News & Insights

MAADEN’S AR RJUM GOLD MINE MOVES FORWARD WITH AWARD OF FIRST DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 23 October 2025: Maaden (Saudi Arabian Mining Company), one of the world’s fastest-growing mining companies, has awarded a major Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) contract to Bechtel for its Ar Rjum gold mine. The announcement follows Maaden’s Final Investment Decision (FID) on Ar Rjum in August 2025 as part of its plans to double gold production by 2030
Under the SAR 391.1 million (USD 104.3 million) agreement, Bechtel, a trusted global leader in engineering, construction and project management, will provide EPCM services for the construction of mine and processing facilities.
The multi-year agreement will support the development of Saudi Arabia’s newest gold mine at Ar Rjum, located in the Makkah Region, approximately 200 kilometers northeast of Ta’if, Ar Rjum, is projected to produce 3.6 million ounces of gold over a 12-year life of mine period. The project will include an open-pit operation and a state-of-the-art processing facility capable of handling a throughput of eight million tons per annum (Mtpa) of ore.
Bob Wilt, CEO of Maaden, said: “The Ar Rjum Project is a major milestone in Maaden’s journey to strengthen our portfolio. We have ambitious targets for our gold business and Ar Rjum will be a major component of our ability to double production, as well as to grow at pace and continue to build our pipeline of talent to deliver our strategy. We maintain our confidence in the significant opportunity offered by the Kingdom’s mineral endowment and gold will play a key role in unearthing that potential.”
Ailie MacAdam, President, Bechtel Mining & Metals said: “For more than 80 years, Bechtel has helped shape the region’s infrastructure — from landmark projects like Jubail Industrial City to the recent completion of the Riyadh Metro. Our legacy of delivering complex, world-class projects, together with deep mining expertise, positions us to deliver this critical project. In partnership with Maaden — and leveraging Bechtel’s global supply chain of more than 7,000 suppliers along with our strong local partnerships — we’re proud to support a project that advances long-term regional growth and prosperity.”
Maaden’s partnership with Bechtel extends its track record of working with world-class global engineering and mining firms to deliver projects that transform the Kingdom’s resource landscape. Over its expected 12 years of operation, the Ar Rjum project will create lasting economic value, open new opportunities for local suppliers, support nearby communities and help fuel the rapid growth of Saudi Arabia’s mining sector.
MOST RECENT
In a world where food has become as strategic as energy, Saudi Arabia is seizing its next growth opportunity – helping feed the planet. On World Food Day, Hasan Al-Ali, Executive Vice President of Maaden’s Phosphate Business Unit, explains why Maaden is investing to expand its phosphate business – a move set to make Saudi Arabia the second largest phosphate fertilizer exporter in the world and a pillar of global food security.
World Food Day is a reminder that food security is the defining challenge of our time. By 2050, the global population will approach 10 billion people. Farmers will need to grow more food on less land, inconsistent supply chains and under harsher climatic conditions resulting in low crop yields. Fertilizer is the single most important input to make that possible. Phosphate fertilizers areindispensable - they enrich nutrient deficient soils and improve crop production. Without phosphate, the world cannot feed itself.
Saudi Arabia is home to some of the world’s largest phosphate reserves, known for exceptionally low levels of heavy metals. While less recognized than the Kingdom’s gold or energy wealth, phosphate is rapidly gaining strategic importance as food security and fertilizer scarcity rise on the global agenda.
Our country’s phosphate reserve represents both a responsibility and an opportunity: a responsibility to harness it in support of global food security and a powerful business opportunity to transform natural resources into long-term economic value.
Supplying local farmers in Saudi Arabia and around the world, Maaden’s fully integrated and optimized supply chain delivers around 20% of the global phosphate supply, supporting farmers and industries across more than 30 countries, including Brazil, India and Kenya. As demand continues to grow, we’re making a major investment to expand capacity and deliver on an even greater scale.
Maaden’s phosphate operations are anchored by two major industrial hubs: Wa’ad Al Shamal in the north and Ras Al Khair on the Arabian Gulf coast. Wa’ad Al Shamal focuses on mining and processing, while Ras Al Khair manages finishing, storage and export to global markets. The Phosphate 3 mega project is now underway to expand and upgrade both hubs, boosting production capacity by 50% to reach nine million tons annually.
What makes this expansion even more powerful is that it builds on an already fully integrated system. Our phosphate moves from mine to port entirely within the Kingdom, protected from many of the external disruptions that affect global markets, allowing us to deliver consistently and competitively to farmers worldwide, no matter the conditions.
A decade ago, Maaden was not even on the global phosphate map. Today, we produce 6 million tons of phosphate. Tomorrow, with the increase production capacity across our phosphate hubs, we are on track to position Saudi Arabia among the top three phosphate producers and the second-largest exporter worldwide.
This is Vision 2030 in action. Saudi Arabia stands at the forefront of one of humanity’s greatest challenges: securing the world’s food supply. At the same time, the Kingdom is unlocking powerful new ways to grow its own economy. Maaden is turning that vision into reality by transforming natural resources into global solutions and proving that mining isn’t just vital to the Kingdom’s future, but to the world’s.
On this World Food Day my message is clear: Maaden is proud to help feed the world and equally proud to make phosphate central to the Kingdom’s economic transformation and long-term prosperity.

Wednesday 1 October, Silverstone, UK: As part of their ongoing partnership campaign, Unearth Your Greatness, Maaden (Saudi Arabian Mining Company) and Aston Martin Aramco have unveiled a global multi-year youth development initiative.
Unearth Your Greatness aims to celebrate the greatness that comes from the dedication to craft, both within the world of Formula One™ and the Mining Industry. The ambitious programme is designed to inspire and equip young people with the knowledge, skills and hands-on learning experience needed to explore STEM related careers in both industries.
Aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal to modernise education and grow a knowledge-based economy, Maaden’s investment will provide access to resources for both students and teachers, helping to integrate professional learning. The platform will provide greater inclusion in STEM fields to create lasting pathways from education and industry, to help drive recruitment of the best talent.
As part of the Unearth Your Greatness Programme, Maaden is announced as Official Supporting Partner of STEM Racing, the global F1® supported programme where students design, build and race CO2 powered cars.
To support this, Maaden will provide a brand new bespoke online learning platform - the Global STEM Racing Learning Channel - creating new flexibility for STEM Racing engagement, both for educators and learners. Interactive modules, lessons and certifications can be leveraged in classrooms or at home by students to aid self-led learning. By 2028, this platform is expected to engage 100,000 students and teachers globally.
Further impactful partnerships and programme expansions will be announced in the coming year.
Andy Cowell, CEO and Team Principal, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team: “At Aston Martin Aramco, we are committed to making Formula 1® more inclusive by creating meaningful opportunities and access for the next generation. Through this youth engagement programme, in partnership with Maaden, we are acting on a shared belief that while talent exists everywhere, opportunity does not. Together, we are opening doors to a global stage, helping inspire and empower young people to see what is possible and to pursue their potential.”
Bob Wilt, CEO, Maaden: “Talent is integral to the growth and success of our organization over the coming years and a significant part of our partnership with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™️ Team was our joint ability to access and inspire global youth. We are redefining Maaden, reinvigorating mining and reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s economic growth, opportunity and diversification. We are supporting the Kingdom’s ambitions of building an industrial mineral hub for the future – and to do so we must be an employer of choice for the best and brightest, where leaders of today and tomorrow come to learn, evoke change and advance an industry.”
Andrew Denford, CEO and Founder, STEM Racing: “For over 25 years, we’ve brought the excitement of Formula 1 into the classroom - sparking curiosity, building skills, and unlocking the potential of young people worldwide. With this partnership, we’re scaling that impact like never before. Together with Maaden and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team, we’re launching a global initiative to equip students with knowledge, inspiration, and hands-on experience. Discovering and developing the brightest minds - regardless of background - has always been core to our mission. This is about unlocking opportunity and giving students the tools to thrive in their future careers. We’re confident this partnership will help shape the future of motorsport, and more importantly, empower young people across the globe to thrive in STEM and beyond.”
About Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team
With history dating back to 1913 and its founders Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, Aston Martin has a storied history rooted in racing. Early success at the Aston Hill Climb inspired a legacy of crafting high-performance luxury vehicles, which today includes the DB12, Vantage, Vanquish, DBX707, and the F1-inspired Aston Martin Valkyrie. The brand debuted in Grand Prix racing in 1922, claimed outright victory at Le Mans in 1959 and returned to Formula One in 2021 under Lawrence Stroll’s leadership.
The team has since made significant investments, notably opening the AMR Technology Campus in Silverstone in 2023, featuring sustainable design and a cutting-edge wind tunnel that became operational in 2025.
On-track, the driver line-up features the experienced Canadian Lance Stroll and double World Champion Fernando Alonso, supported by Test and Reserve Drivers Felipe Drugovich and Stoffel Vandoorne, along with Team Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa and Young Development Driver Jak Crawford. Aston Martin Aramco also races in the all-female F1® Academy series, with Swiss driver Tina Hausmann competing under the mentorship of the team’s F1® Academy Head of Racing and Driver Ambassador, Jessica Hawkins.

Al-Quwayiyah, Saudi Arabia, 8 September 2025:
Al-Quwayiyah will open the governorate’s first comprehensive care and rehabilitation center for peoplewith disabilities. Designed to serve more than 200 beneficiaries from the area and nearby villages, the center will combine specialized care with advanced therapeutic services.
With over 25 years of experience in disability services, the International Rehabilitation Center for Daytime Care is uniquely positioned to deliver personalized care. Its offerings will include classrooms, sensory integration rooms, physiotherapy and speech therapy clinics, and psychological and nursing care units. Each specialized service is designed to support the overall well-being of beneficiaries and their families.
The initiative is being launched under the patronage of Princess Nouf bint Abdulrahman Al Saud, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the "For Them Association for the Service of People with Disabilities." With a distinguished legacy of advocacy, Princess Nouf brings deep expertise and leadership to this vital center.
The center also creates local employment opportunities, promotes inclusive care and strengthens both family and social cohesion. These outcomes reflect a shared vision to invest in Al-Quwayiyah, especially in beneficiaries from the region's communities who may face challenges accessing care and education.
Maaden has supported the center's full range of activities and services based in social impact studies related to AlAmar gold mine,located within the administrative jurisdiction of Al Quwayiyah Governorate.The new facility is expected to become a crucial hub for community well-being, and will serve as a key hub for enhancing the quality of life for stakeholders in the region.
This center was made possible through close collaboration among key stakeholders, including the Al-Quwayiyah Governorate, and Social Security in Al-Quwayiyah.

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The future is underneath us.

Maaden a Presenting Partner of LIV Golf Virginia




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Captain Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC on the first tee at LIV Golf Mexico City. (Photo by Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf)
Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau, Torque GC’s Carlos Ortiz, and Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia pictured together. (Photo by LIV Golf)
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