Saudi Arabia to auction mining rights for three areas

Saudi Arabia has launched an auction for mining exploration rights across three mineral-rich belts spanning 13,000 square kilometres.

The three belts are Ad Duwayhi, Sukhaybarat/Al-Safra and Al-Nuqrah, which are rich in gold, copper, silver, zinc and nickel, the industry and mineral resources ministry said.

A total of 20 sites were advanced to the multi-round auction phase out of the 82 sites offered in the initial round, with participation from 11 local and global companies.

In June, the ministry said 24 local and international bidders had participated in the 10th round, which covered 13,000 square kilometres across five regions: Medina, Mecca, Riyadh, Qassim and Hail.

Last month, the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) said the country’s operating revenue index – a measure of cash generated by businesses – rose in April, with the strongest growth reported in mining and quarrying.

In February, Jarrah Aljarrah, a spokesman for the industry and mineral resources ministry, said that the number of mining and small-mine exploitation licences more than tripled year on year to 61 in 2025.

Total investments in the new licensed projects exceeded SAR44 billion ($12 billion), covering the extraction of mineral resources, including gold and phosphate.

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