Published : 15 Sep 2026, 04:24 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:50 AM
Saudi Arabia has discovered an estimated 110 million tonnes of ore containing rare earth minerals and uranium in the Madinah region.
Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced the discovery at the 70th Regular Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference on Tuesday, reports Arab News.
Exploration and geological studies at Jabal Sayid found high concentrations of rare earth elements, particularly heavy elements, alongside promising uranium concentrations, the minister said.
The disclosure comes months after Washington and Riyadh formalised civil nuclear cooperation through a deal signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Prince Abdulaziz on Jul 22.
The US Department of Energy said the agreements provide the legal basis for a decades-long, multibillion-dollar partnership and give US companies greater access to Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear energy programme.
Momentum From US Visit
Prince Abdulaziz said the push gained momentum after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the US in November 2025, when the two countries expanded cooperation on critical minerals and supply chains.
The effort included a partnership between Saudi state miner Maaden and US firm MP Materials.
That visit produced a Strategic Framework for Cooperation on critical minerals, metals and uranium. Under the framework, the US Department of Defense agreed to finance 49 percent of a new rare earth processing plant in Saudi Arabia, while Maaden would hold a controlling 51 percent stake alongside MP Materials.
MP Materials currently operates the only rare earth mine and processing plant in the US.
Jabal Sayid's Global Ranking
Jabal Sayid, about 350km northeast of Jeddah in the Madinah region, is already known to contain one of the world’s most valuable rare earth deposits.
An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, citing estimates from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and state miner Maaden, puts the site fourth globally.
It estimates about 552,000 tonnes of heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium, along with another 355,000 tonnes of light rare earths including neodymium and praseodymium.
The analysis estimates the co-located uranium resource at about 31,000 tonnes.
It says the combination could position Saudi Arabia to develop its own nuclear fuel cycle while potentially exporting material to the US.
Separately, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the value of the country’s rare earth discoveries reached $100 billion in November last year, up 90 percent from 2018.
Saudi Geological Survey studies have identified two advanced-stage exploration areas with an estimated 644 million tonnes of resources.
