Saudi Arabia’s new industrial licenses rise 5.1% in November

The number of permits issued in November 2022 is 14 more than were awarded in the same month a year earlier (Shutterstock)
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Updated 03 January 2023
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Saudi Arabia’s new industrial licenses rise 5.1% in November

RIYADH: Industrial projects worth SR7.2 billion ($1.9 billion) were approved by Saudi Arabia in November as the Kingdom signed off on 82 new licenses – a month-on-month rise of 5.1 percent, according to the National Industrial and Mining Information Center.

The number of permits issued in November 2022 is 14 more than were awarded in the same month a year earlier.

Small enterprises acquired 85.3 percent of the new industrial licenses, followed by medium enterprises at 12.2 percent, and then micro enterprises with 2.44 percent.

The new licenses are distributed across six industrial activities, including food products, non-metallic mineral products, then manufacturing of shaped metals except for machinery and equipment.

The other activities were paper and paper products, clothing, and the manufacturing of chemicals and chemical products.

In addition to this, the number of existing factories in the Kingdom until the end of the same month reached 10,742, with investments amounting to SR1.4 trillion.

Some 50 factories started production during the month of November, with an investment volume of SR830 million, topped by non-metallic minerals with 11 plants, followed by food with 10, and then chemicals with six.

Rubber and plastics, base metals, and metal came after with four factories per category.

National factories accounted for 90 percent of those that started production, followed by foreign-owned facilities with 6 percent, and joint enterprises with 4 percent.

The report also revealed that the new industrial licenses were distributed among 10 regions including Riyadh, the Eastern region, Makkah, Madinah, Asir, Qassim, Jizan, Hail, Al-Jawf, and Najran.

According to the report, the total number of industrial licenses issued by the ministry from the beginning of 2022 until the end of November amounted to 885.


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.