Maaden and Aramco Unite to Explore Saudi Arabia's Mineral Riches

Saudi state-owned mining company Maaden is expanding its efforts to survey the country's mineral resources, teaming up with oil giant Aramco in a joint venture. The partnership will leverage Aramco's geospatial data and Maaden's expertise in mining to explore nearly one-tenth of Saudi Arabia's land.

The joint venture was first announced in January 2025 and is expected to be owned 51% by Maaden and 49% by Aramco. This move comes as companies flock to search for mineral resources in the kingdom, with over 225 exploration firms registered by 2024, up from just six in 2020.

Saudi Arabia estimates it has $2.5 trillion worth of mineral resources, but extracting and making them commercially available will be a long process.