Riyadh to host sixth International Mining Conference in January 2027

Under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the sixth edition of the International Mining Conference will be held in Riyadh from January 12 to 14, 2027 (corresponding to 4-6 Sha’ban 1448H), under the theme "Global Collaboration for Resilient Mineral Supply Chains," organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

The sixth edition builds on the success of the previous five conferences in establishing the event as a global platform for dialogue and collaboration in the mining and minerals sector. The fifth edition, held in January 2026, saw participation from representatives of 91 countries and more than 64 governmental and non-governmental organizations, along with over 21,500 participants and visitors from 175 countries. It also witnessed the signing of 132 agreements and memoranda of understanding worth over SAR 100 billion. In total, the past five editions have announced 398 agreements and memoranda of understanding, with a combined value exceeding SAR 282 billion.

The sixth edition will focus on moving from building consensus to mobilizing financing, technology, and project implementation, by turning shared priorities into actionable and fundable opportunities. This aims to boost mineral supplies and accelerate value chain development within the Kingdom and across emerging supply regions spanning Africa, West and Central Asia, and Latin America.

A high-level ministerial meeting will headline the sixth edition, bringing together ministers and senior government representatives, as well as leaders from the mining industry, multilateral organizations, academia, and finance, to align priorities and define joint action paths.

The conference will also feature the "Access to Finance" event, showcasing investment opportunities inside and outside the Kingdom, financing tools, cooperation models, and connecting investors with key projects. Sessions under the "State of the Sector" program, building on the "Future Minerals Outlook Report," will provide forecasts for global commodity markets, market trends, and strategic insights to support decision-making by governments, industry leaders, and investors.

Specialized leadership meetings will address challenges to mineral supply chain resilience and develop practical solutions to enhance supply reliability and meet global demand. The conference will also focus on attracting investment, accelerating project development, and shortening the time to production through partnerships involving governments, industry leaders, investors, technology providers, and end users.

Over its first five editions, the International Mining Conference has shifted the conversation on the future of minerals from aspirations and consensus to partnerships, investments, and projects, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s mining and industrial opportunities to governments, investors, and industry leaders, and linking them with international capital, technology, and expertise.

The conference has accompanied significant transformations in Saudi Arabia’s mining sector, including expanding mining opportunities through new exploration zones and belts, accelerating licensing rounds for exploration and mining, and announcing major projects in metals industries such as aluminum, iron, and steel. It has also seen the launch of funds and programs supporting industrial and mining services, capacity building, and innovation.

The conference’s evolution has paralleled strong growth in Saudi Arabia’s mineral exploration activity, with total exploration spending rising from SAR 205 million in 2020 to about SAR 1.36 billion in 2025—a record level. The number of active exploration companies increased from six to 191 over the same period. Notably, exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project in Madinah Province, recently announced by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, during the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, revealed estimated resources of around 114 million tons of ore containing high concentrations of rare earth elements, especially heavy elements, along with promising uranium concentrations.

The International Mining Conference aligns with the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive mining strategy, serving as a Saudi-led initiative with a global vision that brings together governments, the private sector, investors, and technology providers around actionable projects. The sixth edition aims to launch a global call to diversify supply sources, develop mining capabilities, and establish a more flexible, reliable, and future-ready minerals ecosystem.