Mohammed Yahya Al-Sayel
Dr. Eng. Mohammed Yahya M. Alsayel serves as the President of the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GEOSA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is also Chairman of the National Committee on Geographical Names (NCGN), Chairman of the Marine Scientific Research Advisory Committee, Co-Chair of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), Chairman of the United Nations Regional Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management for the Arab States (UN-GGIM: Arab States), and Regional Representative for the Arab States at the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS).
Dr. Alsayel is a distinguished expert in surveying, geospatial information, and geographic information systems, with extensive national and international experience in geospatial governance, mapping, surveying sciences, and international boundary determination. He holds a PhD in Survey Engineering and Geospatial Information from Germany, a Master’s degree in Survey Engineering and Geospatial Information (Geomatics) from Canada, and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the United States. He also holds a Higher Diploma in Surveying from the British School of Surveying, affiliated with the British Corps of Royal Engineers.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Alsayel has held numerous senior leadership positions and contributed significantly to the advancement of geospatial capabilities at the national, regional, and international levels. He progressed through the military ranks to attain the rank of Major General and served in key positions, including Assistant Director General of the General Directorate of Military Survey (GDMS), Director of the Borders Department at GDMS, Chairman of the Saudi Technical Committee for Border Demarcation, and Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Ministerial Committee for Border Affairs.
Dr. Alsayel has represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in numerous national and international committees addressing border demarcation, geospatial information management, and surveying disciplines. His contributions have supported the development of international cooperation and the advancement of geospatial frameworks and standards. He is the author of the book “Towards Standardizing International Boundary Determination” and has published several research papers and technical studies in the fields of aerial photography, cartography, surveying, and geographic information systems.
He is a member of several leading professional and scientific organizations, including the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), and the International Advisory Committee of the United Nations Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Centre (UN-GGKIC).
In recognition of his exceptional leadership and contributions to the global geospatial community, Dr. Alsayel was awarded the Gary Nairn Leadership Award 2025 by the University of Melbourne, Australia, and the Esri Global President’s Award 2025.
