Saudi Arabia announces 110 million tons of uranium-bearing ore at Jabal Said
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Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced the discovery of 110 million tons of uranium-bearing ore at the Jabal Said project in Medina. The announcement was made Monday at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna. The deposit also holds high concentrations of heavy rare earth elements, including dysprosium and terbium.
Key Facts
- The Jabal Said deposit in Medina contains an estimated 110 million tons of ore with high concentrations of rare earth minerals and promising uranium concentrations.
- The deposit is ranked fourth globally in heavy rare earth reserves, with about 552,000 tons of heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium, and 355,000 tons of light rare earth elements including neodymium and praseodymium.
- Saudi company Ma'aden and US-based MP Materials agreed to cooperate on rare earth processing and separation, with uranium extraction as a byproduct.
- The US Department of Defense agreed to finance 49% of a new rare earth processing plant in Saudi Arabia following Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the US in November 2025.
- Saudi Arabia and the United States signed a 30-year civil nuclear cooperation agreement in July, which includes studying the possibility of US companies building a uranium enrichment facility in the kingdom.
The Jabal Said Discovery
Exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Said project in Medina revealed ore reserves estimated at approximately 110 million tons. The ore contains high concentrations of rare earth minerals, especially heavy elements, as well as promising uranium concentrations. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stated that the project ranks among the most significant rare earth mineral resources currently being developed worldwide. The exact quantity of uranium and its precise concentration were not disclosed in the announcement.
Rare Earth Reserves
The Jabal Said deposit is already known to contain one of the world's most valuable rare earth element deposits. According to the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the deposit ranks fourth globally in reserves. It holds approximately 552,000 tons of heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium. The deposit also contains 355,000 tons of light rare earth elements including neodymium and praseodymium.
US-Saudi Nuclear Cooperation
The discovery was announced after the signing of a 30-year civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia in July. The agreement provides the kingdom with access to American nuclear technology and allows US companies to participate in major Saudi nuclear energy projects. The Wall Street Journal reported that the agreement includes studying the possibility of US companies building a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia. Cooperation intensified after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the US in November 2025, when the US Department of Defense agreed to finance 49% of a new rare earth processing plant in the kingdom.
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