GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, held a meeting with John List, Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and his accompanying delegation during their recent visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
During the meeting, Dr. Fahad Aldossari reviewed key transformations of the statistical sector in the Kingdom in recent years. He highlighted the significant expansion in the statistical work and the qualitative initiatives led by GASTAT to enhance the production of statistical indicators, develop the infrastructure and governance of the statistical sector, and integrate multiple data sources while improving exchange mechanisms according to the highest international standards. The two parties also discussed areas of cooperation aimed at linking research and innovation in the statistical field to several areas within the Kingdom.
 This collaboration seeks to contribute to raising the level of awareness and disseminating research that enhances global scientific content in relevant disciplines, through an integrated framework between GASTAT and the University of Chicago.
 It is worth noting that this meeting aligns with GASTAT's strategic direction towards expanding its scientific and research partnerships with leading international academic institutions. This aims to enhance its capacity to produce high-quality statistics and support the integration between its statistical products and scientific research, ultimately contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals and strengthening the Kingdom's statistical standing at both regional and international levels.
 

GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, met with the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Dr. Claudia Mahler. During the meeting, they reviewed the efforts made by GASTAT to support the elderly through the production of updated statistical data and indicators specifically for this group.

Dr. Fahad Aldossari provided an overview of the statistical transformation project launched in 2023, which aims to ensure comprehensive coverage of all statistical indicators in the Kingdom, including data and indicators related to the elderly. He also emphasized that after collecting, analyzing, and processing field and register-based data, it is essential to align this data in cooperation with relevant government entities to achieve accurate results that continuously enhance service quality.

It is worth mentioning that this meeting is part of GASTAT's efforts to enhance international cooperation and exchange experiences with international organizations, aiming to raise the Kingdom's ranking in international indicators and develop statistical work according to the best global practices.
 

GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, received the Chief Statistician of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr. Jose Rosero, at GASTAT’s headquarters in Riyadh. They held a bilateral meeting to discuss several topics of mutual interest.

During the meeting, they reviewed GASTAT’s key projects and highlighted its strategic transformation journey, which includes the improvement of various statistical product methodologies, the enhancement of the digital infrastructure within GASTAT, and the improvement of information technology efficiency supporting statistical work.

Dr. Jose Rosero expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome, stating FAO's interest in enhancing cooperation with GASTAT, considering the increasing importance of data regularly requested by the organization from international statistical offices and agencies.
 

Saudi Arabia made significant progress in the 2024 Open Data Inventory report issued by Open Data Watch, rising to 41st place globally out of 197 countries. This marks an advancement of 28 positions compared to the year 2022 assessment. Also, Saudi Arabia advanced from 15th to 9th place among G20 countries in this year’s report reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing transparency and data openness. The ODIN report is based on two main elements: the Data Coverage Score, which measures the comprehensiveness and diversity of published official data, and the Data Openness Score, which measures the ease of access and usability of data.

Open Data Watch, through its official report, praised the significant progress made by the Kingdom, considering this advancement the result of ongoing efforts and notable initiatives worthy of recognition. The Kingdom’s data coverage score increased by 16 points, and the data openness score rose by 15 points, achieving a growth of 143% in the overall score since 2017. underscoring its commitment to adopting global best practices in the field of open data.

This national achievement is the result of the efforts of the General Authority for Statistics, which leads the national statistical ecosystem by developing statistical products, launching strategic indicators that support Saudi Vision 2030, expanding the provision of open data, and facilitating access through official digital platforms.

In line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, GASTAT has strengthened its strategy to develop IT infrastructure, enabling government entities, the private sector, and researchers to use data to support strategic planning and decision-making. GASTAT’s efforts have also contributed to fostering a culture of transparency and open data, raising community awareness of the importance of data as a key driver of sustainable development and innovation.

This progress in the open data inventory report reflects the Kingdom’s growing status as a regional and global hub for providing official data and statistical indicators, reinforcing its role in building a sustainable, knowledge-based economy, enhancing transparency, attracting investment, and keeping pace with the rapid digital transformations taking place worldwide.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced the implementation of a comprehensive update to Saudi Arabia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in line with the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance economic transparency, improve the quality and statistical data reliability, and accurately measure national economic indicators that support development goals and align with international best practices.
GASTAT explained that the updated results showed a 14.1% increase in GDP estimates for 2023, equivalent to an additional SAR 566 billion compared to previously published results, bringing the updated GDP total to SAR 4.5 trillion. The comprehensive update also revealed a higher relative contribution of the non-oil economy, reaching 53.2%, an increase of 5.7 percentage points from earlier estimates, driven largely by the increased economic activity of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The update further indicated significant growth in several economic sectors, including a 61% increase in construction activity, a 29.8% rise in wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels, and a 25.6% increase in transportation, storage, and communications, in addition to growth across various other sectors.
This update is part of GASTAT’s ongoing efforts to provide more comprehensive, up-to-date, accurate, and high-quality statistical data that serves decision-makers, policymakers, investors, researchers, and stakeholders at the local, regional, and international levels. Over the past period, GASTAT has implemented several enhancements to national accounts statistics, most notably the adoption of the chain-linked methodology. This globally recognized approach is used to estimate real GDP growth rates based on the weights and prices of the year preceding the measurement year, in accordance with the recommendations of the System of National Accounts (SNA) manual.
At the beginning of 2024, GASTAT launched the comprehensive GDP update project through a series of statistical surveys aimed at collecting detailed and wide-ranging data for the year 2023. Key surveys included the comprehensive economic survey, the household income and expenditure survey, and the comprehensive agricultural survey, in addition to an expanded use of administrative data sources. These inputs were used to develop more detailed supply and use tables and to produce accurate GDP estimates using the production, income, and expenditure approaches. The update also provided detailed data covering 134 economic activities, compared to 85 in the previous classification.
GASTAT affirmed that this update aligns with globally recognized statistical practices, helping to deliver a more accurate and up-to-date representation of the national economy. It captures significant structural shifts, enhances the precision of economic indicators, and boosts the credibility and international alignment of national data. GASTAT also emphasized that without regular updates, the data may fail to reflect the ongoing transformation of Saudi Arabia’s economic structure, particularly in light of the rapid expansion of the non-oil sector since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030. The revised GDP data is now accessible through GASTAT’s official e-portal.

استقبل رئيس الهيئة العامة للإحصاء الدكتور فهد بن عبدالله الدوسري، اليوم في مقر الهيئة بالرياض، وفدًا رسميًا من المركز الاتحادي للتنافسية والإحصاء بدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، برئاسة مدير المركز الأستاذة حنان أهلي.

وفي مستهل اللقاء، رحّب الدكتور الدوسري بالوفد الزائر، مؤكدًا عمق العلاقات الأخوية التي تجمع المملكة العربية السعودية ودولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، وأهمية التعاون الثنائي بين الجهازين الإحصائيين في البلدين الشقيقين لدعم مسيرة العمل الإحصائي وتطوير القدرات الوطنية بما يسهم في تحقيق مستهدفات التنمية المستدامة ورؤية البلدين الطموحتين. كما عُقد اجتماع موسع بين الجانبين، نوقشت خلاله عدد من الموضوعات ذات الاهتمام المشترك في مجالات العمل الإحصائي، من أبرزها: تبادل الخبرات في تطوير المنهجيات الإحصائية الحديثة، وتعزيز التكامل في جمع وتحليل البيانات الإحصائية، وتطوير آليات إنتاج المؤشرات الاستراتيجية الداعمة لصناعة القرار، واستعراض أفضل الممارسات في إتاحة البيانات المفتوحة وضمان جودتها، وبحث فرص التعاون المستقبلي في الابتكار الإحصائي والتقنيات التحليلية الحديثة مثل: الذكاء الاصطناعي وتحليل البيانات الضخمة. كما استعرض الجانبان أبرز الإنجازات الوطنية التي حققتها المملكة ودولة الإمارات في مجال تطوير البيانات الرسمية، والجهود المبذولة للارتقاء بجودة البيانات، وتوسيع نطاق استخدام الإحصاءات لدعم الخطط التنموية والرؤى الوطنية.

وفي ختام اللقاء، أعرب رئيس الهيئة العامة للإحصاء عن تقديره لزيارة الوفد الإماراتي، مشيرًا إلى أهمية تعزيز التعاون الإحصائي بين البلدين عبر مبادرات عملية تسهم في تبادل المعرفة والخبرات، وتعزز من التكامل الإحصائي الخليجي، وتدعم بناء اقتصاد معرفي متطور يستند إلى البيانات الدقيقة والموثوقة. كما أكد الجانبان التزامهما بمواصلة العمل المشترك لاستكشاف مجالات جديدة للتعاون الإحصائي، بما يعزز من مكانة البلدين في الساحة الإقليمية والدولية.

                                    
GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, held a series of bilateral meetings with several heads and directors of international organizations and statistical centers during the Saudi Statistics Forum. The forum was hosted in Riyadh from April 27-28, 2025.
These meetings involved discussions on areas of bilateral cooperation, exploring opportunities for integration and the exchange of expertise in developing statistical work, and examining ways to expand partnerships with leading statistical entities at both regional and international levels. The aim was to enhance data quality and contribute to the development of statistical products and indicators that support decision-making.
The meetings included discussions with: Dr. Johannes Jutting, Executive Head of PARIS21; Dr. Ola Awad, President of PCBS; Dr. Steve Macfeely, OECD Chief Statistician; Professor Xuming He, President of ISI; Mr. Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Obaidly, Director-General of the National Statistics Center of Qatar; Intisar Abdullah Al Wahaibi, Director General of the GCC Statistical Centre;   Dr. Diaa Awad Kazem, President of the Statistics and Geospatial Information Authority in Iraq; Dr. Khalifa Al-Barwani, Chief Executive Officer at National Centre for Statistics and Information in Oman; Ms. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, Director General of SESRIC; Mr. Rafeal Diaz, Senior Statistician at ILO; and Dr. Ziad Abdullah, Director General of the Arab Institute for Training and Statistical Research.

During the meetings, Dr. Fahad Aldossari emphasized GASTAT's commitment to strengthening its international and regional partnerships to develop methodologies, enhance the efficiency of statistical systems, expand the scope of open data, and keep pace with global technological advancements in the field of statistics and analysis.

The Saudi Statistics Forum is a significant national platform for activating statistical cooperation, promoting capacity building, and transferring knowledge. It was held with the participation of prominent statistical leaders, decision-makers, and local and international experts, and was attended by over 300 participants from various entities related to statistical work.
 

اختتم المنتدى السعودي للإحصاء أعماله في يومه الأخير بثلاث جلسات حوارية تناولت عددًا من الموضوعات والمحاور الرئيسة في القطاع الإحصائي، بمشاركة عدد من ممثلي المنظمات الدولية والخبراء المحليين والدوليين وصناع القرار.
وشهدت أعمال اليوم الثاني والأخير جلسة حوارية  بعنوان: (الابتكار والتطوير في الأساليب الإحصائية) تحدث المشاركون فيها حول دور التقنيات المبتكرة في تغيير وتحديث طريقة إنتاج البيانات وجمعها وتحليلها عبر مختلف المجالات وتوظيف تقنيات الاستشعار عن بعد والصور من الأقمار الصناعية في الإحصاءات الجغرافية والزراعية واستخدام الأساليب الإحصائية لتحليل الاتجاهات والتوقعات المستقبلية إضافة إلى رفع الوعي بأتمتة العمليات الإحصائية ودور الابتكار الإحصائي في رفع مستوى الثقة في الإحصاءات الرسمية.
فيما خصصت الجلسة الحوارية الرابعة لموضوع: "دور القطاع الخاص في دعم وإنتاج البيانات الإحصائية " والتي تناقش فيها عدد من المختصين في القطاع الإحصائي  حول دور القطاع الخاص في دعم وإنتاج البيانات الإحصائية والتكامل بين المؤسسات الإحصائية ومستخدمي البيانات، إضافة إلى أهمية مساهمة مكونات القطاع الخاص من الشركات والمؤسسات الخاصة في توفير البيانات وإنتاج الإحصاءات ذات العلاقة بالقطاع الخاص أو النطاق التنموي الوطني بشكل عام، والتحديات التي تواجهه في إنتاج البيانات وتوفيرها بجودة عالية، وأهمية البيانات الضخمة وابتكارات التحليل الإحصائي في تحسين جودة التقديرات والمؤشرات الاقتصادية وفرص تعزيز الشراكة بين القطاعين العام والخاص لتطوير مصادر بيانات دقيقة تدعم القرارات الاقتصادية والتنموية. 
واستعرضت الجلسة الأخيرة “أهمية التكامل بين المؤسسات الإحصائية ومستخدمي البيانات" وناقشت سبل تعزيز العلاقة بين المكاتب الإحصائية والمستفيدين، وذلك من خلال تسهيل الوصول إلى بيانات ومؤشرات المنتجات الإحصائية وتقديمها بأشكال متعددة وخدمات متنوعة، والتأكيد على العمل المستمر لتطوير مستوى العلاقة والتواصل من خلال توفير منصات قادرة على تقديم البيانات بطريقة آمنة، وبصيغ رقمية متنوعة مدعومة بالرسوم البيانية والجداول والتصاميم التوضيحية وفق أفضل الممارسات والمعايير والتقنيات المحلية والعالمية. 

GASTAT signed four agreements on the concluding day of the Saudi Statistics Forum. The event was held under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning, Chairman of GASTAT’s Board of Directors. It brought together several ministers, heads and representatives of international organizations and statistical offices, local and international experts and decision-makers in the statistical sector.

The cooperation agreements were signed with the Riyadh Chamber, Jeddah University, the Social Development Bank, and ROSHN Group. The agreements aim to strengthen collaboration, enhance coordination, and integrate efforts across the parties' areas of expertise. They also establish an institutional framework for joint activities and tasks, while supporting the development of institutional capacities in areas of mutual interest.

The areas of cooperation focused on several strategic tracks, most notably the exchange of technical support and expertise according to each party’s specialization, strengthening partnerships in the development of statistical products and indicators, improving the quality of statistical data, and promoting statistical awareness across various sectors.

GASTAT's president, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, emphasized that strengthening cooperation with government and private sectors is a key pillar in achieving national and sustainable development goals. He emphasized that the exchange of statistical data and expertise contributes to enhancing institutional performance efficiency, meeting the needs of various stakeholders, and anticipating future trends for the development of statistical products and services, thereby strengthening the national economy and raising public awareness that supports comprehensive development.

It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It plays a key role in collecting, analyzing, and studying statistical data and information to support decision-makers and policy-makers.

On its first day, the Saudi Statistics Forum — held under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Statistics — witnessed the attendance of a number of Their Highnesses and Excellencies, ministers, heads and representatives of international organizations and statistical offices, local and international experts, and decision-makers in the statistical sector, along with more than 300 individuals interested in statistical work.

The first panel discussion at the forum, titled “The Role of Statistics in Policy Development and Decision-making,” featured the participation of His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, and His Excellency the President of the General Authority for Statistics, Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dossari.

The session discussed the impact of collaboration and integration between national statistical offices and governmental and private entities in decision-making and enhancing developmental outcomes. It also addressed the importance of statistical indicators in measuring the success of policies and aligning them with national targets, in addition to highlighting the critical role of statistical data as a fundamental pillar in shaping public policies, making decisions, and setting national priorities.

The second panel discussion was dedicated to the topic of "International Statistical Methodologies and Practices". It featured the participation of the President of the General Authority for Statistics, along with several heads of statistical offices, representatives of international organizations, and several local and international experts. The participants discussed the importance of globally recognized statistical standards and classifications, the unification of methodologies to ensure comparability between countries, and the role of modern technologies in advancing statistical methodologies. They also addressed the challenges facing statistical practices and emphasized the importance of ensuring reliability and transparency in official statistics.

It is worth noting that the Saudi Statistics Forum will continue its specialized sessions focusing on the statistical sector, covering a range of topics such as innovation and development in statistical methods, the role of the private sector in supporting and producing statistical data, and the integration between statistical institutions and data users. These efforts are part of the forum’s broader goal to develop a comprehensive national statistical system that supports decision-making and contributes to achieving sustainable development goals.

وقّعت الهيئة العامة للإحصاء مذكرة تفاهم مع "إحصاءات إستونيا" في جمهورية إستونيا، أثناء انعقاد المنتدى السعودي للإحصاء، الذي أُقيم في مدينة الرياض خلال الفترة من 27 إلى 28 أبريل 2025م، وذلك في إطار تعزيز التعاون الدولي في مجال العمل الإحصائي.

وتهدف مذكرة التفاهم إلى رفع مستوى التعاون بين الجانبين، وتعزيز التنسيق وتكامل الجهود في المجالات الإحصائية، إضافة إلى تطوير القدرات المؤسسية، وبناء إطار عام للأنشطة والمهام المشتركة، بما يخدم الأهداف الاستراتيجية للطرفين. وقد وقّع الاتفاقية كلٌ من الدكتور فهد بن عبدالله الدوسري، رئيس الهيئة العامة للإحصاء، والسيد أورميت لي، المدير العام لـ "إحصاءات إستونيا".

وتتضمن المذكرة التعاون في تبادل الخبرات والدعم الفني والمعرفي، إلى جانب تبادل البرامج الخاصة بنشر الوعي الإحصائي، واستراتيجيات التواصل مع الجمهور، وتنظيم المؤتمرات والندوات وورش العمل، فضلاً عن تبادل الزيارات بين الخبراء والمختصين في المجالات ذات العلاقة بالأعمال الإحصائية.

يذكر أن المنتدى السعودي للإحصاء هو الأول من نوعه، ويهدف إلى مناقشة مواضيع مهمة على الصعيد الإحصائي وبيان الأثر الإيجابي لقطاع الإحصاء في دعم مسيرة النهضة والتنمية المستدامة في المملكة وترسيخ أهمية البيانات والإحصاءات في وعي أفراد المجتمع.
 

In the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning, Mr. Faisal bin Fadel Alibrahim; His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef and Mr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Secretary-General of the National Planning Council, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Statistics Center of Qatar. The signing took place on the sidelines of the first Saudi Statistics Forum.
The agreement aims to elevate the level of cooperation between the two parties, enhance coordination, and integrate efforts in their respective fields. Furthermore, it seeks to establish a general framework for joint activities and tasks, develop institutional capabilities, and foster integration to serve common objectives.
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, and His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Obaidli, Director-General of the National Statistics Center of Qatar. The memorandum outlines several key areas of cooperation, including the exchange of technical expertise and knowledge aligned with each party’s area of specialization in mutually relevant fields. It also covers the development and sharing of programs aimed at promoting statistical awareness, strategies for public engagement, and the joint organization of conferences, seminars, and workshops. Additionally, it encourages the exchange of visits between experts and specialists engaged in statistical activities.

In this context, Dr. Fahad Aldossari emphasized that GASTAT’s statistical efforts play a vital role in advancing the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by developing and monitoring statistical indicators. Pointing out that cooperation with the National Statistics Centre of Qatar contributes to measuring progress towards achieving the objectives of national visions and sustainable development through joint work in raising the level of performance concerning the exchange of statistical data, meeting the requirements of both parties and identifying statistical developments and future trends in developing statistical products. This collaboration aims to support the national economy and sustainable development, enhance knowledge, and build societal awareness towards the various sectors and activities of the state.

It is worth noting that the General Authority for Statistics is the entity responsible for statistics in the Kingdom and the sole official reference for implementing and technically supervising and organizing statistical work. GASTAT's tasks are diverse and include collecting statistical data and information from public and private entities and individuals, as well as analyzing and studying this data.

وقّع رئيس الهيئة العامة للإحصاء، الدكتور فهد بن عبدالله الدوسري، مذكرة تفاهم مع مدير عام إحصاءات فنلندا بجمهورية فنلندا، الأستاذ ماركوس سوفالا، بحضور معالي وزير الاقتصاد والتخطيط، رئيس مجلس إدارة الهيئة العامة للإحصاء، الأستاذ فيصل بن فاضل الإبراهيم، ومعالي وزير الصناعة والثروة المعدنية الأستاذ بندر بن إبراهيم الخريف، وذلك خلال انعقاد أعمال المنتدى السعودي للإحصاء، الذي نظمته الهيئة العامة للإحصاء في العاصمة الرياض، خلال يومي 27-28 أبريل 2025م.

وتهدف المذكرة إلى رفع مستوى التعاون بين الطرفين، وتعزيز التنسيق وتكامل الجهود في مجالات العمل الإحصائي، إلى جانب وضع إطار عام للأنشطة والمهام المشتركة، وتطوير القدرات المؤسسية بما يخدم الأهداف الاستراتيجية للطرفين، كما تشمل مجالات متعددة للتعاون، من أبرزها: تبادل الدعم والخبرات الفنية والمعرفية بحسب اختصاص كل طرف، وتبادل البرامج المعنية بنشر الوعي الإحصائي، واستراتيجيات التواصل مع الجمهور، إضافة إلى تنظيم المؤتمرات والندوات وورش العمل.

يذكر أن المنتدى السعودي للإحصاء هو الأول من نوعه، ويهدف إلى مناقشة مواضيع مهمة على الصعيد الإحصائي وبيان الأثر الإيجابي لقطاع الإحصاء في دعم مسيرة النهضة والتنمية المستدامة في المملكة وترسيخ أهمية البيانات والإحصاءات في وعي أفراد المجتمع.
 

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GASTAT, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, the Saudi Statistical Forum was launched, organized by GASTAT in the capital, Riyadh, with the participation of a number of HE ministers, heads and representatives of international organizations and statistical offices, as well as local and international experts and decision-makers in the statistical sector. The forum was attended by more than 300 individuals interested in statistical work and will continue over two days, 27–28 April 2025.
His Excellency Minister Faisal Alibrahim delivered a speech in which he emphasized that the forum was inspired by the  insightful guidance of HRH the Crown Prince in developing and advancing the Kingdom’s data system, to serve as an example in measuring performance levels and identifying the impact of legislation through data and statistical indicators. He confirmed that the Kingdom has made great strides in enhancing the quality and accuracy of indicators, including economic, social, and environmental statistics. Statistics and data today have become a reliable reference for decision-makers.
His Excellency added that we will continue  in the coming phase to develop data platforms, strengthen the digital transformation journey, and benefit from artificial intelligence and modern technologies in developing statistical processes and data analysis, in a way that enhances efficiency, increases the accuracy of indicators, facilitates access to information, and contributes to accelerating the pace of development and maximizing the positive impact locally and globally in statistical work.”
For his part, Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of GASTAT, expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning for his sponsorship of the forum, valuing at the same time the presence of HE the ministers, specialists, and experts from inside and outside the Kingdom, which adds qualitative momentum to the forum and reinforces its role as a national platform concerned with the development of statistical work and the support of public policies and knowledge-based decision-making.
Dr. Aldossari clarified that the forum organized by GASTAT stems from its belief in the importance of meeting, integration, and exchange of expertise to build a knowledge-based future founded on reliable data and statistics. He pointed out that GASTAT constantly works to develop its statistical system in a way that enhances the capacities of entities and supports decision-makers in planning and policy-making to achieve national objectives.
The forum's agenda includes five panel sessions. On the first day of the forum, two panel sessions will be held. The first session "The Role of Statistics in Policy Development and Decision Making" will be attended by His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, and Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari , President of GASTAT. The session will  highlight the importance of statistical data as a fundamental pillar in the formulation of public policies, decision-making, defining national priorities. It will also emphasize the role of data providers in improving data quality and accuracy, as well as the importance of statistical indicators in measuring the success of policies and their alignment with national objectives, and the impact of cooperation and integration between national statistical offices and governmental and private entities in decision-making and enhancing developmental impact.
The second session "International Statistical Methodologies and Practices" will include the participation of several heads of statistical offices, representatives of international organizations, and local and international experts. The speakers will discuss the importance of globally approved statistical standards and classifications and the unification of methodologies to ensure comparability between countries, the role of modern technologies in developing statistical methodologies, in addition to discussing challenges in statistical practices and ensuring reliability and transparency in official statistics.
Speakers on the second day of the forum will participate in three panel sessions, namely:
Modern Methods of Innovation and Statistical Development,
The Role of the Private Sector in Producing Statistical Data,
Enhancing the Relationship Between Agencies and Data Beneficiaries
The third and fourth sessions will address the importance of remote sensing technologies and satellite imagery in geographic and agricultural statistics, and the use of advanced statistical methods in data analysis and their impact on decision-making, as well as the challenges facing the private sector in data production, and opportunities to enhance the partnership between the public and private sectors to develop sustainable and accurate data sources that support economic and developmental decision-making.
The forum will dedicate the final session to discussing the mechanism for facilitating access to data and statistical indicators in multiple formats that allow data users to access and interact with the data in ways that meet their needs, and to develop the level of relationship and communication with users through the provision of secure and diverse digital platforms for presenting data supported by charts, tables, and illustrative visuals. In addition, it will highlight the importance of providing high-quality data that contributes to supporting the private sector and its future directions.
On the first day, GASTAT signed a number of agreements with several statistical offices and centers in the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Estonia, and the Republic of Finland, aiming to exchange expertise to develop statistical work.
It is worth mentioning that the Saudi Statistical Forum is the first of its kind and aims to discuss important topics at the statistical level and highlight the positive impact of the statistical sector in supporting the course of renaissance and sustainable development in the Kingdom, and in reinforcing the importance of data and statistics in raising awareness among members of society.

GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, and Managing Director of FCSC, Ms. Hanan Mansour AHLI, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities in the presence of H.E. Faisal F. Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning and Chairman of GASTAT's Board of Directors; H.E. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources; and H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The MoU was signed during the Saudi Statistics Forum held in Riyadh. This initiative aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in statistical fields. It seeks to coordinate and integrate efforts in areas of statistical work, develop institutional capacities, and exchange technical and knowledge-based expertise. It also aims to share programs related to raising statistical awareness and public communication strategies and organize conferences, seminars, and workshops.

Under the patronage His Excellency Faisal bin Fadhel Al-Ibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning and Chairman of GASTAT’s Board of Directors, The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) is launching the First Saudi Statistics Forum this coming Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Riyadh, under the theme “Statistics for Sustainable Opportunities”. The event will run for two days, concluding on April 28.
The forum will gather high-level participants, including ministers, leaders and representatives of international organizations, experts from statistical offices, and both local and international specialists. More than 300 attendees with a strong interest in statistical development are expected to participate.
The agenda will explore several key topics across five sessions. Discussions will begin with the role of statistics in policy development and decision-making. Subsequent sessions will cover global methodologies and practices in statistics, as well as the latest innovations and developments in statistical techniques. Attention will also be given to how the private sector contributes to producing and supporting statistical data. The forum will conclude with a session focused on strengthening collaboration between statistical institutions and data users.
As the first national platform of its kind, the Saudi Statistics Forum aims to spotlight the growing importance of data in supporting the Kingdom’s sustainable development journey, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. It also seeks to raise public awareness of the impact and value of reliable statistics in everyday life.
GASTAT has called on statisticians, data professionals, and stakeholders to take part in this significant event and benefit from the insights shared by experts from across the globe. For registration and more details, visit:
https://ssf.eventy.sa/?event_id=dhcimVphLIB1d4J3r9yJnA

The General Authority for Statistics is organizing the First Saudi Forum for Statistics under the theme "Statistics for Sustainable Opportunities" on April 27-28, 2025, in Riyadh. The Forum will be attended by high-ranking officials, including princes, ministers, heads and representatives of international organizations, statistical offices from various countries, as well as local and international experts, with more than 300 participants interested in statistical work. The forum will highlight several key topics across five sessions, discussing the role of statistics in policy development and decision-making, international statistical methodologies and practices, innovation and development in statistical methods, the role of the private sector in supporting and producing statistical data, and the integration between statistical institutions and data beneficiaries. As the first forum of its kind in Saudi Arabia, it aims to discuss important statistical topics, highlight the positive impact of the statistics sector in supporting the Kingdom’s journey of growth and sustainable development, measure the level of progress in the indicators of Saudi Vision 2030, and reinforce the importance of data and statistics in raising public awareness. The General Authority for Statistics invites all interested individuals to register and learn more about the forum through the official website: 
https://ssf.eventy.sa/?event_id=dhcimVphLIB1d4J3r9yJnA

The General Authority for Statistics released the results of the Industrial Production Index (IPI) for February 2025. According to the report, IPI decreased by 0.2% compared to the same month of the previous year (February 2024), primarily due to a decline in mining and quarrying activities.
The report showed a 0.7% year-on-year decrease in the sub-index for mining and quarrying activities. In contrast, the sub-index for manufacturing activities rose by 0.2%. The sub-index for electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply recorded an increase of 1.1%, while the sub-index for water supply, sewage, waste management, and treatment activities recorded a significant rise of 13.1%.
According to the main economic activities, the results indicated that the IPI for oil-related activities decreased by 1.6% in February 2025, while the index for non-oil activities rose by 3.2%.
It is worth noting that the General Authority for Statistics publishes IPI monthly. This economic indicator reflects the relative changes in the volume of industrial production, based on data from the Industrial Production Survey, which is conducted on a sample of industrial establishments operating in the targeted industrial activities, including mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, and water supply, sewage, waste management, and treatment activities.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released today the International Trade Statistics Publication for January 2025. According to the publication’s results, merchandise exports grew by 2.4% in January 2025 compared to January 2024. Non-oil exports (including re-exports) increased by 10.7% over January 2024. Meanwhile, imports rose by 8.3% in January 2025, while the trade balance surplus declined by 11.9% compared to January 2024.
The publication’s results indicated an increase in the ratio of non-oil exports to imports (including re-exports), reaching 36.5% in January 2025, up from 35.7% in January 2024. Additionally, the percentage of oil exports in total exports declined from 74.8% in January 2024 to 72.7% in January 2025.
The publication’s results also showed that "chemical industry products" were among the top non-oil export commodities, accounting for 23.7% of total non-oil exports. Meanwhile, the most imported commodities were "machinery, electrical equipment, and parts," making up 25.9% of total imports.
Moreover, the results highlighted that the Republic of China represented the Kingdom’s main trading partner in merchandise trade. Exports to China made up 15.2% of total exports in January 2025, while imports from China accounted for 26.4% of total imports during the same period.

 The General Authority for Statistics released the results of the Industrial Production Index (IPI) for January 2025.  According to the results of the publication, IPI recorded an increase of 1.3 % during January 2025 compared to the same month of 2024. The increase is driven by a rise in the activities of  manufacturing activity and water supply, sewage, and waste management and remediation activities.
The publication results showed a decrease in the sub-index for mining and quarrying activity by 0.4% on an annual basis, and an increase in the sub-index for manufacturing activity by 4 %. The sub-index for electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply activity recorded a decrease of 1.7 %, while the sub-index for water supply, sewage, and waste management and remediation activities recorded an increase of 12.8 %.

According to the main economic activities, the results indicated an increase in the index of oil activities in January 2025 by 0.4 %, while the index of non-oil activities recorded an increase of 3.6 % compared to the same month of the previous year.

It is noteworthy that the GASTAT issues IPI on a monthly basis, which is an economic indicator that reflects the relative changes in the volume of industrial production quantities based on data from the industrial production survey, which is implemented on a sample of industrial establishments operating in the targeted industrial activities. These are represented by the activities of mining and quarrying, manufacturing activity, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supplies, in addition to the water supply, sewage, and waste management
 and remediation activities.