Global infrastructure stands at a pivotal inflection point. Annual capital project spending exceeds $9 trillion, led by emerging markets across AsiaPacific in 2025. The G20 projects $79 trillion in cumulative investment by 2040, with a $15 trillion shortfall to meet development goals. The case for improved geospatial intelligence to inform these ambitious developments has never been more relevant.
This global wave mirrors the Gulf’s own transformation and represents the largest infrastructure buildout in modern history. The Gulf Cooperation Council has committed $2.65 trillion in infrastructure investment between 2018 and 2028, with Saudi Arabia committing over $1 trillion by 2030 across its broader transformation initiatives. The UAE construction market was valued at nearly $67 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $96 billion by the end of 2030. Kuwait has earmarked $6 billion in capital spending for 2025-2026, with infrastructure projects receiving the largest share.
Parallel defense investment reinforces the imperative for more advanced geospatial intelligence. Global military expenditure reached $2.72 trillion in 2024, with Gulf countries averaging 5.8% of GDP versus the global 2.5%. In the Middle East, defense spending grew by 15% from 2023 to 2024, demonstrating regional commitment to comprehensive security capabilities that protect both civilian and strategic assets. The 2025 Munich Declaration’s call for European defense spending to reach 3-4% of GDP reflects broader recognition that national security and infrastructure resilience operate as interconnected strategic requirements.
Yet this unprecedented expansion coincides with converging pressures that expose vulnerabilities in how nations monitor and protect critical assets. Decision-makers face mounting pressure to act faster while conventional monitoring tools fail to meet these accelerating demands.