The fourth Future Minerals Forum (FMF) concluded with a record-breaking $28.5 billion in agreements signed. Hosted in Riyadh, the event attracted more than 15,000 participants from over 80 countries, highlighting it's role in the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy.
In an exclusive interview with Mining Magazine, Abdulrahman AlBelushi, deputy minister for Mining Enablement at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry & Mineral Resources, reflected on the Forum's evolution. "The event is now more of a cause—a movement—rather than just a forum," AlBelushi said. "We've seen a diversity of attendance with more than 250 speakers, 80-85% of whom are CEOs or above, and international associations represented by over 40 organizations, up from just six in the Forum's first edition."
A central theme of FMF 2025 was Saudi Arabia's role in the emerging "super region," a transcontinental hub linking Africa, the Middle East, and Central/South Asia to leverage their collective strengths in mining. Initiatives discussed during the ministerial roundtable included a critical minerals framework, a growing network of 12 centres of excellence, and sustainability efforts to ensure traceable, environmentally responsible products.
The Kingdom's appeal as a mining destination was stressed through investments in data, land, and financing. AlBelushi detailed Saudi Arabia's efforts, such as a $1 billion investment in exploration over the past five years and the availability of 50,000 sq.km of exploration land in 2025.
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Watch the full interview here:
