Powering the Future: FMF 2027 Cements Saudi Arabia as Critical Minerals Supply Bridge
As the world accelerates toward the green transition, Saudi Arabia is setting the stage for a global gathering that will chart the course for the future of critical minerals and rare earth elements.
In January 2027, Riyadh will host the sixth edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) to explore avenues for strengthening international collaboration and supply chain resilience, solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for mining investment.
FMF 2027: Shaping Global Minerals Dialogue
The Big Picture: Under the theme “Global Collaboration for Resilient Mineral Supply,” Riyadh will host the 6th edition of the Future Minerals Forum from January 12-14, 2027.
Why It Matters: The FMF will bring together a prestigious lineup of leaders from government, industry, investment, and technology to foster global dialogue and cooperation across the mining and minerals sector and to build partnerships that support future industries and strengthen mineral supply chain resilience.
FMF 2027 Areas of Focus
The Agenda: Aimed at expanding global mineral supply, the sixth edition of the FMF targets three priorities:
- Mobilizing capital.
- Accelerating project development.
- Streamlining production processes.
This will boost value chains within Saudi Arabia and across the Super Region of Africa, West and Central Asia, and Latin America.
Key Highlights:
- Ministerial Roundtable: A gathering for global government, industry, and finance leaders to drive collective action on the future of minerals.
- Gateway to Funding: A platform connecting investors with project opportunities.
- State of the Sector: A series of sessions offering market trends, commodity outlooks, and strategic data to guide high-level decision-making.
- Leadership and Knowledge Exchange: A series of meetings focused on tackling supply chain resilience and regional challenges.
A Journey of Success
State of Play: The FMF has proven effective in translating dialogue into active partnerships, investment, and projects, showcasing the Kingdom’s vast mining and industrial potential to global stakeholders. The sixth edition of the forum builds on the impressive success of the previous editions.
By the Numbers:
FMF Fifth Edition (2026)
- 21,500+ total participants from 175 countries.
- 91 countries represented by senior government delegations.
- 64+ participating governmental and non-governmental organizations.
- 132 agreements and MoUs signed at the 2026 edition.
- $26.7 billion+ (SAR 100 billion+) total value of 5th edition deals.
- 398 cumulative agreements and MoUs signed across all 5 editions.
- $75.2 billion+ (SAR 282 billion+) cumulative value of deals across all 5 editions.
Saudi Arabia: The Emerging Mining Hub
Between the Lines: Positioning mining as the third pillar of its national economy, Saudi Arabia has made notable progress in its mining sector, unlocking promising investment opportunities and launching several programs to support the industry.
The Backstory: Saudi Arabia boasts significant critical minerals deposits estimated at $2.5 trillion. The majority of critical minerals and rare earths concentrates are found in the Arabian Shield along the Kingdom’s western coast, in key mining areas such as Jabal Sayid, Jabal Al-Hamra, Jabal Tawlah, Ghurrayyah, and Umm Al-Birak. Other mining areas in the Kingdom include the Arabian Plate and the marine areas (the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf).
The Jabal Sayid Trove
The Deep Dive: During the 70th Regular Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman unveiled the discovery of around 114 million tons of heavy rare earth minerals and uranium ore at the Jabal Sayid project in Madinah Region.
Looking Ahead: Heavy rare earth minerals (HREEs) are essential for powering high-tech defense systems, electric vehicle (EV) motors, and wind turbines. Initial geological estimates project that the Jabal Sayid deposit hosts approximately 552,000 tons of HREEs, 355,000 tons of Light Rare Earths, and 31,000 tons of co-located uranium, placing it fourth globally by overall resource value. This positions Saudi Arabia as a strategic alternative for Western markets, breaking China’s dominance over the global supply of HREEs.
The Bottom Line: The FMF 2027 edition consolidates Saudi Arabia’s status not only as a global energy and industrial powerhouse but also as an indispensable architect of the global green energy supply chain.
