The “GeoSpatial Week 2025” 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 and will run from April 7-11.
During the conference, the President of the Saudi Space Agency and the regional representative for Arab countries in the ISPRS, Dr. Mohammed bin Yahya Al-Saile, emphasized the increasing role of Arab countries in the global geospatial arena. He highlighted the agency’s efforts in leading the geospatial transformation in the Arab world and supporting various developmental sectors through geospatial information.
Dr. Al-Saile also discussed the GeoSpatial experience in building and developing national geospatial infrastructure, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. He mentioned the establishment of a national platform aimed at integrating geospatial data and maximizing its benefits, as well as the launch of the National GeoSpatial Academy to enhance geospatial knowledge and human capabilities.
Saudi Arabia’s leading role in the geospatial field has been recognized with the United Nations’ final approval to host the UN Global GeoSpatial Information Excellence Center, positioning Riyadh as its headquarters. The kingdom is also seeking to host the ISPRS 2030 conference under the theme “Mapping the Future: Innovations in Geospatial Sciences,” aiming to create a historic event that shapes the future of geospatial sciences globally.
The conference serves as a platform to showcase local and international geospatial experiences, with a dedicated exhibition and various dialogue sessions and scientific papers. The event will feature global hackathons and competitions to promote the role of geospatial information in smart solutions, addressing contemporary challenges while enhancing decision-making, smart urban planning, and awareness of geospatial knowledge and human capabilities.
