Latest news with #GeospatialKnowledgeInfrastructureReadinessIndex
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia ranks 1st in region, 6th in G20 for geospatial infrastructure
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has climbed to ninth place in the 2025 Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure Readiness Index, up from 32nd in 2022, reflecting steady progress in its spatial sciences sector. Represented by the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information, the Kingdom ranked first in the Middle East and the Arab world, and sixth among G20 nations, in the index, according to a statement. Created by the Geospatial World and backed by the UN Statistics Division, the GKI Readiness Index serves as a strategic tool to assess how prepared countries are to adopt geospatial knowledge, highlighting its role in driving economic growth, sustainable development, and digital transformation. The index is based on several axes. The newly released rankings align with Saudi Arabia's ongoing progress in global indices, including a 17.5 percent score increase in the 2025 Global Intellectual Property Index. This places the Kingdom among the fastest-improving economies out of the 55 countries evaluated. They also align well with Saudi Arabia's strategic objectives for expanding its commercial space operations and advancing innovative satellite solutions locally and globally. In the newly released statement, GEOSA said: 'The Kingdom ranked sixth globally in the Policy Axis, thanks to its pioneering experience in governing the national geospatial data system and developing its policies, standards, and specifications in accordance with international best practices.' 'It ranked seventh globally in the Infrastructure Axis, due to its pivotal role in unifying national efforts related to geospatial information, including the development of the National Geospatial Platform, which represents a window into the national geospatial infrastructure available to the public and private sectors, as well as the academic and non-profit sectors and individuals. It ranked eighth globally in the Geospatial Industry Axis, demonstrating its constructive role in establishing strategic partnerships with various sectors,' it added. The statement further indicated that the Kingdom's advancement in the index highlights the continuous support provided by its leadership and the minister of defense, who also chairs the GEOSA Board of Directors for the survey and geospatial information sector. This support has propelled Saudi Arabia to a prominent position both regionally and internationally, placing it at the forefront of developed nations in the geospatial sector, the statement explained. This advancement also resulted in Riyadh being selected as the home of the UN Global Geospatial Ecosystem Center of Excellence, thereby reinforcing the Kingdom's status as a global frontrunner in cutting-edge geospatial information management. In March, Neo Space Group, a satellite and space firm under Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, partnered with Beijing-based SuperMap Software to enhance technological capabilities and support the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals.
Leaders
22-04-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Reigns in Geospatial Innovation: 1st Regionally, 9th Globally
Saudi Arabia has achieved a remarkable feat in geospatial readiness. Represented by the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GEOSA), the Kingdom moved from 32nd to 9th place in the Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure Readiness Index (GKI). This achievement places Saudi Arabia first in the Middle East and Arab World, and sixth among G20 countries. The announcement occurred on the opening day of the Geospatial World Forum 2025, held in Madrid from 22 to 25 April. Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure Readiness Index The Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure Readiness Index, developed by Geospatial World, is a strategic framework supported by the United Nations Statistics Division. It aims to compare the readiness of countries in adopting geospatial knowledge and how their progress on the index promotes economic growth, sustainable development, and digital transformation. The index is built on several axes. The Kingdom ranked sixth globally in the policy axis through its pioneering experience in the governance of the national geospatial data system and the preparation of its policies, standards, and specifications in accordance with international best practices. It ranked seventh globally in the infrastructure axis for its pivotal role in unifying national efforts related to geospatial information. This includes building the national geospatial platform that represents the window of the national geospatial infrastructure available to benefit the public and private sectors, in addition to academia, the non-profit sector, and individuals. The Kingdom ranked eighth in the geospatial industry axis, highlighting its constructive role in building strategic partnerships in all sectors. Support from Leadership The Kingdom's progress reflects significant support from its leadership. The Minister of Defense and GEOSA Board Chairman has provided strategic guidance. This backing enables Saudi Arabia to lead regionally and globally in the geospatial field. Furthermore, it led to Riyadh becoming the headquarters for the United Nations Global Geospatial Ecosystem Center of Excellence. Thus, the Kingdom positions itself as a beacon for innovative geospatial information management. The GEOSA commits to organizing the survey, geospatial information, and imaging sector in Saudi Arabia. It focuses on adopting and developing the national geospatial infrastructure. Moreover, GEOSA establishes guiding standards and controls for integrated geospatial information system usage among stakeholders. In summary, Saudi Arabia's remarkable advancements in the geospatial field demonstrate its commitment to innovation and international collaboration. The Kingdom not only leads regionally but also establishes itself as a global powerhouse in geospatial knowledge and information management. Short link :
