The Kingdom is participating at the 4th Session of the UNGEGN by a multi-member delegation from the government agencies concerned with geographical names in the Kingdom headed by the President of GEOSA and Chairman of the National Committee on Geographical Names Dr. Mohammed bin Yahya Al-Sayel, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the United States of America, from 28 April to 2 May 2025.
In this session, UNGEGN is discussing key topics, including reports submitted by member states, the progress made in geographical names standardization, the integration of geographical names with emerging technologies, and the role of relevant organizations and committees in strengthening the link between geographical names standardization and sustainable development.
In the opening proceedings Dr. Al Sayel delivered a speech titled "The Kingdom’s Role in Hosting Conferences and Forums Related to Geographical Names," in which he emphasized the significant attention the Kingdom devotes to geographical names—an effort backed by the unlimited support of the Kingdom's leadership.
He pointed out that this commitment is reflected in key national and international initiatives, including Saudi Arabia's active efforts to foster global communication and host regional and international forums. These initiatives aim to strengthen relationships and collaboration in the field of geographical names- specifically their documentation, standardization, and the preservation of their symbolic significance as a central pillar of development and an integral part of national identity and cultural heritage.
Dr. Al Sayel also pointed to the Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Tenth Forum of the Arab Division of Experts in Geographical Names in Jeddah from November 10–12, 2024. Organized by GEOSA under the patronage of Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense and Chairman of GEOSA’s Board of Directors, the event was held under the theme "Strengthening relationships and links between Arab States in the field of geographical names".
The conference served as a platform for exchanging insights, expertise, and best practices to support unified efforts for the future of geographical naming. It drew delegation heads and members from 22 Arab countries, international experts, representatives from relevant international organizations, as well as stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, and non-profit organizations.
Dr. Al-Sayel furthermore touched on the 10th meeting of the Arab Division of Experts on Geographical Names, hosted by Saudi Arabia as part of the aforementioned forum and the recommendations resulting from it. Among the most prominent recommendations it concluded was the Arab Division’s unanimous agreement for Saudi Arabia—represented by GEOSA—to host should host its General Secretariat, in Riyadh, as well as the Kingdom's initiative to develop a 10-year strategy for the Arab Division of Experts on Geographical Names.
In conclusion, Dr. Al-Sayel reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's continuous support for UNGEGN's efforts and its commitment to advancing regional and international cooperation in geographical names. He emphasized that these efforts reflect the Kingdom's leading role and experience, which positioning it at the forefront of global geospatial indexes.
During the session, Saudi Arabia will showcase the strategic framework and accompanying action plan prepared by the Arab Division of Experts on Geographical Names, alongside efforts toward establishing in the field of implementing the Arabic Romanization System. Furthermore, the Kingdom will highlight its pioneering experience in geographical naming, including the best practices, standards and new developments in the management and standardization of Geographical Names and its vital role play in preserving national cultural heritage and historical sites. The presentation will also emphasize the integration of modern technologies to enhance geographical names, the future prospects of using AI in standardization geographical names, as well as the Kingdom’s participation with a number of scientific posters and visual enrichments in the virtual exhibition coinciding with the session.
It is worth noting that GEOSA hosts and chairs the National Committee on Geographical Names, which includes 21 government entities concerned with geographical names in the Kingdom. The committee is tasked with unifying national efforts related to geographical names, including collecting and publishing them, as well as developing and updating their database.