Saudi Arabia has announced a major mineral discovery in the Madinah region, where geological studies have identified an estimated 110 million tonnes of ore containing rare earth elements and promising concentrations of uranium.
The discovery was made at the Jabal Sayid project and was announced by Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman during the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna.
The finding could support Saudi Arabia’s growing focus on mining, critical minerals and civilian nuclear energy as the Kingdom works to diversify its energy resources.
What Was Discovered in Madinah?
Exploration and geological studies at Jabal Sayid identified approximately 110 million tonnes of mineral ore.
According to the Saudi energy minister, the resource contains high concentrations of rare earth elements, particularly heavy rare earth elements, along with promising concentrations of uranium.
An important distinction is that the figure does not mean Saudi Arabia has discovered 110 million tonnes of uranium. Instead, it refers to the total estimated quantity of ore containing rare earth minerals and uranium concentrations.
The exact amount of recoverable uranium contained in the resource has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Why Is the Jabal Sayid Discovery Important?
Rare earth elements are important raw materials used across a wide range of modern industries and technologies.
The presence of both heavy rare earth elements and uranium makes the Jabal Sayid discovery particularly notable for Saudi Arabia’s long-term mineral and energy plans.
Prince Abdulaziz said the findings position Jabal Sayid among the significant rare earth mineral resource sites currently under development worldwide.
Further exploration and technical studies will be important in determining how much of these resources can eventually be extracted and processed economically.
Saudi Arabia Continues Exploring Uranium Resources
The Saudi Arabia uranium discovery comes as the Kingdom continues exploring its domestic uranium resources.
Saudi Arabia has been studying conventional uranium deposits as well as other possible sources. One area being examined is the recovery of uranium associated with the phosphate fertilizer industry.
Developing domestic uranium resources could eventually support Saudi Arabia’s plans to build capabilities related to nuclear fuel and civilian nuclear power.
However, identifying uranium-bearing ore is only one stage of the process. Additional geological assessment, processing studies and development work are required before a mineral resource can be turned into commercial production.
Rare Earth Minerals Could Support Saudi Arabia’s Mining Sector
The discovery is also significant beyond uranium.
Rare earth elements are used in technologies ranging from electronics and advanced manufacturing to energy systems and high-performance industrial equipment.
Saudi Arabia has been expanding investment in mining as part of its broader effort to diversify the economy and develop industries beyond traditional oil production.
The Jabal Sayid findings could therefore contribute to both the Kingdom’s critical-minerals strategy and its wider industrial development plans.
Saudi Arabia’s Civilian Nuclear Energy Plans
The announcement also comes as Saudi Arabia expands international cooperation in civilian nuclear energy.
In July 2026, Saudi Arabia and the United States signed agreements establishing a framework for long-term cooperation in civilian nuclear energy.
At the same time, Saudi officials have continued to emphasize the peaceful nature of the Kingdom’s nuclear energy program and cooperation with international partners.
Domestic uranium exploration could become an important part of these plans if future studies confirm that the resources can be economically developed.
What Happens Next?
The discovery at Jabal Sayid represents an important exploration milestone, but several questions remain.
Further studies will be needed to determine the grade and recoverable quantities of uranium and rare earth elements, as well as the technical and economic feasibility of extracting them.
For now, the estimated 110 million tonnes refers to uranium-bearing and rare-earth-containing ore, rather than 110 million tonnes of uranium itself.
As exploration continues, the Jabal Sayid project could play a growing role in Saudi Arabia’s plans to develop its mining industry, critical mineral resources and future civilian nuclear energy capabilities.
