Saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonne of uranium-rich ore in Medina

Saudi Arabia has discovered 110 million tonnes of raw materials containing uranium concentrations and other rare earths in Medina, news outlets reported on Monday, quoting the kingdom's Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

"Exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project in Madinah (Medina) have revealed estimated resources of around 110 million tonnes of ore with high concentrations of rare earth minerals, especially the heavy elements, alongside promising concentrations of uranium," Arab News reported bin Salman as saying.

The announcement of the uranium discovery comes at a critical time for the Arab kingdom, which houses two of Islam's holiest sites, Mecca and Medina. Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE and the latter became the foundational home of Islam.

Saudi Arabia has been targeted by Iran for housing American bases and a resurgent Houthi militia in Yemen has choked its maritime access to the Red Sea.

The war in the Middle East started because the US and Israel wanted to thwart Iran's nuclear programme that they say was for weapons of mass destruction. Tehran claims its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful civilian purposes.