Saudi Arabia attended the 21st Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) in Geneva, where it presented its vision for building an integrated mining sector that connects investment with innovation and industry. The Kingdom aims to strengthen the sector’s role in economic diversification and reinforce its position as a leading global destination for mining investment.
During the meeting, Abdulrahman AlBelushi, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources Management at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, was elected vice-chair of the IGF executive council representing Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. His appointment underscores member states’ confidence in Saudi Arabia’s influential role in advancing global mining governance and supporting sustainable development through international and regional cooperation.
IGF
AlBelushi noted that Saudi Vision 2030 is transforming the mining sector from a traditional extraction-based model into a comprehensive engine for industrial diversification, job creation, and sustainable economic growth. He also emphasized mining’s growing contribution to industrial development and the Kingdom’s transition to clean energy.
Discussing exploration efforts, he highlighted that Saudi Arabia has launched one of the region’s largest geophysical and geochemical survey programs, covering more than 600,000 square kilometers of the Arabian Shield—80% of which is now complete. Relevant data has been made accessible to investors through the National Platform.
Moreover, the ministry has also opened investment opportunities spanning 33,000 square kilometers of mineral belts through the Taadeen platform, with plans to issue exploration licenses for more than 50,000 square kilometers of mining areas in 2025.
AlBelushi pointed to the Kingdom’s notable progress in the Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2024, rising from 104th place in 2013 to 23rd globally in the Investment Attractiveness Index. Additionally, this advancement reflects the success of wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving the investment climate and strengthening regulatory frameworks.
He further stressed the importance of cooperation between mineral-producing and consuming nations to enhance the stability of global supply chains. AlBelushi said Saudi Arabia continues to lead international initiatives in this area through the Future Minerals Forum and the global ministerial roundtable on mining, which has become a key platform for regions spanning Africa, West and Central Asia, and Latin America.
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