“Saudi Arabia is assuming an important global role, not only because of the Kingdom’s vast mineral endowment, but also our competitive energy landscape, strategic geographic position, and strong infrastructure.”
Share
How would you assess the importance of Saudi Arabia’s mining and metals industries on the global stage?
Saudi Arabia is assuming an important global role, not only because of the Kingdom’s vast mineral endowment, valued at US$2.5 trillion, but also due to our competitive energy landscape, strategic geographic position, and strong infrastructure. We intend to leverage this combination to strengthen our partnerships and support the security of global mineral supply chains.
Since launching Vision 2030, we have seen substantial progress. Licensing and investment have increased markedly, and our current investment pipeline is approximately US$500 million. Export performance underscores this momentum: 2024 recorded the highest level of non-oil exports in our history, reaching SAR 520 billion, with growth across goods, services, and industrial sectors.
Could you outline the significance of Saudi Arabia’s recent critical minerals agreement with the United States?
I was honoured to join HRH Crown Prince Minister Mohammed bin Salman on his historic visit to the US. I witnessed the high level of interest from President Trump and his administration. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US is grounded in genuine alignment and mutual respect.
As part of the visit, a critical minerals agreement was signed between our two countries, focused on cross-investment, technology transfer, and coordinated engagement with third countries. Its aim is to ensure that the minerals essential for military, technological, and other strategic industries are reliably available to both nations and to global partners. International cooperation has been a priority from the outset of Saudi Arabia’s mining strategy, and will continue to be an essential component of its success.
What does the success of events like the Future Minerals Forum and UNIDO Global Industry Summit represent?
The Future Minerals Forum (FMF) has become a highly successful global platform and, I would argue, the most important forum of its kind. Although it began with a focus on the “super region” of Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, we have seen growing interest from North and South America and from major mineral-consuming countries including the US, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and China. We are pleased to see the FMF driving meaningful collaboration.
Its success encouraged us to develop parallel flagship initiatives for industry. The UNIDO Global Industry Summit, held in Riyadh in November 2025, exemplified this, and proved to be another great success. We are also partnering with Hanover Messe and Düsseldorf Messe on additional initiatives. Together, these efforts reflect the Kingdom’s long-term commitment to global industrial development.
How is the Ministry driving accelerated mineral exploration across the Kingdom?
Saudi Arabia’s strong momentum in mineral exploration is driven by three fundamentals. First, we established full transparency and a fast, reliable licensing process for investors. Second, we identified priority areas suitable for accelerated exploration and offered them through competitive rounds. Third, we introduced incentives for junior explorers, supporting talented small and medium companies that lack the necessary capital. These measures, combined with the scale of our resource potential, have attracted significant interest.
In response to requests for larger land packages, we have launched new areas matching the needs of major operators. This responsiveness has strengthened investor confidence and further reinforced trust in Saudi Arabia as a mining jurisdiction.
How is Saudi Arabia’s steel industry evolving, and what are the sector’s key opportunities today?
Historically, the steel sector in Saudi Arabia was built around a narrow range of construction-focused products. This left gaps, such as industrial flat products required for machinery, equipment, automotive applications, and other advanced industries.
Our aim is to restructure the sector around a focus on locally-produced, higher-value products, enabling the sector to meet demand by replacing the imports that currently fill this gap. Investment opportunities in the sector today are worth SAR 60 billion.
The 3rd Saudi Arabia Iron and Steel conference, held in Riyadh in October 2025, allowed us to engage directly with industry leaders and understand their opportunities and challenges. It is another increasingly important forum, built upon the private sector’s drive for success and collaboration.
What are your priorities for the continued development of Saudi Arabia’s mining industry?
The sector still requires substantial capital, and we are doing our part to attract it by de-risking investment through clear policies, long-term planning, transparent regulation, and shorter licensing timelines.
I was particularly encouraged by Saudi Arabia’s first-place ranking for political stability in the Fraser Institute’s 2024 report, alongside a strong ranking for the Kingdom’s overall investment attractiveness. We will continue working to position Saudi Arabia as the most competitive destination for mining investment globally.
How would you assess the importance of Saudi Arabia’s mining and metals industries on the global stage?
Saudi Arabia is assuming an important global role, not only because of the Kingdom’s vast mineral endowment, valued at US$2.5 trillion, but also due to our competitive energy landscape, strategic geographic position, and strong infrastructure. We intend to leverage this combination to strengthen our partnerships and support the security of global mineral supply chains.
Since launching Vision 2030, we have seen substantial progress. Licensing and investment have increased markedly, and our current investment pipeline is approximately US$500 million. Export performance underscores this momentum: 2024 recorded the highest level of non-oil exports in our history, reaching SAR 520 billion, with growth across goods, services, and industrial sectors.
Could you outline the significance of Saudi Arabia’s recent critical minerals agreement with the United States?
I was honoured to join HRH Crown Prince Minister Mohammed bin Salman on his historic visit to the US. I witnessed the high level of interest from President Trump and his administration. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US is grounded in genuine alignment and mutual respect.
As part of the visit, a critical minerals agreement was signed between our two countries, focused on cross-investment, technology transfer, and coordinated engagement with third countries. Its aim is to ensure that the minerals essential for military, technological, and other strategic industries are reliably available to both nations and to global partners. International cooperation has been a priority from the outset of Saudi Arabia’s mining strategy, and will continue to be an essential component of its success.
What does the success of events like the Future Minerals Forum and UNIDO Global Industry Summit represent?
The Future Minerals Forum (FMF) has become a highly successful global platform and, I would argue, the most important forum of its kind. Although it began with a focus on the “super region” of Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, we have seen growing interest from North and South America and from major mineral-consuming countries including the US, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and China. We are pleased to see the FMF driving meaningful collaboration.
Its success encouraged us to develop parallel flagship initiatives for industry. The UNIDO Global Industry Summit, held in Riyadh in November 2025, exemplified this, and proved to be another great success. We are also partnering with Hanover Messe and Düsseldorf Messe on additional initiatives. Together, these efforts reflect the Kingdom’s long-term commitment to global industrial development.
How is the Ministry driving accelerated mineral exploration across the Kingdom?
Saudi Arabia’s strong momentum in mineral exploration is driven by three fundamentals. First, we established full transparency and a fast, reliable licensing process for investors. Second, we identified priority areas suitable for accelerated exploration and offered them through competitive rounds. Third, we introduced incentives for junior explorers, supporting talented small and medium companies that lack the necessary capital. These measures, combined with the scale of our resource potential, have attracted significant interest.
In response to requests for larger land packages, we have launched new areas matching the needs of major operators. This responsiveness has strengthened investor confidence and further reinforced trust in Saudi Arabia as a mining jurisdiction.
How is Saudi Arabia’s steel industry evolving, and what are the sector’s key opportunities today?
Historically, the steel sector in Saudi Arabia was built around a narrow range of construction-focused products. This left gaps, such as industrial flat products required for machinery, equipment, automotive applications, and other advanced industries.
Our aim is to restructure the sector around a focus on locally-produced, higher-value products, enabling the sector to meet demand by replacing the imports that currently fill this gap. Investment opportunities in the sector today are worth SAR 60 billion.
The 3rd Saudi Arabia Iron and Steel conference, held in Riyadh in October 2025, allowed us to engage directly with industry leaders and understand their opportunities and challenges. It is another increasingly important forum, built upon the private sector’s drive for success and collaboration.
What are your priorities for the continued development of Saudi Arabia’s mining industry?
The sector still requires substantial capital, and we are doing our part to attract it by de-risking investment through clear policies, long-term planning, transparent regulation, and shorter licensing timelines.
I was particularly encouraged by Saudi Arabia’s first-place ranking for political stability in the Fraser Institute’s 2024 report, alongside a strong ranking for the Kingdom’s overall investment attractiveness. We will continue working to position Saudi Arabia as the most competitive destination for mining investment globally.
