Groundwater is an essential resource in arid environments, including Egypt, which has significant challenges due to limited water availability resulting from climate change and anthropogenic activities. Consequently, exploring this resource is crucial for overcoming these challenges. This research demonstrated that the groundwater resources of the Gallaba plain, located in the south-western desert of Egypt, could potentially be used for agriculture and still support the continued urban need. Integrated methodologies (remote sensing, GIS, geophysical well logging, and well pumping tests) are employed to identify high-potential recharge zones, subsequently validating these findings with actual borehole data to ascertain the aquifer parameters and their spatial distribution within the study area. Our findings indicate a potential recharging zone in the Gallaba region, and the comprehensive subsurface investigations revealed two aquifers (North and south) as well, and the results from the aquifers suggest uniform geology and hydrological properties. These results indicate that the water-bearing strata in the Gallaba plain are generally highly productive. These findings highlight the potential of the Nubian Aquifer for strategic projects and the importance of studying surface and subsurface conditions to assess groundwater availability.Graphical AbstractGraphical abstract descriptions: The present research presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating groundwater potential and aquifer parameters in Egypt. The methodology integrates various data from remote sensing, geophysics, and hydrogeology to facilitate sustainable groundwater management in arid regions. Remote sensing data, collected from Copernicus DEM and Sentinel-2 imagery, are utilized to extract essential thematic layers encompassing topographic features, climatic and environmental variables, and hydrological and geological characteristics. The various layers are combined using spatial analysis and modeling to produce a groundwater potential map, which identifies regions of low to highest groundwater availability throughout the research area. Geophysical and hydrogeological data offer clear insights into subsurface conditions, complementing surface-based observations. Geophysical well logging characterizes lithological sequences, aquifer depths, and hydrostratigraphic borders, whereas pumping experiments provide essential aquifer properties, including transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, and storativity. The datasets are integrated into subsurface geological cross-sections that illustrate the geographic continuity of aquifer systems, as well as into petrophysical and hydrogeological characteristic maps that measure groundwater storage and production. This work integrates surface and subsurface variables to create a comprehensive methodology that encompasses the regional variability of groundwater potential and the characteristics of aquifers. This multidisciplinary approach enhances the precision of groundwater resource mapping and offers critical insights for efficient water resource planning, particularly in areas experiencing significant aridity and rising water demand.