Future Minerals Forum 2026: What the Saudi mining sector is asking for, and how RSK responds
The Future Minerals Forum (FMF) 2026 in Riyadh confirmed the extent to which mining has moved to the centre of global economic and policy conversations, as well as how strongly Saudi Arabia is pushing mining sector growth as one of the new economic pillars targeted to diversify away from oil and gas. With strong representation from governments, investors and operators, the forum reflected a sector that is no longer focused solely on production growth but on how minerals are developed, financed and regulated in practice.
For RSK Middle East, attending alongside RSK Group sister companies Headland Archaeology and Amphos 21, the event provided valuable insight into the priorities shaping mining projects today and where Saudi Arabia stands in terms of these priorities.
From ambition to execution
Across the forum, one message was consistent – mining strategies are becoming more ambitious, but delivery remains the critical test. Discussions with operators, regulators and sector stakeholders repeatedly returned to the same pressure points: permitting certainty, environmental performance, regulatory alignment and environmental, social and governance (ESG) credibility.
These themes were reflected directly in engagement at the RSK stand. Conversations focused on Saudi Arabia’s Executive Regulations of the Mining Investment Law (2020), which requires developers to conduct environmental and social baseline surveys, submit an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) and develop a community management plan. While Saudi law focuses on supporting mining projects to move efficiently through permit approval processes, there is increasing emphasis on meeting rigorous standards. For many organisations, the challenge is no longer defining ESG intent but embedding it into project design and operations in a way that stands up to scrutiny.
Finance is reshaping project preparation
Another strong signal from FMF was the growing influence of financing considerations on early stage project development. Access to international capital is increasingly linked to demonstrable environmental and social performance, robust risk management and alignment with international sustainability expectations.
For mining projects, this places greater importance on lender‑aligned environmental and social due diligence, clear permitting strategies and practical management plans that extend beyond assessment. RSK’s engagements at the forum with explorers and developers focused on Saudi opportunities highlighted that companies require advisers who understand how Saudi regulatory and international ESG standards interact with financing decisions, particularly for projects seeking international investment.
This growing demand aligns with RSK’s experience in supporting mining developments in Latin America, Africa and Australia through permitting, regulatory reviews and ESG‑driven due diligence, which helps clients in these jurisdictions prepare projects that are credible to both regulators and financiers.
Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region as a strategic interface
FMF also underlined the Middle East’s growing role as a strategic interface between mineral supply, capital and downstream demand, as well as Saudi Arabia’s ambition to emerge in the centre of this nexus. Strong government participation and regional leadership emphasised the importance of aligning mining projects with national development priorities such as Saudi Vision 2030, while maintaining international credibility.
For operators engaging in the region, this creates opportunity alongside complexity. Projects must navigate local regulatory frameworks, regional policy objectives and global ESG expectations simultaneously. RSK’s in-kingdom and regional presence, supported by global technical capability, can support mining clients to operate effectively within this environment, bridging local requirements and international standards.
Integrated delivery is now expected
A clear takeaway from the forum was the expectation that environmental, social and technical considerations are addressed together, not as separate workstreams. Mining companies engaging with RSK consistently sought integrated support across engineering design, environmental assessment, permitting, waste management, ESG compliance and archaeological and cultural heritage considerations.
This reflects how projects are increasingly evaluated in reality by regulators, investors and communities alike. RSK’s multidisciplinary model is designed to respond to this need, supporting mining projects through coordinated, practical solutions that extend from early assessment into implementation and operation.
What this means for mining clients in Saudi Arabia and beyond
The discussions at FMF 2026 reinforced that the next phase of mining development in Saudi Arabia and the region will be defined by delivery capability. Projects must progress efficiently, planning early to comply fully with Saudi law and Saudi regulatory requirements and demonstrating responsible environmental and social performance from the outset in order to attract international investors.
For mining clients, this places value on advisers who understand both the engineering technical detail of mining project design and development and the environmental and social context in which the project will be constructed and operate. RSK is just that: an integrated environmental engineering and sustainability consultancy, registered and with a long-standing presence in Saudi Arabia, ready to partner with mining clients on the journey.