Saudi Arabia strikes gold: Massive 7.8 million ounces discovered across four sites

Saudi Arabia has announced the discovery of 7.8 million ounces of gold across four sites within the Kingdom, marking one of the most significant resource additions in its modern mining history and underscoring the scale of untapped mineral wealth in the Arabian Shield.

The new resources were identified by Maaden, the state-backed miner, following an extensive drilling campaign spanning operating mines, early-stage prospects and entirely new discoveries across the country. The findings were disclosed on 12 January 2026, with Maaden describing the programme as among the largest exploration efforts conducted within a single jurisdiction.


In a statement, the company said drilling activities initially defined more than nine million ounces of gold, before standard annual reporting adjustments, including revised cost and commodity price assumptions, resulted in net additions of 7.8 million ounces to Saudi Arabia’s gold resources.

The most substantial increase came from Maaden’s flagship Mansourah Massarah operation, where targeted drilling delivered a net year-on-year increase of three million ounces. Additional exploration at the Uruq 20/21 and Umm As Salam prospects contributed a combined 1.67 million ounces, while Wadi Al Jaww delivered a maiden Mineral Resource of an estimated 3.8 million ounces.

Maaden said advanced drilling across the Central Arabian Gold Region identified multiple new mineralised zones, while near-mine drilling at the historic Mahd gold mine has expanded the known resource envelope. The company said the expanded footprint will now be assessed for a potential extension of the mine’s operational life.

Chief executive Bob Wilt said the results validate Maaden’s long-term exploration strategy and justify continued investment in domestic gold resources.

“The results leave no doubt that the company’s long-term strategy is working on the ground. This is exactly why we continue to invest heavily in Saudi Arabia’s gold endowment,” Wilt said.

“The addition of more than seven million ounces through drilling across the four areas demonstrates the scale and ongoing potential of Maaden’s gold portfolio, and it continues to deliver as we advance exploration and mine development.”

He added that the growth directly supports future cash generation and shows the company remains at an early stage of unlocking the Arabian Shield’s gold potential.

Maaden also highlighted progress beyond gold. Early-stage drilling at Jabal Shayban and Jabal Al Wakil identified copper, nickel and platinum group element mineralisation, which the company said is consistent with large-scale mineral systems and supports its ambition to build a diversified, multi-commodity portfolio.

At Mansourah Massarah, the latest Mineral Resource estimate now stands at 116 million tonnes grading 2.8 grams per tonne, equating to 10.4 million ounces of gold. Extension and conversion drilling defined an additional 4.2 million ounces, reinforcing the mine’s long-life potential with both open-pit and underground opportunities. Maaden confirmed that mineralisation remains open at depth and that drilling will continue through 2026, with expectations of further growth as the system becomes better understood.

Taken together, the discoveries mark a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s drive to expand its mining sector as part of broader economic diversification, positioning gold, alongside emerging base metals, as a central pillar of that strategy.