RIYADH: Saudi Arabia issued 80 new mining licenses in March, more than double the number granted in February, as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to expand its mining industry, official data showed.
The newly issued permits included 49 exploration licenses, 20 building materials quarry licenses, eight small-scale mining exploitation licenses, two reconnaissance licenses, and one surplus mineral ore license, according to an X post by Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Jarrah, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.
The increase from 38 licenses issued in February underscores Saudi Arabia’s push to develop mining as the third pillar of the national economy alongside oil and petrochemicals.
Saudi Arabia is seeking to unlock an estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources, including gold, zinc, phosphate, and critical minerals used in battery production, as it works to strengthen industrial development and reduce reliance on hydrocarbons.
“The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued 80 new mining licenses during the month of March 2026, within the framework of its efforts to develop the mining sector and maximize its benefit in diversifying sources of national income,” Al-Jarrah said in the post.
The ministry said the total number of active mining licenses in the Kingdom reached 3,017 by the end of March. Of those, 1,571 were building materials quarry licenses, 1,075 were exploration licenses, 285 were small-scale mining licenses, 76 were reconnaissance permits, and 10 were surplus mineral ore licenses.
Saudi Arabia has been increasing investment and regulatory support for the mining industry as part of broader plans to establish the sector as a major contributor to gross domestic product.
Earlier this month, the ministry said Saudi Arabia’s mining sector recorded strong growth in 2025, with exploitation licenses rising 220 percent and total investments reaching SR44 billion ($11.7 billion).
Exploration spending increased 110 percent year on year, while mining exports reached SR56 billion, with shipment volumes estimated at approximately 29 million tonnes.
