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Saudi Ministry of Industry Announces Preferred Bidders for 3 Exploration Sites

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Wednesday the preferred bidders in the fourth series of the licensing rounds conducted as part of the Accelerated Exploration Program initiative.
The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Wednesday the preferred bidders in the fourth series of the licensing rounds conducted as part of the Accelerated Exploration Program initiative.
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Saudi Ministry of Industry Announces Preferred Bidders for 3 Exploration Sites

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Wednesday the preferred bidders in the fourth series of the licensing rounds conducted as part of the Accelerated Exploration Program initiative.
The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Wednesday the preferred bidders in the fourth series of the licensing rounds conducted as part of the Accelerated Exploration Program initiative.

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Wednesday the preferred bidders in the fourth series of the licensing rounds conducted as part of the Accelerated Exploration Program initiative.

The initiative has been designed to effectively leverage the Kingdom’s mineral resources in support of the development and growth of the mining sector, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program.

After a comprehensive evaluation of technical and social aspects, the preferred bidders were: Ajlan & Bros and Norin Mining Ltd Consortium for Bir Umq exploration site, Royal Roads and MSB Holding Consortium for Jabal Sahabiyah exploration site, and Sumou Holding with Kuya Silver Consortium for Umm Hadid exploration site, said a statement from the ministry.

It added that the exploration licenses will be issued in accordance with the Mining Investment Law, which mandates that companies seeking mining licenses in the Kingdom demonstrate their technical expertise and commitment to social and environmental impact management plans. The licensing rounds have been designed in a manner that is consistent with the Kingdom’s efforts to reach a sustainable development of the mining sector.

The Bir Umq mining site is located in the city of Mahd Ad Dhahab, in the west of the Kingdom. Covering an area of approximately 187 km2, the site includes mineral deposits of copper and zinc. As part of the exploration license award for this site, Ajlan & Bros Norin Mining Ltd will invest over SAR110 million in exploration activities. The consortium has also committed SAR15 million for local community initiatives, including training and development programs for local communities.

The Jabal Sahabiyah mining site is located in the Tathleeth region, in the south of the Kingdom. Covering an area of some 283 km2, it includes mineral deposits of zinc, lead and copper. The winners of the exploration license, Royal Roads and MSB Holding Consortium, will invest more than SAR20 million in exploration work. They have also committed SAR450,000 for local community initiatives, including training and development of local communities.

The Umm Hadid mining site is located in the Afif region, in the center of the Kingdom. Covering an area of some 246 km2, it includes mineral deposits of silver, lead, copper and zinc. The winners of the exploration license, Sumou Holding and Kuya Silver Consortium, will invest SAR83 million in exploration work. They have also committed over SAR3 million to local community initiatives, including training and development of local communities.

Following the latest licensing rounds, the ministry reiterated its commitment to designing a competitive auction process for exploration licenses, with the objective of encouraging the participation of new companies in the Kingdom’s metals and minerals sector.

It also stated that "rigorous evaluation processes will continue to prioritize fairness and transparency in competitor selection".

In addition to these initiatives, the ministry said that it will continue to dedicate its efforts to maximize the economic impact of mining investments, with a focus on promoting fundamental investments, attracting a diverse range of companies to develop exploration sites in the Kingdom, and ultimately leveraging its mineral resources to support the development of the most promising industries.

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COP 16 Launches Monday in Riyadh: Advancing a World Free of Desertification

Riyadh is hosting this Monday the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh is hosting this Monday the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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COP 16 Launches Monday in Riyadh: Advancing a World Free of Desertification

Riyadh is hosting this Monday the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Riyadh is hosting this Monday the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16). (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Global attention turns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as it hosts the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The event seeks to address environmental challenges threatening the planet, intensify efforts to combat land degradation, and reduce the impact of drought.
From December 2 to 13, Riyadh will host representatives from 197 countries, signatories to the UNCCD, to collaborate on effective solutions for rehabilitating millions of hectares of degraded land and building resilience against drought. The conference aims to support policymakers while engaging the private sector and civil society in protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.
COP 16 is the largest meeting in the history of the UNCCD and the first to be held in the Middle East. It also represents Saudi Arabia’s largest-ever multilateral conference and coincides with the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, established alongside the Rio Conventions on climate change and biodiversity in 1992.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the significance of COP 16 as a potential turning point, renewing global commitment to accelerating investments in land restoration and drought resilience. He described it as the largest UN conference on land to date and a landmark event for the Middle East and North Africa.
Saudi Arabia is a key supporter of global environmental efforts. The Crown Prince’s Saudi Green Initiative aims to rehabilitate 49 billion square meters of land. This initiative has gained regional and international support, with Gulf nations already undertaking reforestation and coastal protection projects.
The Conference Program
The conference features an innovative dual-track approach, combining formal negotiations with an action-oriented agenda, according to the COP 16 presidency. This approach aims to address urgent global crises, including desertification, land degradation, and drought, through practical and implementable decisions.
The action agenda will focus on showcasing voluntary initiatives, innovative solutions, and discussions on key topics such as artificial intelligence, sustainable land management, and the social and economic impacts of land degradation. High-level ministerial sessions will explore critical issues, including drought resilience, financing, and the relationship between land degradation, forced migration, and security.
Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment and advisor to COP 16, emphasized the pivotal role of the conference in tackling global challenges related to land degradation and drought. He noted that Saudi Arabia has introduced the first-ever Green Zone in COP history. This zone aims to engage scientists, businesses, financial institutions, NGOs, and the public in collaborative efforts to drive lasting change.
The COP 16 agenda includes thematic days to focus discussions and accelerate outcomes: December 4: Earth Day, December 5: Food Systems Day, December 6: Governance Day, December 7: Peoples’ Day, December 9: Science, Technology, and Innovation Day, December 10: Capacity Building Day, and December 11: Finance Day.
Saudi Green Initiative Forum
In parallel with COP 16, Riyadh will host the 4th annual Saudi Green Initiative Forum on December 3–4 under the theme “Inspired by Nature”. The forum will gather policymakers, business leaders, and experts from around the world to share best practices, explore innovative solutions, and review progress toward the initiative’s sustainability goals.
Land degradation currently affects approximately 40% of the Earth’s surface, impacting the lives of 3.2 billion people worldwide, according to the UNCCD. Each year, nearly 100 million hectares of land deteriorate, while drought intensity and frequency have risen by one-third since 2000.
Despite the urgent need for action, restoration and resilience efforts remain significantly underfunded. COP 16 aims to prioritize mobilizing public and private financing to accelerate land restoration and enhance global resilience, building a sustainable future for both people and the planet.