Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources Extends Pre‑Qualification Questionnaire for 11th Exploration Tender Round Across Eight Sites to July 31
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM) has extended the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) for companies interested in participating in its 11th exploration tender license, offering eight mineral-rich exploration sites covering more than 1,878 km².
Companies interested in participating are required to register on the Ta’adeen online bidding platform to access and complete the PQQ through the following link: https://bidding.taadeen.sa.
The tender round presents investment opportunities for local and international investors to explore gold, silver, copper, zinc, iron, and nickel across prospective locations in Riyadh, Hail, and Aseer regions, including Ashab adh Dhaib, Jabal Minyah, Al Khashbi, Wadi Khiyam, Jabal Mikhyat, Al Kushaymiyah, Dilan Sumar Al Har (Jabal Aqab), and Jabal Idsas.
In response to requests from investors raised during the Fifth Future Minerals Forum, the ministry has extended the PQQ submission deadline until July 31, noting that investors can review the technical data and bidding documents through the Ta’adeen digital platform, designed to enhance procedural efficiency and ensure a transparent bidding process.
The licensing round process is fully automated, transparent, and fair for all investors, and consists of three main phases: the prequalification phase, where companies demonstrate their technical capability and financial solvency; site selection through the electronic competition platform, where qualified companies choose from available areas via a grid-based GIS system; and lastly, the multi-round live auction, in which companies compete based on exploration spending commitments for contested sites for the first two years.
This package represents the outcomes of the Accelerated Exploration Program, conducted in collaboration with the ministry and the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), aimed at accelerating exploration activities in the Kingdom and attracting local and global mining exploration companies.
Fieldwork conducted across the sites includes 6,447 surface samples, 8,825 trench samples, 26,229 down-hole samples, and more than 22,767 m of drilling, providing integrated geological and technical data that enhances the readiness of these sites for mining investment.
This announcement comes as Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its position as an attractive global mining investment destination. The Kingdom ranked 10th globally in the Investment Attractiveness Index in the Fraser Institute’s 2025 Annual Survey of Mining Companies, after climbing 13 places from 23rd in 2024 to 10th in 2025, reflecting growing investor confidence in the regulatory and legislative environment of Saudi Arabia’s mining sector.
