More than 20,000 participants, and about 400 speakers from ministers, experts and leaders of major international mining companies.
Global Platform for Decision Making
<In his speech during the opening of the conference, His Excellency stressed the interest and keenness of the wise leadership - may God support them - to ensure that the conference continues its pivotal role, pointing out that the conference has evolved from a mere platform for dialogue; to become a global decision-making platform that influences policies and mobilizes investments, which is embodied in the theme of this year's conference: “Minerals. He said: ”The fifth edition represents a qualitative milestone in the path of the conference, which has become a pivotal platform for shaping decisions and building partnerships across the entire mineral value chain, based on the fact that the major transformations the world is witnessing, including artificial intelligence applications and the energy transition, cannot be realized without securing minerals and their associated supply chains in a responsible and sustainable manner.”Strengthening Mining Standards
His Excellency referred to the results of the Fifth International Ministerial Meeting, which was held as part of the conference with the participation of more than 100 countries and 59 international organizations, and the tangible progress it witnessed in advancing the paths of centers of excellence, promoting responsible mining standards, and aligning with the World Bank Group's new minerals strategy to support the transition from dialogue to measurable implementation.<He stressed that the Kingdom continues to play its role in enhancing the resilience of global mineral supplies, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, through a prosperous, sustainable, investment-attracting mining sector that supports economic diversification and job creation, pointing out that the Kingdom has allocated more than (33) thousand square kilometers to local and international companies through rounds of competitions for exploration and mining licenses, and that the ninth round alone saw the award of (172) mining sites to (24) companies, in the largest licensing round to date.
Strategic partnerships to support projects
<The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources pointed to the completion of the geophysical and geochemical survey of the Arabian Shield (100%), and the growth of exploration spending by more than five times since 2020, from one million riyals to (1.052) billion riyals in 2024, stressing in this regard the Kingdom's commitment to accelerate the investment of its mineral potential estimated at (9.4) trillion riyals, by offering competitive exploration opportunities in 2026 and 2027.<His Excellency announced the launch of the Mining Infrastructure Empowerment Initiative in partnership with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), whose first project will include the construction of a 75-kilometer-long treated water line to support development in the Jabal Sayed area and accelerate the implementation of mineral projects. The launch of the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference coincides with the announcement of two new private funds designed to support opportunities across the mineral value chain in the Kingdom, reflecting investor confidence and the maturity of the mining sector. These initiatives include strategic partnerships to support mining and midstream projects within the value chain, and the launch of a new investment fund to support mineral and industrial opportunities.
<In the research track, national research and development entities will enter into strategic agreements with international entities to promote innovation in the fields of exploration, processing and digitization, supporting the efficiency of the mining sector and accelerating the adoption of advanced solutions. The conference program includes a wide range of events, including the ”Mining Investment Journey“ and ”Finance Gateway“ in partnership with the Bank of Montreal (BMO), MinGen workshops for youth and women in the mining sector, the MinValley innovation and technology platform, and the knowledge exchange platform that brings together a group of experts to share the latest developments in geology, technology, sustainability, and competency development.
MinValley is a knowledge exchange platform that brings together a group of experts to share the latest developments in the fields of geology, technology, sustainability, and competency development.
