Saudi Arabia Discovers 110 Million Tonnes of Rare Earth and Uranium Ore in Madinah
Saudi Arabia has discovered an estimated 110 million tonnes of ore containing high concentrations of rare earth minerals and promising quantities of uranium in the Madinah region, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has announced.
The discovery was revealed at the 70th Regular Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference and follows exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project in Madinah.
Prince Abdulaziz said the deposits contain particularly high concentrations of heavy rare earth elements, along with promising concentrations of uranium.
“Exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project in Madinah have revealed estimated resources of around 110 million tonnes of ore with high concentrations of rare earth minerals, especially the heavy elements, alongside promising concentrations of uranium,” he said.
The announcement comes months after Saudi Arabia and the United States formalized a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. The agreement was signed on July 22 by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Prince Abdulaziz.
According to the US Department of Energy, the agreements establish the legal foundation for a decades-long, multibillion-dollar partnership and are expected to provide US companies with greater access to Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear energy program.
Saudi Arabia has also accelerated efforts to develop its critical minerals and nuclear sectors following Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the United States in November 2025.
During the visit, Saudi Arabia and the US strengthened cooperation on critical minerals, metals and uranium. The two countries also established a strategic framework for cooperation in the sector.
Under the framework, the US Department of Defense agreed to finance 49% of a new rare earth processing plant in Saudi Arabia. State-owned mining company Maaden is expected to hold a controlling 51% stake, with US-based MP Materials also involved in the project.
Located about 350 kilometers northeast of Jeddah, Jabal Sayid is considered one of Saudi Arabia’s strategically important rare earth prospects. Estimates cited by the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicate the site could rank among the world’s largest deposits.
The estimates include about 552,000 tonnes of heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium, along with approximately 355,000 tonnes of light rare earth elements, including neodymium and praseodymium. The site is also estimated to contain around 31,000 tonnes of uranium.
The combination of rare earth and uranium resources could strengthen Saudi Arabia’s plans to develop a domestic nuclear fuel cycle while expanding its role in global critical mineral supply chains.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly focused on developing its critical minerals sector as part of efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil. Geological surveys have identified hundreds of millions of tonnes of mineral resources in advanced-stage exploration areas across the Kingdom.
