Saudi Arabia coordinate converter
Free Saudi coordinate converter: Ain el Abd 1970, Aramco Lambert, MTRF-2000, and KSA-GRF17 to WGS84 and UTM zones 36-40 — official EPSG parameters with accuracy badges.
Converter
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Collect named points from conversions or a pasted table, see them on the map, convert them all to one system, and download in any format. The list is stored locally in your browser only.
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Coordinate systems in Saudi Arabia: quick reference
Survey work in Saudi Arabia historically splits across two reference frames: the legacy Ain el Abd 1970 datum (EPSG:4204), which underpins older sheets and the petroleum sector — including the Aramco Lambert projection (EPSG:2318) used across oil and gas projects — and the modern MTRF-2000 frame (EPSG:8818), followed by the newest geodetic frame KSA-GRF17 (EPSG:9333) adopted for new work.
The Kingdom spans five full UTM zones (36 through 40), so the common site error is not only the datum but the zone: Riyadh sits in zone 38, Jeddah in 37, and the Eastern Province straddles 38 and 39. A GNSS point observed on WGS84 and plotted on an Ain el Abd sheet without a datum shift lands tens of metres off.
The converter below opens on a Riyadh sample point and lists the Saudi systems first. Enter your coordinates to get the value in every system that actually covers your point — with an honest accuracy badge per system.
| EPSG | System | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| 4204 | Ain el Abd(geographic) | ±0.1 m |
| 2318 | Ain el Abd / Aramco Lambert(projected grid) | ±0.1 m |
| 20438 | Ain el Abd 1970 / UTM zone 38N(projected grid) | ±0.1 m |
| 8818 | MTRF-2000(geographic) | ±0.1 m |
| 8838 | MTRF-2000 / UTM zone 38N(projected grid) | ±0.1 m |
| 9333 | KSA-GRF17(geographic) | ±0.3 m |
The tool covers 24 systems relevant to Saudi Arabia (national systems plus the WGS84 UTM zones) — the table above lists only the key ones.
FAQ
- Which coordinate system does Saudi Arabia use?
- Three main frames: Ain el Abd 1970 (EPSG:4204) for legacy sheets and the petroleum sector, MTRF-2000 (EPSG:8818) for modern work, and KSA-GRF17 (EPSG:9333) as the newest geodetic frame. Each pairs with UTM zones 36 through 40 depending on the project location.
- What is the Aramco Lambert projection?
- A Lambert conic projection on the Ain el Abd datum (EPSG:2318), adopted historically by Aramco to cover the Kingdom with one grid instead of splitting it over UTM zones — many oil and gas sheets are still drawn on it.
- Which UTM zone is Riyadh in?
- Riyadh (about 46.7°E) sits in UTM zone 38N. Jeddah and Makkah are in zone 37, Tabuk in 36 or 37, and the Eastern Province straddles zones 38 and 39.
- Why does GPS disagree with an old Ain el Abd sheet?
- GPS observes on WGS84 while the sheet sits on Ain el Abd 1970 — the datums differ by tens of metres. This tool applies the published EPSG datum shift automatically in both directions.
- What is the difference between MTRF-2000 and KSA-GRF17?
- Both are modern frames tied to the global reference frames: MTRF-2000 came first for modern geodetic work, and KSA-GRF17 is the newer national frame. The practical difference is very small, but official projects specify the required frame in the terms of reference.
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