Saudi Arabia launches bid for seven mining exploration licenses

The exploration sites span various regions and are rich in valuable minerals. The Umm Qasr site in Riyadh, covering over 20 sq. km., is known for its deposits of gold, silver, lead, and zinc. File
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Updated 08 August 2024
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Saudi Arabia launches bid for seven mining exploration licenses

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched a competitive bid for seven new mining exploration licenses, covering an area of approximately 1,000 sq. km.

Announced on Aug. 7 by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, this initiative seeks to attract both local and international investors to explore these promising sites.

The exploration sites span various regions and are rich in valuable minerals. The Umm Qasr site in Riyadh, covering over 20 sq. km., is known for its deposits of gold, silver, lead, and zinc.

Another site, Jebel Sabha in Riyadh, extends over 171 sq. km. and contains silver, lead, zinc, and cobalt. Wadi Doush in Asir, which spans more than 157 sq. km., holds deposits of gold, silver, and copper.

The Shuaib Marqan site in Riyadh covers over 92 sq. km and is rich in copper, silver, and gold. The Wadi Al-Jouna site in Asir, the largest of the sites, encompasses 425 sq. km. and contains copper, zinc, silver, and gold.

The Hazm Shubat site in Asir, covering over 93 sq. km., is noted for its gold deposits. Lastly, the Huwaimdhan exploration site in Makkah covers an area of more than 34 sq. km. and also contains gold.

This competition is part of the broader Exploration Enablement Program, designed to accelerate the exploration and development of Saudi Arabia's estimated mineral wealth, valued at SR9.3 trillion ($2.48 trillion). The initiative supports Vision 2030’s goal of establishing mining as a crucial pillar of the national industry.

Interested parties must submit their technical bids by early September 2024, with the winners expected to be announced by the end of the month. The ministry has made geological and technical data available through a dedicated platform to assist bidders.

The evaluation process for the bids will be both transparent and fair, with 70 percent of the evaluation based on the technical work program and expertise, and the remaining 30 percent based on community contributions and innovation.

To further encourage investment, new incentives include support of up to SR7.5 million for companies holding exploration licenses for less than five years, allowing 100 percent foreign ownership, and financing up to 75 percent of capital costs through the Saudi Industrial Development Fund.

Investors interested in participating can visit the ministry’s mining platform to review detailed information and download relevant technical and geological reports.

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New Murabba seeks contractors for Mukaab Towers fit-outs: MEED

Updated 28 January 2026
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New Murabba seeks contractors for Mukaab Towers fit-outs: MEED

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba Development Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has issued a request for information to gauge the market for modular and offsite fit-out solutions for its flagship Mukaab development, MEED reported on Wednesday.

The RFI was released on Jan. 26, with submissions due by Feb. 11. NMDC has also scheduled a market engagement meeting during the first week of February to discuss potential solutions with prospective contractors.

Sources close to the project told MEED that NMDC is “seeking experienced suppliers and contractors to advise on the feasibility, constraints, and execution strategy for using non-load-bearing modular systems for the four corner towers framing the Mukaab structure.” The feedback gathered from these discussions will be incorporated into later design and procurement decisions.

The four towers — two residential (North and South) and two mixed-use (East and West) — are integral to the Mukaab’s architectural layout. Each tower is expected to rise approximately 375 meters and span over 80 stories. Key modular elements under consideration include bathroom pods, kitchen pods, dressing room modules, panelized steel partition systems, and other offsite-manufactured fit-out solutions.

Early works on the Mukaab were completed last year, with NMDC preparing to award the estimated $1 billion contract for the main raft works. This was highlighted in a presentation by NMDC’s chief project delivery officer on Sept. 9, 2025, during the Future Projects Forum in Riyadh.

Earlier this month, US-based Parsons Corp. was awarded a contract by NMDC to provide design and construction technical support. Parsons will act as the lead design consultant for infrastructure, delivering services covering public buildings, infrastructure, landscaping, and the public realm at New Murabba. The firm will also support the development of the project’s downtown experience, which spans 14 million sq. meters of residential, workplace, and entertainment space.

The Parsons contract follows NMDC’s October 2025 agreements with three other US-based engineering firms for design work across the development. New York-headquartered Kohn Pedersen Fox was appointed to lead early design for the first residential community, while Aecom and Jacobs were selected as lead design consultants for the Mukaab district.

In August 2025, NMDC signed a memorandum of understanding with Falcons Creative Group, another US-based firm, to develop the creative vision and immersive experiences for the Mukaab project. Meanwhile, Beijing-based China Harbour Engineering Co. completed the excavation works for the Mukaab, and UAE-headquartered HSSG Foundation Contracting executed the foundation works.