GEOSA Becomes OGC’s First Strategic Partner Beyond US, EU Countries

Jeddah: The General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GEOSA) announced that it has received an invitation from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) to join the consortium as its first strategic partner from outside the United States and European Union countries, in a step that underscores Saudi Arabia's leading position in the geospatial sector at both the regional and global levels and its leadership role in relevant international organizations and committees. According to Saudi Press Agency, the authority stressed that this strategic partnership reflects the Kingdom's rapid progress in global geospatial indicators and rankings and is the result of building an integrated national geospatial ecosystem. It also embodies international confidence in Saudi Arabia's advanced experience in establishing and developing national geospatial infrastructure, including the governance of national geospatial data and the development of geospatial policies, standards, specifications, frameworks, and capabilit ies. The partnership further supports the role of geospatial information in enabling smart decision-making, digital transformation, sustainable development, and comprehensive growth, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030. The strategic partnership with OGC represents an extension of GEOSA's efforts to enhance international coordination and cooperation with counterpart entities in other countries, as well as with international organizations related to surveying, geospatial information, and associated imaging activities. It also supports Saudi Arabia's representation domestically and internationally within the authority's areas of responsibility. It enhances the Kingdom's role in developing global standards that underpin the integration of geospatial and remote sensing data, geospatial artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and modern digital technologies. These efforts contribute to building a future-ready geospatial information ecosystem capable of meeting sustainable development req uirements and supporting smart decision-making.