Massive Uranium Ore Find
Saudi Arabia Reports Massive 110-Million-Ton Uranium Ore Find in Madinah Region
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Key Points
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Saudi Arabia is also pursuing uranium recovery as a byproduct of its phosphate-fertilizer industry; the kingdom is the world’s second-largest exporter of phosphate fertilizers.
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The Jabal Sayid area lies within the mineral-rich Arabian Shield and is already known for deposits of copper, gold and other minerals, including uranium.
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Earlier geological surveys, including work conducted with China, estimated Saudi Arabia’s uranium resources at roughly 60,000 to 90,000 tonnes; the new discovery adds to those estimates but does not establish a commercially recoverable quantity.
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Prince Abdulaziz said Saudi Arabia is developing its nuclear program within international frameworks and not secretly or “in the depths of mountains,” signaling the kingdom’s effort to address concerns about transparency and safeguards.
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Beyond nuclear fuel, uranium has applications in medical-isotope production for cancer treatment and diagnostic imaging, naval propulsion and research reactors; commercial nuclear fuel is generally enriched to about 5 percent for power generation.
Saudi Arabia has identified an estimated 110 million tonnes of uranium-bearing ore containing high concentrations of rare earth elements at the Jabal Sayid project in the Madinah region, Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced at the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference in Vienna on September 14. The discovery marks a major milestone for the kingdom's Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, which aims to build a third pillar of the economy through mining and reduce reliance on crude oil.
The find also strengthens Saudi Arabia's emerging civilian nuclear program, which is being developed through partnerships with the United States and France. However, experts caution that the 110 million tonnes represents raw ore volume, not commercially extractable uranium or rare earth metals. The actual amount that can be profitably recovered remains unclear because the kingdom has not disclosed the uranium grade at the site.
A Resource That Reshapes Saudi Mining Strategy
Jabal Sayid lies in the mineral-rich Arabian Shield, 350 kilometers northeast of Jeddah. The area already hosts an operational underground copper mine run jointly by Saudi state miner Ma'aden and Canada's Barrick Mining. Earlier geological surveys, including work conducted with China, estimated Saudi uranium resources at roughly 60,000 to 90,000 tonnes. The new discovery adds substantially to those estimates and signals the kingdom's shift toward becoming a global critical minerals hub.
Uranium Extraction From Phosphate Fertilizer Operations
Saudi Arabia is pursuing uranium recovery as a byproduct of its massive phosphate-fertilizer industry. The kingdom is the world's second-largest exporter of phosphate fertilizers, which makes it an ideal candidate to extract uranium during processing. French nuclear company Orano is collaborating with Saudi Arabia on uranium extraction feasibility from both phosphate and ore operations, expanding recovery pathways beyond direct mining.
A Civilian Nuclear Program Built on International Partnership
Prince Abdulaziz stated that Saudi Arabia is developing its nuclear program within international frameworks and not secretly or "in the depths of mountains," signaling the kingdom's commitment to transparency and non-proliferation safeguards. On July 22, 2026, the U.S. Energy Secretary and Saudi Energy Minister formalized a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. The U.S. Department of Energy noted that bilateral agreements provide the legal foundation for a "decades-long, multibillion-dollar partnership."
The kingdom signed a Strategic Framework for Cooperation on critical minerals with the United States in November 2025, establishing a partnership between Ma'aden and U.S. firm MP Materials backed by 49 percent U.S. Department of Defense financing. Beyond nuclear fuel, uranium supports medical-isotope production for cancer treatment, diagnostic imaging, naval propulsion, and research reactors. Commercial nuclear power plants typically use uranium enriched to about 5 percent for power generation.
Global Competition for Critical Minerals Heating Up
The Jabal Sayid discovery arrives amid intensifying U.S.-China competition for rare earth supplies. CSIS analysis ranks Jabal Sayid's rare earth potential as the 4th most valuable globally, with the site rich in heavy rare earths like dysprosium and terbium that are essential for defense, renewable energy, and electronics. Geopolitical analysts frame the announcement as a milestone in the critical-minerals race, with Saudi Arabia positioning itself as a central refining hub. The kingdom's plans to accelerate domestic rare earth processing plants and uranium recovery will reshape global supply chains over the coming decade.
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