Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has officially announced that the sixth edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) will take place in Riyadh from 12–14 January 2027 under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Centered around the theme “Global Collaboration for Resilient Mineral Supply,” the landmark gathering aims to drive cross-border partnerships, secure crucial supply chains, and unlock investment across major emerging mining frontiers.
The announcement underlines the rapid evolution of the FMF from a regional summit into a central platform for the global mining economy. FMF 2027 will focus heavily on mobilizing capital, accelerating project timelines, and shortening the window to active production. By addressing bottleneck issues in mineral supply, the forum seeks to strengthen value chains both within Saudi Arabia and across the broader “Super Region”—an expansive belt spanning Africa, West and Central Asia, and Latin America.
The scale of the event reflects the Kingdom’s growing influence in the global resources landscape. The previous fifth edition, convened in January 2026, drew government representatives from 91 countries, 64 international organizations, and over 21,500 participants. That edition yielded 132 commercial agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) valued at more than $26.7 billion (SAR 100 billion), bringing the cumulative deal value across all five past editions to an impressive $75.2 billion (SAR 282 billion) across 398 agreements.
“The Future Minerals Forum has moved the global conversation on critical minerals from ambition to actionable investment, concrete partnerships, and ground-level projects,” said His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources. “FMF 2027 will serve as a global call to action to diversify supply, build modern mining capabilities, and establish a resilient, sustainable minerals ecosystem capable of powering future industries.”
The upcoming forum will feature an expanded programmatic lineup, anchored by its signature government-led Ministerial Roundtable bringing together ministers, institutional investors, and industrial CEOs. FMF 2027 will also expand its ‘Gateway to Funding’ platform to directly match institutional capital with scalable exploration and production projects, alongside dedicated ‘State of the Sector’ market intelligence sessions, Leadership Roundtables, and technical Knowledge Exchange forums.
Saudi Arabia’s domestic mining sector has undergone a dramatic transformation alongside the forum’s rise, spurred by the country’s Comprehensive Mining and Mineral Industries Strategy. National exploration expenditures surged from $54.7 million (SAR 205 million) in 2020 to $362.7 million (SAR 1.36 billion) in 2025, while the number of active exploration companies operating in the Kingdom expanded from six to 191 over the same period.
The sector’s strategic momentum was further highlighted by recent geological discoveries, including findings at the Jabal Sayid Rare Earth Elements Project in the Madinah Region. Exploration studies at the site revealed estimated resources of 114 million tons of ore featuring high concentrations of critical rare earth elements, particularly heavy rare earths essential for advanced technologies and energy transitions. As Riyadh prepares to host the global mining community in 2027, the Kingdom continues to leverage its strategic geography, capital, and resource potential to reshape global supply chain dynamics.
