Ma’aden Resorts to International Expertise to Exploit Saudi Arabia’s Largest Discovered Resources

Saudi Arabia is implementing mining projects to exploit untapped wealth. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is implementing mining projects to exploit untapped wealth. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Ma’aden Resorts to International Expertise to Exploit Saudi Arabia’s Largest Discovered Resources

Saudi Arabia is implementing mining projects to exploit untapped wealth. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is implementing mining projects to exploit untapped wealth. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) is seeking to benefit from its relationships with its global partners, and to rely on the latest technologies, in order to raise the maximum capabilities and potential to work on the unexplored mineral resources project in Saudi Arabia, which is valued at $2.5 trillion, through an appropriate set of investments, sources have revealed.

In January, the Kingdom announced that it had raised its estimates of the value of untapped mineral resources, including phosphate, gold, minerals, and rare earths, to SAR9.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion), an increase from the previous estimation of SAR4.9 trillion ($1.3 trillion).

Ma’aden operates 17 mines and sites, employing more than 68,000 workers, and exports its products to more than 30 countries. It is also implementing a plan to increase the volume of its business within its 2040 strategy, in phosphate, aluminum, gold, and copper, in addition to exploring new minerals.

Mining has emerged as a vital sector for the Saudi economy, as it played a pivotal role in promoting growth and advancing development under Vision 2030. In this context, Ma’aden is working to consolidate the sector's position as the third pillar of the economy in the Kingdom.

The company is an important player in supporting the achievement of the goals of the country’s strategic roadmap, and has implemented one of the largest exploration programs in the world, investing in new technologies through its partnership with Barrick Gold and Ivanhoe Electric, to help unleash the enormous potential of mineral wealth in Saudi Arabia.

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef recently announced the discovery of new mining resources with an estimated value of $2.5 trillion. This came during the third edition of the International Mining Conference, which was held in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The minister pointed to new discoveries of rare earth elements and transition metals, in addition to huge increases in phosphate ore and other minerals, such as copper, zinc, gold, and others.

The Ma’aden Company recently revealed the discovery of significant gold resource potential extending along a 100km strike from the existing Mansourah Massarah gold mine. This is the first find from the company’s extensive exploration program, launched in 2022, aimed at building Ma’aden’s production pipeline.



Saudi Arabia Launches $4 Billion Program to Localize Rail Industry

The launch of Asasat Program (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The launch of Asasat Program (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Launches $4 Billion Program to Localize Rail Industry

The launch of Asasat Program (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The launch of Asasat Program (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, has announced the launch of the Asasat Program, a collaboration between Saudi Railways Company (SAR) and the Local Content Authority.

The initiative aims to localize the railway industry within the Kingdom, offering investment opportunities exceeding SAR 15 billion Saudi ($4 billion) by 2030.

The announcement was made on Wednesday during the inaugural Saudi Railway Conference and Exhibition in Riyadh. The Asasat Program is part of SAR’s commitment to realizing Saudi Vision 2030, and is built on six pillars aimed at establishing a strong and sustainable rail sector.

The program focuses on enhancing national industry and competitiveness by supporting innovation and developing local services and products. It seeks to incentivize local suppliers and manufacturers through investment opportunities in areas such as train car manufacturing and refurbishment, railway infrastructure construction and maintenance, smart technology development, and sustainability investments.

Al-Jasser highlighted Saudi Arabia’s longstanding history in railways, which began 74 years ago and now spans over 5,500 kilometers across multiple networks, including the Northern Line, Eastern Line, and Haramain High-Speed Railway.

Looking ahead, the Kingdom plans to expand its rail network by an additional 8,000 kilometers in the coming years, solidifying its position as a global logistics hub, the minister said, adding that key projects include the Land Bridge, linking the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea, and the GCC Railway, connecting Gulf Cooperation Council countries through a modern rail network.

Rail systems, Al-Jasser explained, play a crucial role in facilitating passenger and freight movement, fostering social and economic development, and reducing carbon emissions. Last year, Saudi Arabia became the first country in the region to test a hydrogen-powered train with zero carbon emissions, aligning with its Green Saudi Initiative and net-zero goals.

SAR’s CEO, Dr. Bashar Al-Malik, emphasized Saudi Arabia’s global leadership in innovation and sustainability in transportation. Guided by the National Transport and Logistics Strategy under Vision 2030, SAR oversees one of the largest railway infrastructures in the region. The company plans to invest over SAR 220 billion ($59 billion) by 2030 to integrate transportation systems and support global supply chains.

Al-Malik noted that innovation and digital transformation are key to the future of rail, adding that SAR is expanding its adoption of advanced digital solutions and artificial intelligence to enhance travel experiences and establish sustainable supply chains. He revealed that the company’s local content will reach 60% by next year, supported by programs like Asasat.