Through the National Geological Database and Mining Portal, you can find reliable national geological and topographic data repository for the whole kingdom of Saudi Arabia including geological and topographic maps, Mineral Occurrences Documentation System (MODS), geochemistry and geophysics data, borehole data, surface samples data and more.
Mining Upstream – Mines
why invest in Mining Upstream – Mines ?
The future growth potential of the mining sector is significant and will unfold new growth for the industrial, energy, and logistics sectors
Approval of the new Mining Investment Law by the Saudi Council of Ministers to enable and enhance the Mining Sector
The mining value chain can contribute more than SAR 281 billion to GDP, create more than 256,000 new job opportunities, and reduce net imports to no less than SAR 37 billion
Maximizing the added value of metallic ores by improving the value chains of mineral industries in partnership with the private sector
Investor Journey
01
01
Data Collection and Analysis
02
02
Obtain Reconnaissance License
03
03
Conduct the Reconnaissance Works
04
04
Obtain Exploration License(exclusive right)
05
05
Executing The Exploration Programs
06
06
Request a Mining License (exclusive right)
07
07
Development of the Mine
08
08
Production and Ore Processing
09
09
Site Rehabilitation
01
01
Applying for a Foreign Investment License
02
02
Data Collection and Analysis
03
03
Obtain Reconnaissance License
04
04
Conduct the Reconnaissance Works
05
05
Obtain Exploration License(exclusive right)
06
06
Executing The Exploration Programs
07
07
Request a Mining License (exclusive right)
08
08
Development of the Mine
09
09
Production and Ore Processing
10
10
Site Rehabilitation
Data Collection and Analysis
Obtain Reconnaissance License (non-exclusive right)
You must submit an application to obtain a reconnaissance license through the mining portal at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources website. The reconnaissance license allows investors to reconnoiter for targeted minerals by visiting the chosen areas. In addition, the license allows investors to collect samples from the designated land, and the license gives access to the relevant data and maps from Saudi Geological Survey (SGS).
License duration:
2 years and can be renewed for only 2 more years
License requirements:
- Specifying the Designated Area
- Proposed Reconnaissance Program and Time Duration
- Financial Solvency
Application Process Duration:
15 days maximum
License cost:
- Application fee is SAR 5,000
- Issuance fee is SAR 5,000
- Renewal fee is SAR 5,000
Conduct the Reconnaissance Works
You may visit the targeted sites, take samples, carry out survey work, view and analyze all geological maps and data.
Obtain Exploration License(exclusive right)
To obtain an exploration license through the Mining Portal, you must be holding a commercial registration as a company for mining activities with a registered capital of at least 100,000 Saudi Riyals.The exploration license gives the investor the right to explore for specifiers minerals in the specified area through surface mining and geophysical/geochemical analysis.
License Duration:
For Classes A & B the license is issued for up to 15 years, with a maximum 5-year initial term plus one or more 5-year renewal periods. For Class C, the duration is 1 year, and it cannot be renewed.
License requirements:
- Environmental Impact Management Plan
- A plan to manage the social impact of activities, the plan should also determine the contributinon to the development of local communities
- Commitment to the minimum spending on exploration
- Having Feasibility Study and Financial Solvency
Application Process Duration:
90 days maximum
License cost:
- Application fee is SAR 5,000
- Issuance fee is SAR 5,000
- Renewal fee is SAR 5,000
Executing The Exploration Programs
The exploration programs will typically include the following:
- Exploration of all metals licensed to you at the licensed site.
- Any means of exploration such as drilling, geophysical and geochemical analysis.
- Estimation of mineral resources in the license area and their economic feasibility for exploitation.
- The exclusive right to obtain an exploitation license within the exploration license, during its validity.
Request a Mining License (exclusive right)
To obtain a mining license, you should have a commercial registration as a mining company with a registered capital of no less than 100 thousand riyals. The mining license gives the investor the right to mine and exploit the specified Classes A & B minerals. In addition, it allows the investor to transfer and sell the exploited minerals along with full operational rights.
License Duration:
- Up to 30 years, covers Class A and Class B minerals, for areas larger than 1 km2.
- Up to 20 years, covers Class A and Class B minerals, for areas less than 1 km2.
License Requirements:
- Study of the Environmental and Social Impacts
- Provide Rehabilitation and Closure Plans
- Feasibility Study
- The license applicant must have technical sufficiency and financial solvency
- Provide Financial Guarantee for rehabilitation and closure
Application Process Duration:
60 days maximum
License Cost:
- Application fee is SAR 10,000
- Issuance fee is SAR 20,000
- Renewal fee is SAR 20,000
Development of the Mine
Development of the Mine
Constructing and building the mine area in addition to the mine plant, including crushers, beneficiation units and conveyer belts to transfer mine ore to the plant.
Production and Ore Processing
Production and exploitation of the minerals specified in the license by drilling, polishing, concentration, smelting and processing. The processed metals may be transported/sold in their original condition or after purification.
Site Rehabilitation
You must obtain the approval of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for the rehabilitation according to the approved plan. The rehabilitation process shall include:
- Minimizing Environmental Impact
- Ensuring Public Health and Safety
- Maintaining Water Quality
- Removing Waste and Hazardous Materials
- Preserving the Site and Protecting it from Collapse
Foreign Investment License through Ministry of Investment
To invest as a non-Saudi Citizen, you must apply and obtain a foreign investment license from the Ministry of Investment (MISA).
Fees:
The applicant shall be obligated to pay the registration fee—at a later stage—as determined by the Ministry upon acceptance of the application. Payment must be made within no more than fifteen (15) business days from the date of notification of the due amount for the service; otherwise, the registration shall be considered void.
Time Frame:
- 10 working days
Documents Required:
- A copy of the Commercial Registration from your home country.
- A financial statement for one fiscal year.
- Both documents should be validated by the Saudi Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country.
Entrepreneur Licenses:
The service is provided to business leaders who wish to establish emerging technical, innovative or distinguished companies capable of expansion and growth to provide a better and different product or service in the Saudi market and have supportive entities approved by the ministry of investment.
Service Documentations:
- The Board of Directors decision on their desire to get a license, stating the invention type, its sponsors, the authorities, and a copy of the national identity if one of the partners is a natural person holding the nationality of one of the GCC countries (if their data is not already registered in the ABSHAR system), If the license applicant is a foreign individual, they must provide a copy of their passport.
- Obtain a letter of support or proof of project approval from an accredited Saudi university, business incubator, or venture capital fund. The letter must contain the following details: the project’s name, the required activity, ownership informant, and contact information of the supervising authority.
Service Rules and Restrictions:
- In case that one of the partners was previously licensed by Ministry of Investment, it must be clarified when filling in the partners’ data while submitting the electronic application.
- Authorized Saudi universities or business incubators or venture capital fund shall approve the license applications.
- If the applicant is a resident of the Kingdom, the Saudi sponsor should submit a letter of no objection.
- The applicant must enter data on the Saudi national identity / premium residence/residence if one of the partners holds any of these documents. Or the commercial registration data for the participating Saudi companies during the electronic application submission.
Service Fees:
- Payment of license fee of (2000) Saudi Riyals annual for (5) years as maximum.
- Payment for services obtained from the Ministry of Investment’s investor relations centers is calculated at the end of the fifth year of subscription after the establishment is reclassified other than entrepreneurial. Payment for services is applied as a regular license.
- Service fees shall be paid within (30) days from the bill issuance date. If the payment is delayed within the identified period, the service will be cancelled, and the applicant must apply again.
Data Collection and Analysis
Through the National Geological Database and Mining Portal, you can find reliable national geological and topographic data repository for the whole kingdom of Saudi Arabia including geological and topographic maps, Mineral Occurrences Documentation System (MODS), geochemistry and geophysics data, borehole data, surface samples data and more.
Obtain Reconnaissance License (non-exclusive right)
You must submit an application to obtain a reconnaissance license through the mining portal at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources website. The reconnaissance license allows investors to reconnoiter for targeted minerals by visiting the chosen areas. In addition, the license allows investors to collect samples from the designated land, and the license gives access to the relevant data and maps from Saudi Geological Survey (SGS).
License duration:
2 years and can be renewed for only 2 more years
License requirements:
- Specifying the Designated Area
- Proposed Reconnaissance Program and Time Duration
- Financial Solvency
Application Process Duration:
15 days maximum
License cost:
- Application fee is SAR 5,000
- Issuance fee is SAR 5,000
- Renewal fee is SAR 5,000
Conduct the Reconnaissance Works
You may visit the targeted sites, take samples, carry out survey work, view and analyze all geological maps and data.
Obtain Exploration License(exclusive right)
To obtain an exploration license through the Mining Portal, you must be holding a commercial registration as a company for mining activities with a registered capital of at least 100,000 Saudi Riyals.The exploration license gives the investor the right to explore for specifiers minerals in the specified area through surface mining and geophysical/geochemical analysis.
License Duration:
For Classes A & B the license is issued for up to 15 years, with a maximum 5-year initial term plus one or more 5-year renewal periods. For Class C, the duration is 1 year, and it cannot be renewed.
License requirements:
- Environmental Impact Management Plan
- A plan to manage the social impact of activities, the plan should also determine the contributinon to the development of local communities
- Commitment to the minimum spending on exploration
- Having Feasibility Study and Financial Solvency
Application Process Duration:
90 days maximum
License cost:
- Application fee is SAR 5,000
- Issuance fee is SAR 5,000
- Renewal fee is SAR 5,000
Executing The Exploration Programs
The exploration programs will typically include the following:
- Exploration of all metals licensed to you at the licensed site.
- Any means of exploration such as drilling, geophysical and geochemical analysis.
- Estimation of mineral resources in the license area and their economic feasibility for exploitation.
- The exclusive right to obtain an exploitation license within the exploration license, during its validity.
Request a Mining License (exclusive right)
To obtain a mining license, you should have a commercial registration as a mining company with a registered capital of no less than 100 thousand riyals. The mining license gives the investor the right to mine and exploit the specified Classes A & B minerals. In addition, it allows the investor to transfer and sell the exploited minerals along with full operational rights.
License Duration:
- Up to 30 years, covers Class A and Class B minerals, for areas larger than 1 km2.
- Up to 20 years, covers Class A and Class B minerals, for areas less than 1 km2.
License Requirements:
- Study of the Environmental and Social Impacts
- Provide Rehabilitation and Closure Plans
- Feasibility Study
- The license applicant must have technical sufficiency and financial solvency
- Provide Financial Guarantee for rehabilitation and closure
Application Process Duration:
60 days maximum
License Cost:
- Application fee is SAR 10,000
- Issuance fee is SAR 20,000
- Renewal fee is SAR 20,000
Development of the Mine
Development of the Mine
Constructing and building the mine area in addition to the mine plant, including crushers, beneficiation units and conveyer belts to transfer mine ore to the plant.
Production and Ore Processing
Production and exploitation of the minerals specified in the license by drilling, polishing, concentration, smelting and processing. The processed metals may be transported/sold in their original condition or after purification.
Site Rehabilitation
You must obtain the approval of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for the rehabilitation according to the approved plan. The rehabilitation process shall include:
- Minimizing Environmental Impact
- Ensuring Public Health and Safety
- Maintaining Water Quality
- Removing Waste and Hazardous Materials
- Preserving the Site and Protecting it from Collapse