15 September :Saudi Arabia has discovered an estimated 110 million tonnes of rare earth minerals and uranium-bearing ore in the Medina region, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced at the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
According to a report by Arab News, heavy rare earth elements and uranium deposits with promising concentrations were identified during geological surveys and exploration activities in the Jabal Sayid area.
The discovery comes several months after US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement on 22 July. The agreement has given fresh momentum to Saudi Arabia’s nuclear programme through potential US technology and investment.
Meanwhile, cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States in the minerals sector intensified following Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the US in November 2025. During the visit, Saudi state-owned mining company Ma’aden and US-based MP Materials signed a partnership agreement. Under the deal, the US Department of Defense agreed to finance 49 percent of a new processing plant currently under construction.
Located approximately 350 kilometres northeast of Jeddah, the Jabal Sayid mine is already recognised as one of the world’s richest mineral fields. According to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the area contains around 552,000 tonnes of heavy rare earth elements, 355,000 tonnes of light rare earth elements and approximately 31,000 tonnes of uranium.
The total value of these world-class mineral resources is currently estimated at around $100 billion, representing a 90 percent increase compared with 2018. The Saudi Geological Survey has also identified two additional advanced mineral zones with a combined estimated capacity of 644 million tonnes.
Source: Arab News