Shareholding

Ariana Resources PLC
01 August 2005





                                  NEWS RELEASE

                               HOLDING IN COMPANY

LONDON - 01 August 2005 - Ariana Resources plc ('Ariana' or 'the Company': AIM:
AAU) announces, that it was notified on 29th July 2005 that City Equities
Limited has disposed of 1,250,000 Ordinary Shares of 1p each in the capital of
the Company. Following this transaction City Equities Limited no longer has a
notifiable interest in the Company.

About Ariana Resources plc
Ariana Resources plc is a dynamic exploration company focused on the discovery
of multi-million ounce potential epithermal and porphyry gold deposits within
the highly prospective Tethyan metallogenic belt of Turkey.

For further information on Ariana Resources plc you are invited to visit the
Company's website at www.arianaresources.com or contact one of the following:

Ariana Resources plc
Steven Poulton, Chief Executive                 Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]                        Mobile: [phone]
--------------------------

Ambrian Partners Ltd
Richard Chase                                   Tel: [phone]

Beaumont Cornish
Roland Cornish                                  Tel: [phone]

Bankside Consultants
Michael Padley / Susan Scott                    Tel: [phone]




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