By: Economy Middle east

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has announced the commencement of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF 2026), scheduled to take place from January 13 to 15, 2026, in Riyadh, under the theme, “Dawn of a Global Cause.”

This event will unfold under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. 

Bandar Alkhorayef, Saudi minister of Industry and Mineral Resources highlighted that the forum’s fifth edition aims to further cement the Kingdom’s role as a leader in the global discourse surrounding the future of the mining and minerals sector, while also reinforcing the forum’s essential function as a premier international platform for shaping the future of minerals and advocating for responsible supply chains.

“For the past four years, FMF has led global action to address the sector’s most pressing issues and promote investment and responsible supply of minerals,” stated Alkhorayef. He further emphasized, “FMF is a cause driven from Saudi Arabia, one that brings the world together to deliver the minerals necessary for ushering in a new era of global development, prosperity, and stability for supplier nations.”

Collective call to action

The minister underscored the significance of the theme, asserting, “This is more than an event – it is a collective call to action. ‘Dawn of a Global Cause’ reflects the growing realization that minerals are essential not only to industries but also to humanity’s collective progress. This forum will forge new partnerships and inspire the change our sector urgently needs.”

FMF is poised to build on its past accomplishments, addressing urgent resource challenges with enhanced insights and broader participation. The initiative aspires to mobilize governments, industry leaders, customers, civil society, and youth around the vision of minerals driving a new era of development across supplier regions in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and beyond.

The FMF will bring together a diverse array of stakeholders — including governments, industry leaders, multilateral organizations, and academia — under one roof, at a time when minerals are crucial for achieving global electrification goals.

The FMF 2026 program and its government-led Ministerial Roundtable will focus on three main areas: delivering funding models for infrastructure projects to unlock seven mineral corridors in Africa and Latin America, as part of a phased approach that can be expanded to other regions; building capacity in supplier regions through the establishment of a network of Centers of Excellence concentrating on geology, innovation, sustainability, talent development, and policy; and enhancing supply-chain transparency by piloting a traceability scheme that can be replicated.

At the fourth Ministerial Roundtable of the Future Minerals Forum 2025, Saudi Arabia hosted the largest government gathering of its kind, bringing together representatives from over 90 countries, including 16 Group of Twenty (G20) nations and 50 international organizations, such as the United Nations, World Bank, ICMM, UNIDO, and ISO.

Future Minerals Barometer launch

High-level discussions centered on strengthening global collaboration across the “Super-Region,” which encompasses Africa, West and Central Asia, and other key supplier nations. Noteworthy announcements included the development of a global framework to promote resilient and secure supply chains, the creation of a network of Centers of Excellence, and the advancement of responsible sourcing practices through supply chain certification mechanisms that align with local contexts.

The fifth FMF Roundtable will act as a platform to review progress made under the International Critical Minerals Framework, monitor impact through the Future Minerals Barometer, and galvanize collaborative efforts to ensure that the mineral-rich regions of Africa, West, and Central Asia play a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive global minerals future. Additionally, the launch of the Future Minerals Barometer further emphasized the forum’s commitment to providing an authoritative tool for monitoring global mineral supply chain dynamics.

FMF 2025 showcased remarkable global engagement, attracting 18,000 participants from 165 countries, including mining executives, technology experts, and 405 distinguished speakers. The event facilitated 126 agreements valued at SAR 107 billion across exploration, research and development (R&D), and sustainability initiatives. Significant announcements included Aramco-Ma’aden critical minerals ventures, Ma’aden’s new discoveries, and Hadeed’s SAR 25 billion steel industry expansion. China’s Baosteel also announced plans for its first overseas integrated steel plant in Saudi Arabia.

The accompanying exhibition featured 170 global exhibitors and national pavilions, while previous forums have welcomed leadership from industry giants such as BHP, Rio Tinto, and Barrick Gold.

Saudi mining sector’s leap to 23rd place

Saudi Arabia’s mining sector has achieved a notable global milestone, rising from 104th place in 2013 to 23rd in 2024 on the Investment Attractiveness Index, as reported in the Fraser Institute’s 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies. This notable ascent has enabled the Kingdom to outpace prominent mining regions in both Asia and Latin America, solidifying its status as one of the world’s fastest-growing players in the mining industry.

The report indicates that the Kingdom has made significant progress in the Policy Perception Index, climbing from 82nd globally in 2013 to 20th in 2024. This improvement reflects an increasing international trust in its stable regulatory framework. Furthermore, the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index saw a remarkable rise, moving from 58th in 2013 to 24th in 2024, underscoring the vast, untapped mineral resources within the Kingdom, bolstered by ongoing geological surveys, discoveries, and well-attended mining licensing rounds.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has cultivated a globally competitive investment landscape, supported by clear regulations, accessible geological data—including one of the most comprehensive geological surveys of the Arabian Shield—competitive incentives, and world-class infrastructure.

The Fraser Institute noted that the Kingdom’s successes were driven by extensive regulatory reforms in areas such as security of tenure, taxation, environmental legislation, infrastructure, and community engagement. These initiatives enabled Saudi Arabia to enter the top quartile of the index for the first time. The report also observed that investors expressed no concerns regarding political stability—one of the Kingdom’s significant advantages—and commended the Mining Exploration Enablement Program as a crucial tool for mitigating investment risks and enhancing confidence in early-stage projects.

According to the report’s findings, the Kingdom made remarkable advancements in key indicators between 2013 and 2024, including a 305.8 percent improvement in the clarity and effectiveness of mining administration, increasing from 17 percent in 2013 to 69 percent in 2024, achieving an 11th place ranking globally; an 82.2 percent enhancement in the clarity of land use for mining activities, climbing from 45 percent in 2013 to 82 percent in 2024, ranking 7th globally; a 102.2 percent increase in labor regulations, from 45 percent in 2013 to 91 percent in 2024; and an 81.8 percent improvement in the quality of geological databases, from 33 percent in 2013 to 60 percent in 2024.

The report lauded the Kingdom’s stable regulatory environment and ambitious reforms, which have enhanced international investor confidence and reinforced Saudi Arabia’s standing as a premier mining investment destination—fully aligned with Vision 2030’s goal of diversifying the economy and fostering strategic sectors.

The Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies is regarded as one of the world’s most reliable benchmarks for evaluating mining investment environments and is widely utilized by investors, governments, and financial institutions globally.

Global recognition of Saudi mining progress

In addition to the Fraser Institute’s findings, other international entities such as the World Bank and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s progress in mining, reporting a surge in foreign direct investment inflows into the Kingdom’s mineral sector over the last decade. The World Bank’s 2023 Global Economic Prospects report states that Saudi Arabia attracted over $4 billion in mining-related investments in 2022 alone, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of over 15 percent since 2015.

The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), the government agency responsible for conducting extensive geological mapping and mineral exploration, has broadened its data-sharing initiatives to enhance transparency and collaboration with global mining firms, further boosting investor confidence. Moreover, the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability within mining operations aligns with recommendations from the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), emphasizing environmental stewardship, local community development, and ethical sourcing.

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has recently launched the National Mining Strategy 2025, a framework designed to elevate mining’s contribution to GDP from less than 1 percent to over 10 percent by the end of the decade, prioritizing the development of minerals critical to emerging technologies, including lithium and rare earth elements. These initiatives have positioned Saudi Arabia not only as a regional leader but also as a key player in the global mining value chain, attracting partnerships from major international mining corporations and leading financial institutions dedicated to sustainable resource development.