The Australian Saudi Business Council and Forum (ASBC/F) will support a series of Australian envoys this year including a business delegation heading to next week’s Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Convened by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, FMF is poised to mark a new record of scale and participation in 2026 with more than 20,000 attendees expected to descend on Saudi Arabia’s capital, up from 18,000 in 2025 and 3,500 in 2022.
Mining.com.au is an official media partner this year and will be on the floor, bringing news and updates all week from 13-15 January.
The ASBC/F, in partnership with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), is seeking to capitalise on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda, which is entering an advanced delivery phase.
ASBC/F says the year ahead presents strong opportunities for Australian businesses across mining, construction, technology, food and agribusiness, financial services, and healthcare.
ASBC/F’s 2026 program is focused on supporting practical market access, strengthening bilateral relationships and aligning Australian capability with Saudi Arabia’s priority growth sectors. Through a combination of targeted delegations, forums and ongoing stakeholder engagement, ASBC/F will continue to provide members with insight, access and meaningful pathways into the Saudi market.
As one of the world’s most influential platforms for mining, minerals, and resource-sector innovation, FMF continues to support Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global hub for minerals exploration, critical minerals investment, and sustainable industrial development under Vision 2030.
Major global opportunity
Saudi Arabia’s mining sector is shifting from a long-term ambition to a near-term investment hot-spot, underpinned by mineral potential estimated at US$2.5 trillion ($3.75 trillion), as reported by the Future Minerals Forum.
Central to the transformation was the 2020 revamp of the nation’s mining investment law, as previously reported, which introduced clear licensing frameworks, tenure security, faster permitting timelines, and globally competitive incentives.
According to FMF, the number of licensed mining companies operating in Saudi Arabia has grown from six in 2019 to more than 150, while exploration expenditure reached SAR$1.33 billion between 2019 and 2023.
Global recognition has also followed, with the Fraser Institute’s 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies ranking Saudi Arabia first globally for political stability and fifth for socio-economic agreements.
The Kingdom is also ranked seventh for environmental regulation and 23rd for investment attractiveness.
Significant deposits of phosphate, gold, bauxite, copper, zinc, rare earth elements, and critical minerals are being mapped and opened to international partnerships. The government is also rolling out major sector-wide investment; fiscal incentives for foreign companies; advanced geological surveys covering 600,000km2; and new regulatory frameworks to support global investors.
Austrade and the Australian Saudi Business Council and Forum say this growing ecosystem presents significant commercial, investment, and partnership opportunities for Australian mining and METS companies.
The conference and exhibition offers direct access to project pipelines, geological insights, regulatory updates, partnership opportunities, and emerging markets across the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia mining corridor.
Australia’s participation through ASBC/F’s delegation further strengthens the growing economic and investment ties between both nations, particularly in critical minerals, mining technology, sustainability solutions, exploration services, and skills development.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: FMF26
