Dubai: The ‘Geospatial Week GSW2025’ conference, organized by the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, opened today in Dubai. The event runs from April 7 to 11.
According to Saudi Press Agency, General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GEOSA) President and ISPRS regional representative for Arab states, Dr. Eng. Mohammed bin Yahya Al-Sayel, delivered a keynote speech during the conference’s opening session. Al-Sayel highlighted that the Arab region’s hosting of this prominent event for the second consecutive time-following Egypt’s hosting in 2023-reflects the growing role of Arab countries in the global geospatial arena.
He emphasized that GEOSA, as the official body responsible for regulating the surveying, geospatial information, and imaging sector in the Kingdom, continues its pursuit of international leadership at both regional and global levels. Al-Sayel noted that GEOSA plays a pivotal role in leading geospatial transformation across the Arab world, enhancing the role of geospatial information to support and enable various development sectors. This ensures geospatial information becomes an essential component of digital transformation and economic growth strategies, in collaboration with international organizations and relevant research institutions to promote knowledge and stimulate innovation.
Al-Sayel pointed to GEOSA’s experience in building and developing the national geospatial infrastructure to prepare the sector for investment and stimulate its growth in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Such efforts include establishing the National Geospatial Platform aimed at integrating geospatial data and maximizing its benefits by providing a single, secure, and easy-to-access source based on best publishing practices and standards. He noted the launch of the National Geospatial Academy as a knowledge hub and a global platform for specialized education and training to build and empower geospatial human capabilities.
He affirmed that the Kingdom’s pioneering role-represented by GEOSA-enabled it to attain advanced international standing in the geospatial field, as evidenced by the United Nations’ final approval for Saudi Arabia to host the UN Global Center of Excellence for the Future Ecosystem for Geospatial Information, with Riyadh as its headquarters.
Al-Sayel noted that the Kingdom is seeking to apply to host the ISPRS 2030 conference under the theme ‘Mapping the Future: Innovations in Geospatial Sciences,’ stressing that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this major event-becoming the first Arab country to do so-would be an ideal opportunity to deliver a historic milestone for the global geospatial community. It would open new horizons for shaping the future of geospatial sciences and include global hackathons and major competitions aimed at enhancing the role of geospatial information in developing smart solutions, addressing modern-day challenges, promoting decision-making based on geospatial intelligence, supporting smart urban planning, showcasing the latest geospatial technologies and applications, raising geospatial awareness, and empowering human capabilities in the geospatial field.
GEOSA is participating in Geospatial Week GSW2025 as a main sponsor, showcasing its local and international experiences through a dedicated pavilion, several panel discussions, and scientific papers.
