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The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with King Saud University (KSU). The MoU was signed on behalf of the two parties by GASTAT President, Fahad Aldossari and the Acting President of King Saud University, Prof. Ali bin Mohammed Masmali.
The MoU aims to strengthen research and scientific collaboration in the fields of applied and theoretical statistics and artificial intelligence. It also seeks to support research and innovation initiatives, statistical analysis and its applications across various sectors, facilitate the participation of academic and research experts in joint projects and programs, and provide advisory and training support in areas of mutual interest. In addition, the MoU also encourages the students and graduates of KSU to engage in cooperative training and research projects related to GASTAT's work. It further seeks to raise statistical awareness among the university's faculty, staff, and students through dedicated outreach programs, while supporting the development of academic curricula and training programs to better align educational outcomes with labor market needs.
This MoU reflects GASTAT's ongoing efforts to strengthen its partnerships with the academic sector, contributing to the enhancement of the quality of its statistical indicators, the development of national capabilities, and the advancement of research and innovation projects within the statistical sector.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) published the Short-Term Business Indicators Statistics publication for May 2026. The Operating Revenues Index recorded an increase of 11.4% in May 2026 compared to May 2025, driven by growth across several economic activities. Mining and quarrying recorded the highest increase at 38.7%, followed by manufacturing activity, which rose by 9.6%, wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles activities also increased by 3.6%, while construction and financial and insurance activities recorded increases of 2.5% and 12.9%, respectively.
On a monthly basis, the Operating Revenue Index increased by 2.9% in May 2026 compared to April 2026, driven by an increase of 0.6% in manufacturing activity, an increase of 10.2% in mining and quarrying activity, an increase of 1.3% in wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles activity, an increase of 1.1% in financial and insurance activities, and an increase of 1.9% in information and communication activities. In May 2026, the issued building permits recorded a year-on-year decrease of 33.3%, falling to 5,056 permits, compared to 7,584 permits in May 2025. On a monthly basis, the number of building permits also declined by 25.7% compared to April 2026, which recorded 6,803 building permits.
It is noteworthy that the Short-Term Business Statistics product is one of GASTAT’s economic statistical products, designed to measure the short-term performance of various sectors of the economy through monthly indicators that monitor developments and growth rates across economic activities. The product covers all economic activities of establishments operating in the business sector across Saudi Arabia.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) organized a webinar titled "The 6th UN World Data Forum: A platform for implementation and coordination" as part of "Road to Riyadh" events. The event forms part of Saudi Arabia's preparations to host the 6th UN World Data Forum (UNWDF 2026), scheduled to be held in Riyadh in November 2026. The webinar featured the participation of the President of GASTAT, Fahad Aldossari, along with a distinguished group of officials, experts, and specialists in data and statistics from the Kingdom and around the world.
During his remarks, Aldossari emphasized that Saudi Arabia's hosting of the 6th UNWDF reflects the international confidence placed in the Kingdom and demonstrates the significant progress achieved by the national statistical ecosystem in advancing the future of data and statistics at both the regional and global levels. He highlighted GASTAT's efforts over recent months, including organizing conferences, seminars, panel discussions, and workshops aligned with the Forum's. These efforts have contributed to deepening dialogue on the latest developments in the statistical field and maximizing the Forum's expected outcomes.
The webinar brought together Shantanu Mukherjee, Acting director of the UN Statistics Division; Dr. Macdonald G. Obudho Director General of the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics ; Jenna Slotin, Interim CEO of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data; Vjollca Simoni, Director of European Integration and International Relations at the Albanian Institute of Statistics; Javier Posse, Director of the School of Statistics at the National University of Rosario; Dr. Munther Alansari, Advisor at the Saudi Ministry of Tourism and a global expert in tourism statistics; Timothy Trainor, International Consultant and Former President; and Hamad Allahim, Director of International Participation and Activities at GASTAT. The session was moderated by Ibrahim Alali, Advisor at GASTAT. Participants discussed leading international practices and experiences in data and statistics, as well as mechanisms for strengthening integration and coordination among partners in preparation for the Forum.
The webinar also reviewed the latest developments in preparations for hosting the Forum and highlighted the key topics of the preparatory program. Discussions focused on opportunities to strengthen international partnerships in data and statistics and the importance of coordination among relevant stakeholders to ensure the Forum's success and maximize its impact. In addition, the webinar explored the Forum's key topics, including data innovation, data governance, decision-making, and accelerating progress toward SDGs.
The webinar represents one of the key milestones in the Forum's preparation process, implemented by GASTAT in partnership with the UN Statistics Division. The program aims to enhance readiness, expand international collaboration, and enrich global dialogue on the future of data and statistics in support of sustainable development planning and economic policymaking.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), in collaboration with the United Nations) UN (, today announced the opening of registration for participation in the Sixth United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF 2026), scheduled to take place in Riyadh from 9 to 12 November 2026. Registration has also opened for the Second Saudi Statistics Forum (SSF), one of the Road to Riyadh events.

The opening of registration marks an important milestone in the preparations for hosting the Forum, enabling participants from around the world to register early and explore the Forum’s topics, programme, and accompanying events.

The 6th UNWDF is one of the world’s leading international platforms dedicated to data and sustainable development. It brings together representatives from governments, international organizations, academia, and the private sector to discuss the future of data, its role in supporting policymaking, and measuring progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Forum is expected to bring together participants from across the globe, providing a platform for the exchange of expertise, the sharing of international experiences and best practices, and the development of partnerships that strengthen collaboration in the fields of data and statistics. These efforts will contribute to enhancing capabilities and maximizing the use of data to support sustainable development and informed decision-making.

Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Forum reaffirms the Kingdom’s role in advancing international cooperation and strengthening statistical development, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and its ongoing efforts to foster innovation and further develop the data and statistics ecosystem.

Those interested in participating may register through the registration link and stay informed about the latest updates and Forum-related information through the official channels of GASTAT and the UN.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first among the G20 countries according to country-reported data in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Indicators Database, compared to the results of the Safety Index for the year 2023, issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The results showed that 97.7% of the total population feels safe when walking alone at night in their residential areas.
The results released by GASTAT indicated the contributions of relevant government sectors in maintaining the safety experienced by residents across all regions and governorates of the Kingdom. This aligns with ongoing initiatives to enhance security, stability, and quality of life in Saudi Arabia across various domains, including economic, food, environmental, health, social, political, intellectual, technological, and cybersecurity. These efforts also aim to enhance the quality of services in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
It is worth noting that GASTAT carries out all of its statistical activities in accordance with a unified methodology that is aligned with the nature of each statistical product. This methodology is based on the Statistical Business Process Manual, which is consistent with the business processes adopted by international statistical organizations.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), is preparing to announce the opening of registration on 30 June 2026 for participation in the 6th World Data Forum (UNWDF 2026), alongside registration for the Second Saudi Statistics Forum (SSF), as part of the preparations for hosting the Forum in Riyadh this coming November.

The registration announcement will be accompanied by the release of media materials through the official channels of GASTAT and the UN. These materials will highlight the Forum’s objectives, key topics, and participation opportunities.

Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Forum reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in the global data ecosystem and its commitment to advancing international cooperation and fostering strategic partnerships in the fields of data and statistics, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Forum is expected to bring together participants from around the world, providing a platform for the exchange of expertise, the sharing of international best practices, and the development of partnerships that contribute to strengthening data and statistical systems.

UNWDF is one of the world’s leading international platforms dedicated to data and sustainable development. It brings together representatives from governments, international organizations, academia, and the private sector to discuss the future of data and its role in supporting policymaking and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 
 GASTAT encourages experts and all interested stakeholders to follow the official channels of both GASTAT and the UN for updates on the Forum, registration details, and participation procedures, which will be announced in the coming period.
 

Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), participated for the first time in the 23rd meeting of the OECD Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy (CSSP), held virtually from 22 to 23 June 2026, with the participation of heads of national statistical offices and senior statistical officials from member countries and international partner organizations.
President of GASTAT, Fahad Aldossari, stated that Saudi Arabia’s participation in this meeting, held ahead of the Conference of European Statisticians (CES) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), underscores the Kingdom’s advanced standing within the international statistical community and reflects the growing global confidence in its institutional capabilities, particularly as it prepares to host the 6th  United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF) 2026 in Riyadh.
The meeting reviewed a number of topics related to the advancement of statistical work, including strengthening the quality and reliability of statistical data, leveraging artificial intelligence in statistical processes, and modernizing statistical methodologies and standards. Discussions also covered the use of emerging data sources to support the production of statistical indicators and meet the evolving needs of data users.
CSSP is one of the principal committees of OECD. It is responsible for discussing strategic directions related to official statistics, advancing statistical indicators and methodologies, and strengthening cooperation among national statistical offices and specialized international organizations. GASTAT’s representation of the Kingdom in the Committee’s work reflects Saudi Arabia’s active engagement in international statistical forums and its commitment to keeping pace with global developments in statistics and data. It also contributes to discussions on issues shaping the future of statistical work and its development. Through these efforts, GASTAT continues to support statistical systems and offices regionally and internationally, helping to strengthen statistical capacities and advance progress toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) will organize a quarterly virtual workshop on Thursday, June 25, 2026, titled "Statistical Practices: The Statistical Quality Assurance Framework and Its Role in Enhancing the Quality of Statistics," as part of Road to Riyadh events in preparation for Saudi Arabia's hosting of the 6th UNWDF in November 2026.
The workshop aims to highlight GASTAT's experience in developing and implementing the Statistical Quality Assurance Framework across statistical products to enhance data reliability and support decision-making. It will also showcase GASTAT's organizational efforts to establish an integrated statistical quality system in line with international best practices, develop methodologies for evaluating statistical products, and establish continuous improvement mechanisms, thereby enhancing the quality of statistical outputs and strengthening transparency and confidence in official statistics.
In this context, GASTAT invited specialists and those interested in the fields of statistics and data to participate in the virtual session, which will be streamed via GASTAT's digital platforms, with further details on the Road to Riyadh events available through its website.
It is noteworthy that GASTAT is organizing a series of sessions and events as part of Saudi Arabia's preparations to host the 6th UNWDF 2026 to promote dialogue, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and highlight the progress witnessed by Saudi Arabia in the fields of statistics and data. The events will continue until the Second Saudi Statistics Forum, taking place on November 8, 2026, ahead of UNWDF, which will be held from November 9 to 12, 2026.
 

‌This policy aims to ensure the implementation of the integrated administrative systems requirements within GASTAT by tracking and following up to achieve the strategic objectives of GASTAT and maintaining the satisfaction of the beneficiaries through the provision of high-quality services and full compliance with the regulatory and legislative requirements as follows:
The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Publication for Q1 of 2026. According to the publication 's results, real GDP recorded a growth rate of 3.0% compared with the corresponding quarter of 2025. This growth was driven by a 2.9% increase in both oil and non-oil activities, in addition to a 1.5% rise in government activities. On a seasonally adjusted basis, real GDP declined by 1.2% in Q1 of 2026 compared with Q4 of 2025.
The results also showed that non-oil activities were the main contributor to real GDP growth in Q1 of 2026, contributing 1.7 percentage points. Oil activities contributed 0.8 percentage points, while government activities and net taxes on products contributed positively by 0.3 and 0.2 percentage points, respectively.
It is worth noting that all economic activities recorded positive year-on-year growth rates. Financial and insurance activities, along with business services, posted the highest growth rate in Q1 of 2026 at 5.4%, followed by manufacturing activities excluding oil refining, which grew by 4.0%.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) concludes the second edition of the Statistical Knowledge Competition, which was implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education,   and honors the winning education departments. The event was attended by Dr. Saad Al Harbi, Vice Minister for General Education, and Fahad Aldossari, President of GASTAT, along with a number of senior education officials, directors of education departments, and GASTAT leaders and staff.  This comes as part of ongoing efforts to promote statistical literacy and enhance awareness among younger generations of the importance of data and statistics.
The President of GASTAT emphasized that the competition represents one of GASTAT’s initiatives aimed at enhancing statistical awareness among male and female students and developing their skills in reading, understanding, and interpreting data and statistical indicators from reliable sources. He noted that the strong participation in the second edition reflects the growing interest in statistical knowledge among students across the Kingdom and underscores the importance of continuing joint efforts to strengthen analytical and critical thinking skills among future generations, thereby contributing to the preparation of national talent capable of keeping pace with rapid transformations and ongoing developments.
The competition results showed that the General Administration of Education in Riyadh Region ranked first in terms of the number of participants, accounting for 22.1% of the total participants. Followed by the General Administration of Education in Jeddah Governorate with 20.2% and the General Administration of Education in Makkah Region with 12.1%. Meanwhile, the General Administration of Education in Eastern Region ranked fourth with 10.01%, while the General Administration of Education in Qassim Region came fifth, accounting for 9.0% of the total participants.
It is worth noting that the second edition of the Statistical Knowledge Competition builds on the success achieved by the first edition. A total of 1,690,787 male and female students participated in this edition, representing 16 education departments across various regions and governorates of the Kingdom. This reflects the high level of engagement with the competition and its role in fostering statistical awareness and enhancing knowledge of data and its importance within the educational sector.