RIYADH, 4 March 2003 — The Mahd Addahab gold mine will be closed by 2005, according to Dr. Abdullah Al-Dabbagh, chairman of Maaden company. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News, he said the decision was taken two years ago as the mine was running out of reserves. Mahd Addahab, located 380 kms northeast of Jeddah, is the Kingdom’s largest gold mine. Saudi Arabia produces 220,000 ounces of gold, 300,000 ounces of silver, 900 tons of copper and 3,000 tons of zinc annually. Maaden was established in 1997, with a capital investment of SR4 billion.