputy Minister of Industry explained that the Kingdom It welcomes international partnerships and adopts one of the most competitive regulatory frameworks in the world, including 100% foreign ownership by investors. He pointed out that the success of previous experiments with major international companies such as Barrick Gold, Alcoa and Mosaic reflects the strength of the Saudi partnership with the global private sector.
He pointed out that the Kingdom is building a comprehensive mining system. "From scanning to recycling" Services include exploration, mine development, engineering, construction, finance, technology and markets, and the establishment of a commodity exchange in Riyadh, stressing that this system will make the Kingdom one of the largest integrated mining centers in the world.

Smart employment of national talent

Al-Mudayfer spoke about the importance of technical transformation and smart employment of national talent in developing the sector, noting that the Kingdom is working to build a sustainable mining sector based on modern technology, such as remote management, autonomous vehicles, and industrial robots.

He pointed out The Ministry worked in partnership with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and a company "Minerals" Launching the Mining Science and Engineering Program, in addition to developing advanced training programs with King Abdulaziz University and the Geological Survey, and launching an initiative "Mining Innovation Studio" In partnership with the Saudi Geological Survey and the program "We cry" And company "Minerals" and"Attribution" And company "Newlab" American, with the aim of attracting global talent and developing innovative technical solutions and preparing a new generation of Saudi talent capable of leading the future of the mining sector.

The best global platform for mining

The Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs concluded his speech by inviting investors and experts to participate in the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference hosted by Riyadh, saying: "We invite everyone to attend the International Mining Conference, which is the best global platform for mining, and we work with partners from various countries of the world to create a more sustainable and prosperous future for this vital sector."
It is noteworthy that the capital, Riyadh, will host the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference during the period from January 13 to 15, 2026, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – may God protect him – under the slogan "Minerals… facing the challenges of a new development era"
The conference witnesses wide participation from ministers and CEOs of the most prominent international mining companies, such as BHP, Ivanhoe Mines, Rio Tinto, Ma’aden, Zijin, and Barrick Gold, which reflects its position as a global platform for the elite in the mining sector, and a major event that embodies the Kingdom’s pioneering role in leading the future of minerals at the regional and global levels.