Saudi Arabia has rapidly climbed global mining rankings, and as a result, it now emerges as a top destination for investment. The Kingdom jumped 81 places in the Fraser Institute’s Investment Attractiveness Index, moving from 104th to 23rd. This leap reflects the country’s strong reforms, strategic investments, and accelerated exploration activities. Consequently, investors view Saudi Arabia as a reliable and promising location for mining projects.
The transformation demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building a competitive and investor-friendly mining sector. Furthermore, large-scale geological surveys, new discoveries, and attractive licensing rounds highlight the country’s untapped potential. As a result, investor confidence continues to grow steadily.
Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, Khalid Al-Mudaifer, emphasized that the sector’s growth aligns directly with Vision 2030. He explained that mining no longer functions as a traditional sector; instead, it has become a key driver of industrial and economic growth. Moreover, Saudi Arabia focuses on maximizing economic value, creating jobs, and localizing supply chains.
In addition, the Kingdom improved its global standing in several other indices. It ranked 20th in the Policy Perception Index and 24th in the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index. Both achievements further demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s increasing appeal to international investors.
The government also issued a record number of new exploration licenses, showing a 144 percent year-on-year increase. As a result, investors gained more confidence due to these reforms, which fueled further interest in mining opportunities. Minister Bandar Alkhorayef described this progress as “unprecedented” and highlighted that reforms enhanced competitiveness while attracting international investors.
Moreover, the Fraser Institute praised the extensive regulatory improvements Saudi Arabia undertook. These included better security of tenure, taxation, environmental legislation, infrastructure, and community engagement. Consequently, the country entered the top quartile of the Investment Attractiveness Index for the first time. The report also noted political stability and the Mining Exploration Enablement Program, which reduces investment risks and supports early-stage projects.
Saudi Arabia achieved impressive gains in administrative clarity, land use, labor regulations, and geological database quality. For example, clarity and effectiveness in mining administration rose 305.8 percent, ranking 11th globally. Land-use clarity improved 82.2 percent, placing the Kingdom 7th worldwide. In addition, labor regulations’ effectiveness jumped 102.2 percent, while geological database quality increased 81.8 percent.
Overall, analysts consider these achievements proof that Saudi Arabia now leads the way in global mining investment. Therefore, the combination of regulatory reforms, strategic exploration, and growing investor confidence positions the Kingdom as a top mining destination.
Saudi Arabia continues to prioritize the mining sector, ensuring it contributes to economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable growth. In short, these efforts demonstrate that mining can drive industrial expansion and attract worldwide investment.
