Geological studies and exploration at the Jabal Sayid project in Madinah found high concentrations of rare earth elements, particularly heavy rare earths, alongside promising uranium concentrations.

The 110 million-tonne figure refers to the estimated amount of ore, rather than 110 million tonnes of pure uranium. The kingdom has not disclosed the uranium grade or the amount that could ultimately be recovered, meaning the commercial value and economically recoverable resource remain to be established.

Mining ambitions
The discovery comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to develop its mineral resources as part of its “Vision 2030” economic diversification programme.

The Kingdom has been investing heavily in geological exploration and seeking international investment in mining, with critical minerals becoming an increasingly important part of its strategy to reduce dependence on oil.

The presence of heavy rare earth elements adds to the significance of the Jabal Sayid discovery.

A range of advanced technologies, including permanent magnets, electric vehicles, electronics, renewable-energy equipment, and other high-technology applications, utilise rare earths.

Saudi Arabia has identified mining as one of the sectors capable of creating new sources of economic growth and attracting investment as the Kingdom expands its non-oil economy.

Prince Abdulaziz said the discovery formed part of wider efforts to attract investment into the Kingdom’s energy and mining sectors.

Nuclear ambitions
The uranium discovery also comes at a significant moment for Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear plans.

Riyadh has been seeking to establish a domestic nuclear energy industry as it looks to diversify its electricity generation and reduce reliance on hydrocarbons. The newly identified resource could eventually provide a domestic source of uranium for a nuclear fuel cycle, although substantial exploration, development and processing would be required before that becomes possible.

The announcement follows a civil nuclear cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United States signed in July 2026. The agreement provides a framework for American participation in developing the Kingdom’s civilian nuclear programme and comes as Riyadh seeks greater control over its nuclear fuel capabilities.

The discovery is therefore likely to attract attention beyond the mining industry, particularly because uranium enrichment remains one of the most sensitive aspects of civilian nuclear technology.

Saudi Arabia has maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful and has said it intends to work transparently with international institutions. At the IAEA conference, Prince Abdulaziz said Riyadh was not seeking to develop its peaceful nuclear programme in isolation from the international community.

Strategic minerals
The discovery could also strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional supplier of critical minerals.

Heavy rare earth elements are particularly important due to their concentrated supplies in a limited number of countries. Governments around the world are seeking alternative sources as competition over critical-mineral supply chains intensifies.

For Saudi Arabia, developing such resources would complement its substantial investments in energy, infrastructure and industrial capacity.

The kingdom has already sought to attract international mining companies and investors to its mineral sector, positioning the Arabian Shield and other geological areas as potential sources of metals and minerals.

The Jabal Sayid resource could consequently become part of a wider effort to establish domestic processing and value chains rather than simply exporting raw materials.

Global implications
The announcement also comes amid heightened geopolitical and energy-security concerns across the Middle East.

Developing domestic uranium resources could give Saudi Arabia greater control over a strategic component of its future nuclear programme, while rare earth resources could support its ambitions in advanced manufacturing and technology.

However, the discovery should not be interpreted as an immediate addition to the global uranium supply. The grade of the resource, extraction costs, processing requirements and regulatory approvals will determine whether the deposit can be developed commercially.

For now, the announcement provides evidence of the scale of Saudi Arabia’s geological potential and underscores the kingdom’s broader push to build an economy that extends beyond oil.

If further studies confirm the resource and establish commercially viable extraction, Jabal Sayid could become an important component of Saudi Arabia’s mining and nuclear strategies — giving the kingdom another strategic asset as it pursues its long-term economic diversification plans.