GBT Secures SAR 5 Million Pre Seed Funding to Accelerate GeoAI and Smart City Innovation

Abbas Aziz By Abbas Aziz
3 Min Read

Gulf Business Technologies, known as GBT, has closed a SAR 5 million pre seed funding round. The round included participation from Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Zamil and Sons Investment Company, along with several angel investors. SHORE Advisory Services managed the transaction. The funding supports GBT’s expansion across Saudi Arabia’s telecommunications and information technology sectors.

GBT aims to strengthen its position in geospatial data and deep tech solutions. The company plans to scale operations and launch advanced GeoAI products tailored to national digital transformation goals.

Strategic Backing From Local Investors

The funding round reflects growing investor confidence in geospatial and deep tech solutions. Strategic local capital played a key role in the round.

Key participants include:

  • Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Zamil & Sons Investment Company
  • Regional angel investors and investment firms
  • SHORE Advisory Services as round manager

Investors see strong demand for spatial intelligence across public and private sectors. They also recognize GBT’s focus on practical, scalable solutions.

Transforming Spatial Data Through No Code Platforms

GBT operates through two core subsidiaries that address different layers of the geospatial ecosystem. Penta-KSA focuses on accessibility. It offers no code software that allows non specialists to work with spatial data.

Key benefits include:

  • Easy access to complex spatial data
  • Faster decision making for leaders
  • Reduced data silos across organizations
  • Higher return on technology investments

These tools help decision makers use spatial intelligence without technical barriers.

Deep Tech Innovation With GeoAI and Digital Twins

GBT’s innovation arm, Penta-Labs, drives advanced research and product development. The team builds GeoAI and Digital Twin solutions for smart cities and national infrastructure.

Focus areas include:

  • Predictive spatial analytics
  • Digital replicas of urban systems
  • Proactive insights for city planning
  • AI driven monitoring and optimization

The new funding will accelerate product launches and expand the deep tech team.

Leadership Vision and Market Opportunity

Yousef Al Nafjan, Founder and President of GBT, stated that the round reflects strong partner trust. He emphasized GBT’s mission to convert complex spatial data into simple, smart tools that support national transformation programs.

Walid Nassar, Managing Director at SHORE Advisory Services, highlighted GBT’s strong business model. He noted that geospatial and deep tech solutions fill a critical gap in Saudi Arabia’s digital economy.

Riding Saudi Arabia’s Geospatial Growth

Saudi Arabia’s geospatial analytics market continues to expand rapidly. The market reached about USD 1.5 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit USD 2.5 billion by 2030. Growth exceeds 10 percent annually.

This demand comes from:

  • Vision 2030 digital initiatives
  • Smart city development programs
  • Large scale giga projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea

GBT plans to use the new capital to scale infrastructure, grow its team, and deliver next generation GeoAI solutions that meet evolving market needs.