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The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) organized today a panel discussion titled “Data Innovation to Advance Official Statistics” as part of the Road to Riyadh events. The initiative comes within Saudi Arabia’s preparations to host the 6th  UN World Data Forum 2026 in Riyadh next November, with broad international participation from global experts, academics, and specialists in the fields of data, statistics, and sustainable development.
The panel discussion aimed to foster the exchange of knowledge and expertise on best practices for enhancing the capabilities of Arab statistical agencies in the field of data innovation, while enabling the effective use of innovative data approaches to improve statistical operations, enhance the quality of statistical indicators, support public policy design, and contribute to economic and social development plans.
The panel discussion brought together a distinguished group of regional and international experts and specialists in data and statistics. It was moderated by Dr. Lilac Alsafadi, Advisor at  GASTAT, and included the participation of Dr. Ziad Abdullah, Director General of the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics;  Ms. Jenna Slotin, Interim CEO of Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data; Mr. Mohammed Al-Musfer, General Supervisor for Data Management and Governance at GASTAT and Dr. Abdulrahman Habib, President of International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics. Participants discussed key opportunities and challenges in the field, as well as ways to leverage advanced technologies in data collection, analysis, and dissemination to keep pace with rapid global transformations.
It is noteworthy that the 6th UNWDF 2026 is one of the most prominent international platforms focused on data and sustainable development. It brings together a distinguished group of representatives from governments, international organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil society to discuss the future of data and its role in supporting public policies, measuring Sustainable Development Goal indicators, and fostering global innovation. Riyadh’s hosting of this event reflects international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s standing, organizational capabilities, and growing leadership in the fields of data and statistics.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) organizes a panel discussion titled “Data Innovation to Advance Official Statistics” on Monday, May 11, as part of “Road to Riyadh” series of events, which comes in preparation for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 6th UNWDF 2026 in Riyadh next November. The Forum will bring together a broad international participation of experts, decision-makers, and specialists in the fields of data, statistics, and sustainable development.
The session aims to share knowledge and exchange expertise on best practices for developing the capabilities of Arab statistical offices by showcasing successful experiences and pioneering initiatives in the fields of statistical innovation, institutional development of statistical entities, enhancing the efficiency of national talent, and enabling the use of modern data in public policy design and in supporting economic and social development plans at the regional level.
This session is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the role of innovation in developing statistical ecosystems and improving the efficiency and quality of official data production by adopting the latest practices and modern methodologies and leveraging advanced technologies in data collection, analysis, and dissemination. This contributes to supporting decision-making, enhancing the reliability of national indicators, and increasing the readiness of statistical offices to keep pace with rapid digital transformations.
The “Road to Riyadh” series of events reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to its leading role in supporting the future of data and statistics at the international level through integrated activities that include panel discussions, specialized conferences, and focused workshops highlighting key global transformations in data ecosystems. It also promotes exchange of expertise and the building of international partnerships, in line with Saudi Arabia’s advanced position in statistics and digital transformation. These events further serve as an important preparatory platform to showcase national efforts and enhance organizational and technical readiness for hosting the global Forum next November.
It is noteworthy that the 6th UNWDF 2026 is one of the most prominent international platforms focused on data and sustainable development. It brings together a distinguished group of representatives from governments, international organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil society to discuss the future of data and its role in supporting public policies, measuring Sustainable Development Goal indicators, and fostering global innovation. Riyadh’s hosting of this event reflects international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s standing, organizational capabilities, and growing leadership in the fields of data and statistics.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) organized a specialized workshop titled “The National Framework for Statistical Training,” bringing together several experts, statisticians, and data producers and users. The workshop comes as part of GASTAT’s ongoing efforts to develop national capabilities and enhance the efficiency of the workforce in the statistical sector in Saudi Arabia.
The workshop reviewed the objectives of the National Framework for Statistical Training and its role in establishing an integrated professional system that contributes to developing the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors of those working in the statistical field, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. It also aims to enhance the quality of statistical outputs and strengthen institutional performance efficiency. The workshop also featured specialized working sessions that addressed the proposed professional domains, in addition to discussing the structure of training programs and specialized tracks in the areas of data production, statistical analysis, data governance, and statistical dissemination. The sessions also discussed aligning these tracks with the actual needs of the statistical sector and its role in producing reliable statistical indicators.

In this context, the President of GASTAT, Fahad Aldossari, stated that this workshop represents a qualitative milestone in the development of the national framework for statistical training. He emphasized that investing in statistical capacity building is a strategic necessity to ensure the quality and reliability of statistical outputs. In addition, Aldossari highlighted the Saudi Statisticians Program, which has contributed to a tangible improvement in the efficiency of national cadres, thereby supporting the readiness of the statistical sector to keep pace with rapid developments in data production and its use in decision-making. He further emphasized the importance of equipping interested individuals, practitioners, and graduates with the minimum required statistical skills and competencies, particularly in light of the growing importance of data and indicators in supporting national objectives.
The National Framework for Statistical Training represents a strategic pillar for enhancing the quality and efficiency of specialized statistical training in the Kingdom, in light of the accelerating production of statistical data and its use in supporting decision-making. It also serves as an integrated national framework that defines the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors required of statistical practitioners, ensuring the readiness of national talent to meet future requirements. It further contributes to the development of training programs based on the actual needs of the labor market and aligned with international best practices in statistical training, thereby enhancing professionalism in the sector and enabling training entities to measure program impact. 
It is noteworthy that the workshop comes as part of GASTAT's commitment to its national role in continuously building and developing the capabilities of statisticians and practitioners in line with international standards and the latest global training practices, thereby enhancing the efficiency of statistical performance and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness at both the regional and international levels.

The President of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Fahad Aldossari, participated in a panel discussion on “Statistics and Decision-Making: Leading Transformation for Sustainable Impact in the Era of Data", organized by King Saud University, represented by the College of Science. The session was held as part of efforts to enhance awareness of the importance of statistical data and its role in supporting sustainable development. The event was attended by the Dean of the College of Science, Dr. Zeid Alothman, along with several faculty members from the departments of Statistics and Operations Research, Mathematics, Quantitative Analysis, and Economics, as well as a group of specialists and experts in data and statistics.
During the session, Aldossari emphasized that GASTAT places great importance on building national capacities and empowering specialized expertise, given the importance of human capital in developing statistical work. He highlighted GASTAT’s efforts to promote statistical knowledge, disseminate data culture and indicators, and support decision-makers with accurate and reliable statistics. He also noted that GASTAT continues its statistical transformation journey by adopting digital technologies and artificial intelligence and by leveraging big data and administrative records, which contribute to enhancing the quality of statistical products and accelerating their production to meet the requirements of the data era.
He further noted GASTAT’s commitment to empowering youth and equipping them with future skills in statistics and data science, thereby enhancing their readiness to contribute to building a knowledge-based economy and achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
It is worth noting that this participation comes as an extension of GASTAT’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its knowledge and community presence and to expand its partnerships with universities and academic institutions in a way that supports scientific research and contributes to preparing national talents capable of supporting the national development journey.