Huge gold mine discovery in Mecca, hints at new prospects in the global market

Saudi authorities have announced the discovery of a huge gold mine in the Mecca region of Saudi Arabia. The discovery of this new mine south of the Mansoura-Masarah gold mine has created the possibility of further expanding the scope of the kingdom's gold mining sector.

Pakistan-based news outlet The News International reported this in a report on Friday (October 10).

According to a report by Arabian Gulf Business, the newly discovered gold mine is spread over an area of ​​about 125 kilometers—which is considered one of the most important mineral discoveries in history.

The discovery is part of Saudi Arabia's 'Vision 2030', whose main goal is to reduce dependence on oil and make alternative sectors, especially the mining industry, one of the pillars of the economy.

Huge gold mine discovery near Mecca in Saudi Arabia spanning 125 kilometers.

The state-owned mining company 'Ma'aden' said that a high-grade gold mine has been identified over an area of ​​about 100 kilometers. Analysis of the excavated samples revealed a maximum of 20.6 grams of gold per ton of soil.

Ma'Aden CEO Robert Wiley said, "This new discovery will take Mecca to new heights on the global gold mining map."

According to experts, this new mine discovery will greatly increase Saudi Arabia's gold production capacity, create jobs and play an important role in attracting global investment. It is expected that it will also have an impact on the international gold market, where the current price of gold is more than $ 1,115 per 10 grams.

The Mansoura-Masara mine currently has about 7 million ounces of gold reserves and 250,000 ounces of gold are extracted from it every year. The new discovery is expected to expand mining operations and create a world-class gold belt spanning about 125 kilometers.

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhoraif said, "Saudi Arabia's mining sector is currently one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. This discovery is an important milestone in our journey of economic diversification.’

Maaden also reported that new high-grade gold and copper minerals have been discovered in the Wadi Al-Jaw and Jabal Shaiban regions.

Top five countries with gold reserves in the world (as of October 2025)

1. United States – 8,133.5 tons

2. Germany – 3,351 tons

3. Italy – 2,451.8 tons

4. France – 2,437 tons

5. Russia – 2,332.7 tons

Previously, Australia was considered the world’s largest gold reserve country with approximately 10,000 tons of gold reserves