Saudi Arabia’s Maaden Announces Major Gold Resource Expansion with 7.8 Million Ounces Discovered
State-backed miner significantly increases the Kingdom’s gold endowment across four strategic sites, underscoring exploration success
Saudi Arabian Mining Company, widely known as Maaden, has revealed that its latest exploration campaigns have added approximately 7.8 million ounces of gold resources across four key sites in the Kingdom, marking one of the most substantial increases in recent years.
The expansion stems from targeted drilling campaigns that initially indicated more than nine million ounces before standard annual reporting adjustments were applied.
The new additions span operational mines, early-stage prospects and recent discoveries, broadening Saudi Arabia’s mineral base and reinforcing its position in global mining.
The largest contribution to the resource increase came from the Mansourah-Massarah mine, which posted a net year-on-year growth of three million ounces.
The Uruq 20/21 and Umm As Salam areas together added about 1.67 million ounces, while the newly defined resource at Wadi Al Jaww alone accounted for around 3.08 million ounces of gold.
Advanced drilling in the Central Arabian Gold Region also identified additional mineralised zones, and near-mine work at the historic Mahd gold site extended known mineralisation, potentially enhancing the long-term outlook for existing operations.
Bob Wilt, Chief Executive Officer of Maaden, said the results validate the company’s long-term growth strategy and demonstrate the scale and consistency of its exploration pipeline.
He described the resource additions as direct support for future cash generation and a testament to the Kingdom’s abundant mineral potential.
Maaden’s 2026 exploration programme also highlighted early successes in base metals, with initial drilling at Jabal Shayban and Jabal Al Wakil revealing promising copper, nickel and platinum group element mineralisation that suggests broader multi-commodity opportunities.
The announcement comes amid Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to diversify its economy under Vision 2030, with mining emerging as a strategic sector for growth beyond oil.
Maaden’s strengthened resource base is expected to underpin future development decisions, extend operational horizons, and attract further investment into the Kingdom’s mining industry, positioning Saudi Arabia as a major player in global mineral supply.
The expansion stems from targeted drilling campaigns that initially indicated more than nine million ounces before standard annual reporting adjustments were applied.
The new additions span operational mines, early-stage prospects and recent discoveries, broadening Saudi Arabia’s mineral base and reinforcing its position in global mining.
The largest contribution to the resource increase came from the Mansourah-Massarah mine, which posted a net year-on-year growth of three million ounces.
The Uruq 20/21 and Umm As Salam areas together added about 1.67 million ounces, while the newly defined resource at Wadi Al Jaww alone accounted for around 3.08 million ounces of gold.
Advanced drilling in the Central Arabian Gold Region also identified additional mineralised zones, and near-mine work at the historic Mahd gold site extended known mineralisation, potentially enhancing the long-term outlook for existing operations.
Bob Wilt, Chief Executive Officer of Maaden, said the results validate the company’s long-term growth strategy and demonstrate the scale and consistency of its exploration pipeline.
He described the resource additions as direct support for future cash generation and a testament to the Kingdom’s abundant mineral potential.
Maaden’s 2026 exploration programme also highlighted early successes in base metals, with initial drilling at Jabal Shayban and Jabal Al Wakil revealing promising copper, nickel and platinum group element mineralisation that suggests broader multi-commodity opportunities.
The announcement comes amid Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to diversify its economy under Vision 2030, with mining emerging as a strategic sector for growth beyond oil.
Maaden’s strengthened resource base is expected to underpin future development decisions, extend operational horizons, and attract further investment into the Kingdom’s mining industry, positioning Saudi Arabia as a major player in global mineral supply.
