Rapid population expansion in Ethiopia’s Upper Blue Nile River Basin has significantly increased water demand across various sectors. The study utilised GIS techniques combined with multi-criteria decision-making methods to evaluate groundwater availability within the study area. This study involved the analysis and evaluation of environmental, hydrological, and geological characteristics to assess the enduring stability and dependability of groundwater systems. Multiple elements, such as “lithology, lineament density, elevation, precipitation, soil type, NDVI, land use/cover, slope, and drainage density”, were collectively used to generate a comprehensive groundwater potential map. Field surveys, existing maps and publications, together with multi-spectral and microwave satellite imagery, were integrated to create theme layers that established the statistical and geographic data base. Information on land cover, NDVI, and rainfall was obtained via satellite imagery. The integrated AHP-based groundwater potential map exhibits values ranging from 0.08 (lowest potential) to 0.36 (highest potential), culminating in the map’s development. Approximately 93 km2, constituting roughly 20% of the research region, was identified as being under the low groundwater potential category (0.08 ≤ AHP values ≤ 016). Regions with AHP values ranging from 0.17 to 0.22 were classified as intermediate and high-potential, constituting 42% and 38% of the total area, respectively. The area-under-curve validation approach indicates a 76.6% concordance among the groundwater potential map and the sites of existing water points. These results provide crucial baseline data for formulating sustainable water resource management strategies throughout the Upper Blue Nile Basin region.