Saudi Arabia has been named among the world’s top ten mining investment destinations in the Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2025, one of the most respected global benchmarks for assessing mining investment environments and a key reference for international investors.
The report shows that the Kingdom’s mining sector has capped an unprecedented rise on the main ‘Investment Attractiveness Index,’ climbing 13 positions and improving its score by 14.3% within a single year, becoming the only Asian jurisdiction ranked among the world’s top ten mining destinations in 2025, SPA reported.
This milestone reflects a remarkable transformation of the Kingdom’s mining sector, rising from 104th place in 2013 to 23rd in 2024, and now firmly establishing Saudi Arabia as a top ten global destination for mining investment.
This global recognition is based on strong gains in the two fundamental sub-indices. In the ‘Policy Perception Index,’ Saudi Arabia jumped from 20th place last year to 4th globally, scoring 94.99. In the ‘Mineral Potential Index,’ it grew from 24th to 16th, with a score of 73.33. These results reinforce the Kingdom’s message that its investment competitiveness rests on two interlinked criteria: promising geological resources and a modern regulatory framework supported by clear and efficient governance.
Across the detailed policy criteria, Saudi Arabia achieved exceptional results, ranking first globally in three key categories. The Kingdom ranked first globally in ‘Uncertainty Concerning the Administration & Regulations,’ reflecting clarity of mining regulations and executive administration, It recorded a remarkable 558% improvement, driven by the implementation of the new Mining Investment Law and its legal system, the establishment of ESNAD (Saudi Mining Services Company) to strengthen oversight and compliance, and the automation of licensing procedures through the Ta’adeen digital platform.
Saudi Arabia also ranked first globally in ‘Regulatory Duplication and Inconsistencies,’ reflecting success in coordinated efforts across government entities. In addition, the Kingdom ranked first globally in the ‘Taxation Regime,’ strengthening investor confidence and improving the financial competitiveness of mining projects.
In related indicators, Saudi Arabia ranked second globally in ‘Uncertainty Concerning Environmental Regulations’ and third globally in ‘Uncertainty Concerning Disputed Land Claims.’ These results reflect the strength, clarity, and stability of the Kingdom’s environmental regulatory framework, as well as the effectiveness of policies governing land claims and community development. The rankings highlight the impact of coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, alongside structured approaches to managing community engagement requirements around mining operations.
The Kingdom also recorded a significant improvement in the ‘Infrastructure indicator,’ which includes access to roads and energy availability. This progress reflects ongoing efforts to enhance infrastructure, notably through the launch of the Mining Infrastructure Enablement Initiative at the fifth edition of the Future Minerals Forum, held in January.
These top rankings were accompanied by exceptional qualitative leaps, averaging over 100% in other critical criteria. The ‘Legal System’ criterion
improved by 211%, while the ‘Quality of Geological Database’ rose by 203% due to the inclusion of extensive geological survey data, establishing a more transparent and reliable investment environment.
Commenting on the achievement, Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer said the Kingdom’s entry into the global top ten reflects the depth of reforms implemented under Saudi Vision 2030 in the mining sector.
He noted that the ranking demonstrates the maturity and resilience of Saudi Arabia’s investment environment as the Kingdom positions itself to meet rising global demand for minerals.
Looking ahead, the vice minister added that the ministry will continue to strengthen the sector as a driver of industrial and economic growth by developing legislative and regulatory frameworks that enhance investor confidence and reinforce the Kingdom’s long-term competitiveness.
In addition, he said the Fraser Institute results provide independent international recognition of the rapid transformation underway in Saudi Arabia’s mining sector.
He further noted that ongoing efforts focus on improving the investor experience through greater transparency, faster licensing procedures, and reduced exploration risks, while strengthening supply chain localization and supporting the creation of high-quality employment opportunities.
These regulatory developments are translating into tangible investment outcomes. In 2025, Saudi Arabia issued 61 exploitation licenses for mine development, with investment valued at $11.73 billion (SAR44 billion), compared with 21 licenses in 2024, which represents an increase of 221%.
Active exploration companies increased from six in 2020 to 226 in 2024, representing more than 38‑fold growth. Meanwhile, the number of active exploration mining licenses reached 1,018 by 2025, compared with 500 licenses in 2020, reflecting a growth of approximately 104%.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources continues to attract investment and facilitate the investor journey through competitive exploration licensing rounds. These rounds have seen unprecedented international interest from leading global mining companies and consortia, including Barrick Gold, Ivanhoe Electric, Shandong Gold, Hancock Prospecting, and Zijin Mining.
As part of these efforts, the ministry recently launched the 11th licensing round, opening competition for exploration licenses across eight mining sites in the regions of Riyadh, Hail, and Aseer, covering a total area of 1,878 km² and targeting deposits of gold, silver, copper, zinc, and iron ore.
To support early‑stage exploration and reduce financial risk, the report also highlighted the ‘Exploration Enablement Program’ as an effective tool for supporting exploration companies. The Kingdom has allocated over $182.67 million (SAR685 million) to the program for the period 2024–2030, targeting exploration licenses in their first five years and requiring participating companies to share geological data to accelerate knowledge exchange and improve the quality of investment decisions.
This advanced ranking and historic progress reflect Saudi Arabia’s continued success in advancing the objectives of Vision 2030: positioning mining as the third pillar of the national industrial base and strengthening the Kingdom’s role as a leading global investment destination and a trusted partner in securing future mineral supply chains.
The survey evaluated 68 mining jurisdictions worldwide, based on 256 responses from senior executives representing global mining companies.
