Under the patronage of the King.. Riyadh hosts the “International Mining Conference 2026”
:tagteyat- dpa
Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the fifth edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) from January 13 to 15, 2026, in Riyadh. Organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the event will be held under the theme “Minerals: Confronting Challenges for a New Era of Development.”
His Excellency Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, expressed his gratitude to King Salman for his continued support of the Forum, and to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister, for his constant empowerment and backing. He emphasized that the fifth edition will further cement Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in shaping the future of the mining and minerals sector and as a premier platform for advancing responsible supply chains.
Over the past four years, the Forum has proven itself as a catalyst for addressing the most pressing challenges facing the global mining sector, attracting investments, and ensuring the availability of responsibly sourced minerals. The Kingdom has emerged as a key player in international efforts related to the future of minerals.
AlKhorayef noted that FMF serves as a global call to action, uniting stakeholders to secure the minerals essential for a new era of global growth, prosperity, and stability — particularly for mineral-producing countries. The theme of the 2026 edition reflects a growing worldwide recognition of the vital role of minerals, not only in industries but in advancing humanity as a whole.
The 2026 Forum will gather governments, mining companies, financial institutions, and global organizations to strengthen dialogue on the future of minerals. It will focus on three strategic pillars aimed at transforming challenges into effective regional and international opportunities:
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Innovative Infrastructure Financing Models — enabling the activation of seven key mineral corridors across Africa and South America, with potential expansion to other regions.
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Capacity Building in Mineral-Producing Nations — through the creation of a global network of Centers of Excellence specializing in geology, innovation, sustainability, talent development, and regulatory frameworks.
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Enhancing Transparency Across Supply Chains — launching a pilot supply chain tracking system with potential for global adoption.
Alongside the Forum, the International Ministerial Mining Roundtable will continue to serve as the largest multilateral governmental platform in the mining sector. In its 2025 edition, 90 countries participated — including 16 G20 members — alongside 50 international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across the “Super Mining Region” spanning Africa, West and Central Asia, and other mining hubs.
These discussions resulted in several landmark initiatives, including:
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An international framework for critical minerals to build resilient global supply chains.
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A sustainability framework reflecting the aspirations of mineral-producing nations.
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A certification-backed tracking system for supply chains.
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A regional network of Centers of Excellence from Africa to West and Central Asia.
The 2025 Forum attracted 18,000 participants from 165 countries, including mining industry leaders, CEOs, experts, and technology specialists. The conference hosted 96 sessions with 405 speakers, including ministers, ambassadors, and heads of delegations.
The previous edition also witnessed the signing of 126 agreements and memorandums of understanding worth SAR 107 billion ($28.5 billion), covering exploration, mining, financing, R&D, innovation, sustainability, value-added chains, and mining industries. Four strategic projects were announced:
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A joint venture between Aramco and Ma’aden to explore critical minerals for the energy transition.
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New discoveries by Ma’aden, including potential expansion of the Mansourah-Massarah gold mine and deposits at Wadi Al-Jaw and Sheeban.
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Hadeed’s full acquisition of Al Rajhi Steel Industries with SAR 25 billion investment plans to meet giga-project demands.
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Chinese steel giant Baosteel’s announcement of its first fully integrated steel plant outside China, in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Aramco and the Public Investment Fund.
The accompanying international exhibition featured over 170 exhibitors from across the mining value chain, along with national pavilions from Australia, Austria, Sweden, the UK, Egypt, India, and Pakistan.
Previous editions have hosted top executives from global mining leaders including BHP, Ivanhoe Mines, Rio Tinto, Ma’aden, Zijin, and Barrick Gold, underscoring the Forum’s status as a premier meeting place for the mining elite.
For more information and registration, visit: www.futuremineralsforum.com
