The Future Minerals Forum (FMF) will be taking place this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, showcasing the world’s largest ministerial roundtable on minerals.
Over 100 government representatives and more than 70 international organisations, industry associations, NGOs, and mining executives will discuss increasing funding for infrastructure and the role of mining in global development.
The ministerial roundtable will focus on a central theme ‘Minerals for a New Era of Development’. It intends to set the agenda through several initiatives, including developing an international critical minerals framework, centres of excellence for capacity building, setting sustainability expectations, and an infrastructure corridor.
FMF is focused on establishing fully integrated value chains to position the ‘super region’ – which describes 80 countries spanning Africa, Central and Western Asia, as well as Latin America – as a leader in critical minerals.
The goal of the critical minerals framework is to help suppliers and less developed countries prepare themselves to attract investment in mine development and local value creation.
FMF is also creating a coordinated network of centres to provide specialised knowledge and resources to empower the super region. Three hubs are being established for less developed countries to partner with and meet their needs.
On the sustainability front, a framework has been developed that aims to position supplier countries as ‘“rule shapers rather than rule takers”. The framework is based on four priorities – development, collaboration, capacity, and performance.
FMF’s ministerial roundtable is also focusing on conversations with the World Bank on seven infrastructure corridors, five across Africa and two in Latin America, to drive a new era of development in supplier countries and strengthen supply chain resilience.
Dawn of a Global Cause
Over the three-day event, FMF 2026 will bring decision-makers together around a common cause, heralding a new era of mineral production for global development and job creation for young people across supplier and customer countries.
There are several inaugural conversations being led throughout the event, including a State of the Sector, in partnership with McKinsey, which will unpack the Future Minerals Barometer Report. The report tracks sector trends, leadership sentiment, mineral outlooks, country performance, and the industry’s reputation.
An inaugural Gateway to Funding engagement stream, in partnership with BMO, will also be featured during the event – connecting family businesses and institutional investors with international mining companies seeking growth capital.
Other inaugural conversations include a MinGen workshop for young professionals and women in mining, and MinValley Tech and Innovation which explores venture capital, startup pitches, and artificial intelligence deployment.
Marking its fifth year, FMF 2026’s theme ‘Dawn of a Global Cause’ aims to progress Riyadh’s innovation, strengthen global cooperation through regional forums while also strengthening existing ones, and campaign to build a new narrative on minerals.
Previously speaking Mining.com.au late last year, FMF Director of Strategy and Content Aldo Pennini says “in essence, the theme is a call to create a global movement built around minerals as a foundation for prosperity and stability”.
This year’s event is expected to increase its attendance from 18,000 in 2025 and 3,500 in 2022.
Pennini says this year’s program has expanded to include more than 160 global speakers, including CEOs of the biggest mining companies.
“Most importantly, 2026 will see delivery of initiatives started in previous years, including the World Bank infrastructure corridors, Centers of Excellence, and the ISO copper traceability standard,” he tells this news service.
FMF, convened by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, is a government-led platform for shaping the future of minerals, promoting collaboration, and addressing the plethora of challenges in the mining and mineral sector.
Launched in 2022, FMF has grown to become a key minerals gathering, bringing together senior government officials, industry leaders, NGOs, academia, trade associations, and other stakeholders across the entire mineral value chain.
Mining.com.au is an official media partner for this year’s Future Minerals Forum and will be on the floor at the event.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Future Minerals Forum
