Saudi Arabia’s massive gold discovery boosts future prospects.
AMAK’s relentless 27,000-meter drilling reflects unwavering human determination.
AMAK has drilled over 27,000 meters since February 2025, pushing forward with determination to unlock valuable mineral resources.
Saudi Arabia’s mining ambitions just received a significant boost after Almasane Alkobra Mining Company (AMAK), one of the Kingdom’s most active and fastest-growing mining operators, announced the identification of nearly 11 million tonnes of potential economic mineral resources in the Najran region. The discovery, revealed through a disclosure on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) and an update shared on AMAK’s official LinkedIn page, marks one of the company’s most promising findings in recent years and underscores Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding mineral exploration landscape.
According to AMAK, the newly identified resources include gold, copper, zinc, and silver ores, placing the Najran exploration site among the more strategically valuable zones in the Kingdom’s mining map. These minerals—particularly gold and copper—hold increasing significance in global markets where demand is being shaped by technology, green-energy transitions, and long-term investment trends.
AMAK received its exploration licence in September 2024, and the company wasted no time moving forward. Exploration work began immediately, followed by an intensive drilling programme launched in February 2025. In less than a year, AMAK has already drilled more than 27,000 meters, even though this represents less than 10 percent of the total licensed area. Early geological assessments indicate strong potential for further discoveries, and the company expects the total resource size to grow substantially as exploration expands.
In an interview with Al Arabiya Business, AMAK’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey MacDonald-Day, expressed confidence in the long-term promise of the site. He emphasized that these early results align closely with AMAK’s broader strategy of strengthening its contribution to the Kingdom’s mining sector, a priority that fits neatly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions.
“We have started exploring only a small part of these resources, and this early progress already confirms that the overall quantities will continue to increase,” he said. “We expect the numbers to reach around 20 million tonnes as exploration continues. This gives strong validation to our investment plans and provides sustainability to our operations in both the near and distant future.”
MacDonald-Day added that as resources grow, AMAK will correspondingly expand its investments, including enhancements to its processing facilities. Increased production capacity, he explained, will be essential for maximizing the value of the newly discovered mineral zones and ensuring the company remains competitive in a fast-evolving global market. Only a fraction of the licensed area has been excavated so far, leaving significant room for deeper development, broader resource mapping, and discovery of new deposits.
One of the advantages of the exploration site is its proximity to AMAK’s existing processing complex, located roughly 100 kilometers away. This distance, the company notes, will allow for more efficient use of infrastructure and smoother integration of new production streams into AMAK’s operations. Having nearby facilities also reduces transportation costs, energy consumption, and logistical complexity—factors that are increasingly important as global mining companies face pressure from rising costs, environmental regulations, and unpredictable commodity price movements.
Despite these global challenges, Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its position as a rising mining hub. An S&P report recently noted that while mining industries around the world are slowing due to cost pressures and regulatory burdens, Saudi Arabia is moving in the opposite direction by firmly placing mining as a core pillar of Vision 2030. Government support, regulatory reforms, and accelerated licensing processes have helped attract investment and encourage companies like AMAK to ramp up exploration efforts.
Adding to the momentum, AMAK announced on Sunday, November 30, that it has secured a 10-year mining exploitation licence for the Katina site in Najran. Covering 9.84 square kilometers, the new licence focuses on the extraction of gold ore, further strengthening AMAK’s portfolio and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s goals of increasing mineral production and building a more diversified economy.
Looking ahead, AMAK plans to conduct additional drilling and geophysical surveys throughout 2026. A JORC-compliant mineral resources report is expected in the second half of next year, which will provide a more detailed and internationally recognized assessment of the site’s reserves. The company has also begun the process of converting the current exploration licence into a full mining licence, with results anticipated next year.
Founded in 2008 and listed on Tadawul, AMAK has steadily earned a reputation as one of Saudi Arabia’s most influential mining players. Its latest discovery in Najran stands as another milestone in both the company’s journey and the Kingdom’s broader mission to position mining as a sustainable, high-impact engine of economic growth.