The oldest mine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is Mahd adh-Dhahab Mine, the country’s first gold mine, located in Mahd adh-Dhahab Governorate, about 167 km south of al-Madinah al-Munawwarah.
The history of the Mahd adh-Dhahab Mine dates back thousands of years, making it an archaeological and historical site, with carbon dating estimates suggesting that some of its parts are over two thousand years old.
In 1939, the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud ordered the opening of the mine to establish the foundation for mining operations in the Kingdom. Later, the mine was closed due to fluctuations in gold profitability. In 1983, King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered its reopening.
Modern production at the mine began in 1988, with an annual production capacity estimated at approximately 31,000 oz of gold.
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