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.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2 September 2025: Maaden (Saudi Arabian Mining Company), one of the world’s fastest-growing mining companies, has joined the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), which works to enhance the contribution of mining and metals to sustainable development. Maaden becomes ICMM’s first member based in the Middle East.

ICMM brings together companies that believe mining should do more than deliver materials. Members commit to high standards in how they work with people, land, and communities. For Maaden, this aligns strongly with the company’s inherent drive to help shape the direction of the industry alongside others who want to do the same. Maaden’s entry follows ICMM’s rigorous new member admission process, which requires independent assessment of the company’s performance against ICMM’s Mining Principles. 

Maaden’s drive and ability to build mining as the third pillar of the Saudi economy, with a strong focus on building a people-centric, technology-enabled organization, depends on the delivery of sustainable development of the resources in Saudi Arabia. With sustainability as a strategic pillar of its corporate growth strategy, Maaden can bring its experience of tackling sustainability challenges, especially relevant in the Middle East region, such as water scarcity, to a global forum.

Bob Wilt, CEO of Maaden, “We are extremely proud to announce our membership of ICMM today and even more so as the inaugural regional member. This is about being part of conversations that matter. The way mining is done is changing, and we want to help lead that change - with ideas, action, and a clear sense of responsibility. We look forward to working with ICMM members to help ensure that mining creates long-term value for future economies and societies.”

Rohitesh Dhawan, President and CEO of ICMM, said, “We are pleased to welcome Maaden as ICMM’s first Middle Eastern member. With its ambitious growth plans, Maaden is innovating, developing talent and demonstrating strong leadership in responsible mining. With Saudi Arabia poised to play a pivotal role in the global minerals sector in the years ahead, we look forward to Maaden’s active participation in ICMM’s work and its contribution to advancing sustainable mining practices both in Saudi Arabia and across the region”.

By becoming a member, Maaden commits to ICMM’s Mining Principles which define good practice Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements for the mining industry through a comprehensive set of 40 performance expectations. They apply at asset level and include third party assurance and validation. Applicable to all ICMM company members, they therefore apply to around 650 sites in 50 countries.

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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 27 August, 2025: Maaden Bauxite and Alumina Company (MBAC), a subsidiary of Maaden (Saudi Arabian Mining Company), one of the world’s fastest-growing mining companies, has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar, a global clean energy leader, and EDF power solutions, a leader in low-carbon innovative solutions.

Under the agreement, Emerge will develop a solar power project to supply the Al Baitha Bauxite Mine with clean, renewable energy for the next 30 years. This initiative supports Saudi Arabia’s energy transition and aligns with the goals of Vision 2030 by reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable industrial growth.

The off-grid energy facility will integrate a ground-mounted 8 MWp solar photovoltaic array with a 30 MWh battery energy storage system backing up the intermittency of the solar production and securing a 24/7 electricity supply. The facility is expected to generate approximately 17,300 MWh of electricity annually. The project will help avoid around 13,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per year, equivalent to removing more than 3,000 cars from the road annually. With this facility, the Al Baitha Bauxite Mine will be able to operate almost entirely on renewable energy, marking a major step toward sustainable mining operations.

Ali Al-Qahtani, Executive Vice-President, of Maaden’s aluminum business said: “This partnership supports our ambitions to drive renewable energy across our operations, as well asreinforcing our committment to advancing sustainable solutions that benefit both our businesses and the communities we serve. We look forward to working with Emerge to deliver this integral pillar of our operations.”

Abdulaziz Alobaidli, Chairman of Emerge and Chief Operating Officer at Masdar, commented: “Emerge offers businesses a seamless, cost-effective pathway to transform to renewable energy. This partnership demonstrates the value Emerge brings to industries looking to decarbonize and optimize their energy usage.”

Omar Aldaweesh, CEO KSA of EDF Group and EDF power solutions, and Emerge board member, said: “Emerge’s partnership with Maaden marks a bold step in decarbonizing the Kingdom’s mining sector. By delivering a tailored solar power plant and battery storage solution, we are paving the way for a more resilient, low-carbon future while proving that industrial ambition and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Emerge will deliver a full turnkey solution for the project, managing all aspects, including financing, design, procurement, construction, operation, and maintenance.

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