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Navigating innovations and sustainability through Geospatial Intelligence
- 26 – 27 February 2024
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Supporting Partner

EVENT DETAILS
EVENT OVERVIEW
Geospatial technologies have become increasingly vital in our interconnected world. The global landscape is presently experiencing a profound and extensive transition that encompasses technological, sociological, economic, and geopolitical dimensions. The importance of geospatial data lies in its ability to provide valuable insights into the relationships between location, people, and the environment. Progressing from being a technology that delivers actionable insights to transforming into an industry that integrates spatial perspectives across various sectors and workflows, geospatial advancements are making significant headway in their capacity to create value.
With a global valuation of around $500 billion and a direct socio-economic impact exceeding $7.3 trillion, the industry has attracted significant investments, totalling $200 billion, over the last few years. The integration of geospatial technology into essential economic sectors, such as energy, defence, telecom, infrastructure, climate, environment, and land administration, has played a fundamental role in this transformative journey, contributing to the fortification of the global economy.
Geospatial technology enables us to understand spatial patterns, make informed decisions while addressing complex challenges effectively, thus empowering governments, businesses, and individuals to optimize resource utilization, enhance sustainability, and improve overall efficiency.
Join us at the MENA Geospatial Forum which serves as a platform to expand geospatial horizons, bridge knowledge gaps and foster collaborations among experts and practitioners and gain insights on how to streamline data flow, achieve strategic objectives and draw inspiration from international standards such as IGIF (Integrated Geospatial Information Framework). The event will facilitate networking, knowledge sharing and discussions on leveraging geospatial insights across sectors.
EVENT IN NUMBERS
TECHNICAL
COMMITTEE

Principal Geospatial Consultant, Ordnance Survey & Board Member, Earth Observations for Sustainable Development Goals (EO4SDG) Initiative

Specialist GIS Engineer, Statistics Centre
Abu Dhabi

Geographic Information System Manager, InSite - Planners / Landscape Architects
UAE
SPEAKERS

Specialist GIS Engineer
Statistics Centre
Abu Dhabi

General Director of Environmental Technology
NCEC
Saudi Arabia

Digital Delivery, and Innovation Senior Manager
Diriyah Company
Saudi Arabia

Director - Information and Data Management
Saudi Entertainment Ventures
Saudi Arabia

Associate Director
BIM, ROSHN
Saudi Arabia

Senior GIS Specialist
King Abdulaziz Foundation (Darah)
Saudi Arabia

Executive Director
Taylor Geospatial Institute & Board Member - UN Geospatial Global Information Management PSN
UAE

Director of Geospatial Information Center and Acting Director of Urban Observatory
Madinah Development Authority
Saudi Arabia

Associate Director
Business Intelligence, Redsea Global
Saudi Arabia

Digital Services Director - KEO Executive - Middle East + Europe
KEO International Consultants
UAE

Properties Geospatial Data - General Management of Lands and Properties
Royal Commission for Makkah City & Holy Sites
Saudi Arabia

GIS Center Director
Dubai Municipality
UAE

Head Statistics& GIS Section
Ministry of Climate Change & Environment (MOCCAE)

Acting Section Manager GIS
Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD)
UAE

Principal Geospatial Consultant
Ordnance Survey & Board Member, Earth Observations for Sustainable Development Goals (EO4SDG) Initiative
UAE

Director of Dissemination Department
Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD)
UAE

Head of Urban Design and Planning Department
Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University
Egypt

Geographic Information System Manager
InSite - Planners / Landscape Architects
UAE

Head of BIM & GIS
WSP in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia

Specialist IV GIS Consultant
Tatweer Petroleum
Bahrain

Director - Digital Advisory Services
WSP in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia

Head section of Planning Greater Muscat
Ministry of Housing & Urban Planning
Oman
WHO WILL ATTEND
- Geospatial
- GIS
- Architecture
- BIM (Building Information Modeling)
- Cartography
- Demography
- Geomatics
- Hydrology
- Imagery Acquisition
- LiDAR
- Remote Sensing
- Urban Planning
INDUSTRIES
- Defense and Security
- Disaster Management and Emergency Response
- Energy and Utilities
- Environmental Management, Conservation and Climate Change Monitoring
- Local Governments and Municipalities
- Transportation and Logistics
- Urban Planning and Development
KEY THEMES
exploration
science
and
disaster management
and
infrastructure
and
Transportation Planning
and
adaptation
- DAY 1 - MONDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2024
- DAY 2 - TUESDAY | 27 FEBRUARY 2024
08:00
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING
09:00
WELCOME ADDRESS BY GREAT MINDS EVENT MANAGEMENT
09:10
OPENING ADDRESS AND WELCOME REMARKS BY CHAIRPERSON
09:20
OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
The outlook of offshore support vessels in the Middle East
09:40
GIS LEADERS PANEL DISCUSSION | PAVING THE WAY FOR CREATING AN OPEN MAP DATA MODEL THROUGH PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
- Creating a comprehensive and accessible dataset for the ease of data sharing
- Making map data open and accessible to a wider audience, promoting transparency and innovation
- Developing robust data privacy and security measures to protect sensitive information and ensure compliance with regulations
- Involving the public and local communities in the mapping process and addressing their concerns
Panelists:
- Adnan Bin Abdulrahman Alalyani, General Director of Environmental Technology, NCEC, Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Nadine Alameh, Executive Director, Taylor Geospatial Institute & Board Member - UN Geospatial Global Information Management PSN, USA
- Maitha Alnuaimi, GIS Center Director, Dubai Municipality, UAE
- Qasim Al Harasi, Head section of Planning Greater Muscat, Ministry of Housing & Urban Planning, Oman
10:20
PRESENTATION | INTEGRATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AND GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES WITH GEOAI
- Developing AI algorithms tailored for geospatial AI and geospatial analysis tasks
- Exploring GeoAI predictive modelling for various applications like weather forecasting, disaster management, and urban planning
- Optimizing AI-driven spatial analysis that can lead to more informed decisions in fields like agriculture, forestry, and transportation
- Integrating advanced computational tools and AI techniques to identify complex patterns and correlations in geospatial data, aiding in environmental monitoring and resource management.
- Fayez Al-Sayil, Director of Geospatial Information Center and Acting Director of Urban Observatory, Madinah Development Authority, Saudi Arabia
10:40
INDUSTRY SESSION
This session will highlight the latest solutions and technologies in Geospatial. The session consists of three 10-minute presentations from experts in the industry who will provide insights and case studies on the successful application of innovative solutions.
- Industry Insight 1
- Industry Insight 2
- Industry Insight 3
OSVs technical specifications and requirements to meet the surging demand in the region
11:10
NETWORKING BREAK
11:45
CROSS INDUSTRY SESSIONS
This session will highlight industry focused advancements in Geospatial. The session consists of three 15 -minute presentations from experts in the industry who will provide insights and case studies on the successful application of innovative solutions.
- UTILITY FOCUS | DEVELOPING AN UNDERGROUND DIGITAL TWIN STRATEGY FOR DIGITIZING ASSETS IN THE MENA REGION
- BFSI FOCUS | RESHAPING THE LANDSCAPE AND MONETIZING LOCATION DATA FOR BUSINESS GROWTH WITH LOCATION INTELLIGENCE
- OIL AND GAS FOCUS | DEVELOPING A SPATIALLY EXPLICIT GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE DATABASE
12:30
PANEL DISCUSSION | DETAILED GUIDE TO CONVERGENCE OF GIS & BIM (GEOBIM) IN DEVELOPING URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH A DIGITAL BUILT ENVIRONMENT
- Bringing sustainability into building and infrastructure design, construction & operation
- Bridging the physical & digital divide in infrastructure workflow
- Tackling resource intensive implementation by allocating resources and budgets for GEOBIM projects
- Addressing the skills gap among professionals for developing specialized skills and knowledge in both GIS and BIM domains
- Developing standardized protocols and interfaces for data exchange for achieving interoperability between GIS and BIM software
Panelists:
- Fayez Al-Sayil, Director of Geospatial Information Center and Acting Director of Urban Observatory, Madinah Development Authority, Saudi Arabia
- Arsen Safaryan, Director - Information and Data Management, Saudi Entertainment Ventures, Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Haitham Elwany, Senior GIS Specialist, King Abdulaziz Foundation (Darah), Saudi Arabia
- Mostafa El Ashmawy, Head of BIM & GIS, WSP in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia
12:50
INDUSTRY SESSIONS
- Industry Insight 1
- Industry Insight 2
- Industry Insight 3
13:20
PANEL DISCUSSION | ENABLING INCLUSIVE NATIONAL PLANNING AND FUTURISTIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE MENA REGION WITH GEOSPATIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATIONAL DIGITAL TWINS (NDT’S)
- Considering diverse socio-economic factors, demographics, and environmental aspects, ensuring that development benefits all segments of society by inclusive planning
- Encouraging collaboration among government agencies and industries, enhancing holistic planning with NDTs
- Exploring gamut’s of NDTs real-time monitoring and simulations for better resource allocation and urban planning
- Justifying decision-makers with data-driven insights for informed, effective policies and projects
Panelists:
- Mohammad Shamlouli, Geographic Information System Manager, InSite - Planners / Landscape Architects, UAE
- Mostafa El Ashmawy, Head of BIM & GIS, WSP in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia
- Naresh Puripanda, Specialist IV GIS Consultant, Tatweer Petroleum, Bahrain
14:00
PRESENTATION | COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE BY INTEGRATING GIS AND LOCATION INTELLIGENCE
- Monitoring climate variables like temperature, precipitation, and sea-level rise
- Enabling data-driven policy formulation and resource allocation to combat climate change more effectively
- Overcoming challenges like securing funds for GIS projects
- Establishing policies and supportive regulatory environment that encourage the use of GIS and location intelligence in climate initiatives
- Adnan Bin Abdulrahman Alalyani, General Director of Environmental Technology, NCEC, Saudi Arabia
13:50
CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
14:00
NETWORKING LUNCHEON AND END OF CONFERENCE DAY 1
08:00
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING
09:10
OPENING ADDRESS AND WELCOME REMARKS BY CHAIRPERSON
The outlook of offshore support vessels in the Middle East
09:20
PRESENTATION | ENTERPRISE GIS THE KEY TO EFFICIENT DATA AND INFORMATION SHARING
- Maintaining data accuracy and consistency with multiple users and multiple inputs or data updates
- Developing safety and privacy parameters for protecting sensitive geospatial data from unauthorized access or data breaches
- Overcoming interoperability issues by ensuring different GIS systems and software communicate and share data effectively by enterprise GIS
- Maitha Alnuaimi, GIS Center Director, Dubai Municipality, UAE
09:40
PANEL DISCUSSION | LATEST DEVELOPMENTS WITH GIS APPLICATIONS AND DIGITIZATION OF MAPS ACROSS MENA REGION
- Building AI models that account for linguistic variations for accurate analysis
- Ensuring data protection while still enabling AI-driven insights
- Enabling GIS in the development of smart cities with efficient urban planning, traffic management, and resource allocation
- Understanding the scope of GIS data used in business analytics for market analysis, customer profiling, and supply chain optimization
- Overcoming the challenges in developing and maintaining the necessary resource-intensive digital infrastructure for GIS applications
Panelists:
- Hamzeh Nawar, Associate Director - Business Intelligence, Red Sea Global, Saudi Arabia
- Juan Tena, Digital Services Director - KEO Executive - Middle East + Europe, KEO International Consultants, UAE
- Khalidah Hawwari, Properties Geospatial Data - General Management of Lands and Properties, Royal Commission for Makkah City & Holy Sites, Saudi Arabia
10:20
PRESENTATION | TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS FOR THE RESILIENT POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING (PNT) ECOSYSTEM AND IMPACT ON USERS
- Ensuring cybersecurity resilience from vulnerable spoofing and jamming attacks
- Discussing best practices for spectrum congestion
- Integrating augmentation systems like WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) and EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) to improve PNT accuracy
- Reducing vulnerability to signal disruptions by integrating signals from multiple constellations such as GPS, Galileo, BeiDou
- Overcoming the challenges in developing and maintaining the necessary resource-intensive digital infrastructure for GIS applications
- Incorporating other augmentation technologies like Differential GPS (DGPS) and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) to improve accuracy in challenging urban environments
- Developing Innovative algorithms and data processing techniques to enhance the robustness and reliability of PNT solutions
- Juan Tena, Digital Services Director - KEO Executive - Middle East + Europe, KEO International Consultants, UAE
OSVs technical specifications and requirements to meet the surging demand in the region
10:40
INDUSTRY SESSIONS
- Industry Insight 1
- Industry Insight 2
- Industry Insight 3
11:10
NETWORKING BREAK
11:45
CROSS INDUSTRY SESSIONS
- RETAIL FOCUS | REVOLUTIONIZING THE INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE WITH MOBILE LOCATION ANALYTICS
- MARKETING FOCUS | CONVERGENCE OF LOCATION DATA AND PERSONALIZATION IN DATA-DRIVEN MARKETING
- INSURANCE FOCUS | MITIGATING CLIMATE RELATED RISKS IN INSURANCE / RE INSURANCE BUSINESS
12:30
INDUSTRY SESSIONS
- Industry Insight 1
- Industry Insight 2
- Industry Insight 3
13:00
PANEL DISCUSSION | DISCUSSING THE GIS / GEOSPATIAL NEW STANDARDS AND APIS IN MENA REGION
- Developing and implementing appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks for geospatial data usage and sharing
- Ensuring that the workforce is skilled to utilize new geospatial standards and APIs
- Developing a robust infrastructure to support geospatial data collection, storage, and dissemination
Panelists:
- Amr Saad, Associate Director - BIM, ROSHN, Saudi Arabia
- Arsen Safaryan, Director - Information and Data Management, Saudi Entertainment Ventures, Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Haitham Elwany, Senior GIS Specialist, King Abdulaziz Foundation (Darah), Saudi Arabia
13:40
PRESENTATION | UAV-BASED 3D MAPPING USING IMAGING AND LIDAR SYSTEMS: CHALLENGES, DATA PROCESSING, AND APPLICATIONS
- Ensuring optimal trajectory configuration for data acquisition and accurate mapping
- Combining data from imaging and LiDAR systems sensors have different complex characteristics and resolutions by using an optimal data integration tool
- Ensuring the quality and reliability of acquired data by accurate 3D mapping
- Maintaining uninterrupted communication between the UAV and ground systems to ensure data transmission
13:45
CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
14:00
NETWORKING LUNCHEON AND END OF CONFERENCE
Agenda
Sponsorship Opportunities
SPONSOR & PARTNERS
WHO SHOULD SPONSOR THE MENA GEOSPATIAL FORUM?
- 3D Mapping
- Aerial survey
- Digital Twins
- Drones & UAV
- Enterprise GIS Software
- GEOAI
- GEOBIM
- GIS Application Development
- GIS Mobile Based Applications
- GIS Software Applications
- GIS Web Based Applications
- GPS (Global Positioning System)
- Image Classification And Pattern Detection
- Imagery and Remote Sensing
- Indoor Mapping
- Lidar
- Mapping
- Mapping as a service
- Photogrammetry
- Satellite imagery
- Satellite Imagery
- Spatial Analysis and Data Science
- Surveying Instruments
- Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality
PARTNERSHIP MESSAGE






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