Saudi Arabia mineral resources are moving from a long-ignored opportunity to a central national priority. Several sources now cite a revaluation of the Kingdom’s mineral wealth at about $2.5 trillion, also reported as SR9.4 trillion and SAR9.375 trillion. This shift is tied to Vision 2030 and the push to make mining a “third pillar” alongside oil and petrochemicals.
Mining equipment is one clear signal of that shift. One outlook says the mining equipment market tied to Saudi Arabia critical minerals is projected to rise from USD 7.32 billion in 2025 to USD 9.72 billion by 2030. It also shows where activity is concentrated: excavation functions held 41.16% of the market in 2024, and surface mining support equipment accounted for 21.36%.
The minerals list is wide. One analysis says there are more than 45 identified minerals, ranging from gold and phosphate to lithium and rare earths. Arab News links the higher headline value to discoveries of rare earth elements, base metals, gold, phosphate, and titanium, and it notes titanium’s high-value uses in aviation and turbine manufacturing.
Why “$2.5 Trillion” Is Big, and Why It Is Not Simple
Not every source treats the $2.5 trillion figure the same way. A 2026 investor-focused note warns it should be seen as a ceiling of geological potential rather than a confirmed reserve base. It also argues that Saudi Arabia’s subsurface has been systematically underexplored, and that the Precambrian Arabian Shield in the west has mineral-forming potential that is still incompletely mapped.
Saudi Arabia is also trying to reduce practical barriers for investors and explorers. Economy Middle East reports the Exploration Enablement Program and a Mining Infrastructure Enablement Initiative, highlighted at the January 2026 Future Minerals Forum, that aim to de-risk work by covering up to 25 percent of drilling and laboratory costs and providing up to 100 percent salary support for technical employees. Separately, another update says an Exploration Enablement Program opened 4,000 km² of greenfield targets, and a Ma’aden partnership with Fleet Space Technologies spans 12,012.6 km² of the Arabian Shield.
Deal activity and industrial plans add to the momentum. One 2025 snapshot reports 33 new mining licenses, a USD 182 million exploration incentive fund, and nine deals worth USD 9.32 billion. Economy Middle East also cites Ma’aden announcing a $110 billion investment plan in February 2026 to triple its gold and phosphate production over the next decade. On battery metals, it adds a near-term signal: plans for lithium hydroxide production and industrial-scale refineries targeted for a 2027 start-up.
How large are Saudi Arabia mineral resources, according to the sources?
Which minerals are driving the revaluation of Saudi Arabia’s mineral wealth?
Why do some analysts caution readers about the $2.5 trillion number?
What programs are meant to de-risk exploration in Saudi Arabia?
What is changing in mining technology adoption in the Kingdom?
