Egypt launches GIS database to regulate roadside advertising

Egypt’s National Authority for Regulating Advertisements on Public Roads has launched a project to establish the country’s first integrated geographic database for roadside advertising, as part of efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight through digital technology.

The authority, which is affiliated with the Cabinet, said on Thursday the project forms part of its digital transformation strategy to improve governance and modernise the management of advertising spaces.

Chief Executive Officer Iman Nabil said the authority had begun coordinating with governorates, new urban communities, and other relevant entities to survey existing roadside advertisements and incorporate them into a unified nationwide digital registry.

The database will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to map the precise location of each advertisement and link it to technical and regulatory information, including its dimensions, licensing status, and the authority responsible for issuing the permit.

Nabil said the system would provide the first comprehensive overview of the distribution of roadside advertisements across Egypt, helping improve monitoring, planning and regulatory oversight while supporting data-driven decision-making, optimising advertising spaces, and reducing violations.

The project is being implemented under the Public Roads Advertisement Regulation Law No. 208 of 2020 and supports Egypt’s broader digital transformation agenda by strengthening oversight and improving the management of public advertising assets.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser