GASTAT organizes a panel discussion on Data Innovation to Advance Official 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.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the results of the Health and Safety at Workplace Statistics Publication for 2025. According to the results, the risk awareness index among workers aged 18 years and above reached 76.7%. The rate of occupational injuries among workers aged 15 years and above recorded 245 non-fatal injuries and 1.3 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers, excluding road traffic accidents.
The results showed that 51.8% of workers reported the availability of preventive measures implemented by their workplace, while 46.6% indicated the availability of at least one initiative aimed at facilitating daily work tasks. In addition, 34.5% of workers reported the availability of at least one resource provided by the work entity that supports their personal health.
The publication also indicated that Prolonged standing (for at least 4 hours per day) is the most common risk in the workplace, accounting for 25.3%, followed by Fatigue or working beyond one’s capacity at 16.7%. Regarding work-related health problems during the past twelve months, the results showed that work-related stress ranked first at 6%, followed by eye and vision problems at 3%.
It is worth noting that the Health and Safety at Workplace Statistics estimates are based on self-completion data collected from participants through household field visits under the National Health Survey 2025. Meanwhile, the occupational injury rate was calculated based on administrative records data from the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the International Trade in Goods Publication for February 2026, which showed a 15.1% increase in non-oil exports, including re-exports, compared to February 2025. Non-oil national exports, excluding re-exports, also increased by 6.3%, while re-exported goods recorded a significant increase of 28.5%. This growth was driven by a 59.9% rise in exports of machinery, electrical equipment and parts, which accounted for 53.9% of total re-exports.
The results also showed a 4.7% increase in total goods exports and a 0.6% rise in oil exports, while their share of total exports declined from 71.5% to 68.7% over the same period. On the imports side, they recorded a 6.6% increase, which contributed to a 1.0% decline in the merchandise trade balance surplus compared to the same month of the previous year.
According to the publication’s results, China ranked as Saudi Arabia’s top trading partner in goods in February 2026, accounting for 13.7% of total exports and 29.8% of total imports. Followed by the United Arab Emirates, with 12.1% of exports and 8.0% of imports, while Japan ranked next with 9.3% of total exports. Saudi Arabia’s exports to its top 10 trading partners accounted for 67.7% of total exports, while imports from the top 10 partners represented 71.2% of total imports.
It is noteworthy that International Trade in Goods Statistics are based on administrative records obtained from the relevant authorities, including the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority for non-oil data and the Ministry of Energy for oil data. These records undergo statistical processing and validation to ensure data quality and accuracy prior to publication.
 

Fahad Aldossari, President of GASTAT, honored the winning teams in the Data Innovation Hackathon, along with partners and supporters represented by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), the Saudi Society for Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Systems, the Professional Association for Statisticians and Data Scientists, and the Saudi Association for Statistical Sciences. The recognition took place during a ceremony held today at GASTAT’s headquarters in Riyadh.
The ceremony featured the announcement of the winning teams in the Hackathon, which GASTAT organized from 15 February to 15 April 2026. The Hackathon represents the first of its kind in leveraging innovation and modern technologies to advance statistical work. It was held as part of the “Road to Riyadh” series of events, in preparation for Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Sixth United Nations World Data Forum in November 2026.
Aldossari emphasized that the Data Innovation Hackathon reflects GASTAT’s commitment to adopting modern technologies and leveraging artificial intelligence capabilities to advance statistical work. He noted that the solutions presented by participating teams demonstrate the high caliber of national talent and their ability to develop innovative solutions with sustainable impact. He added that GASTAT will continue to support qualitative initiatives that contribute to building an advanced data ecosystem and enhance Saudi Arabia’s position in the fields of statistics and innovation, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The ceremony also featured a showcase of the winning projects, highlighting the most prominent innovative solutions that contribute to enhancing data collection and analysis processes and improving their efficiency, thereby supporting decision-makers with accurate and reliable indicators.
GASTAT explained that the Hackathon featured two main tracks, in which 132 teams competed, with 16 teams advancing to the final stage—eight teams in the Innovative Data Collection track using non-traditional data sources and eight teams in the Intelligent Processing and Classification track using artificial intelligence technologies.
The total value of the Hackathon prizes amounted to SAR 75,000, allocated to support and recognize the winning teams and to encourage the development of innovative solutions in the fields of data and statistics.
The judging process resulted in the selection of six teams that successfully presented innovative solutions that enhance the quality and reliability of official statistics. The winning teams were as follows: Hoarders, Athr, Ain, GigScope, Spondylus, and Optimizers.
It is noteworthy that the Data Innovation Hackathon represents an extension of GASTAT’s ongoing efforts to expand the use of modern technologies and to empower national talent—including students, academics, and professionals—to contribute to developing practical solutions to statistical challenges. This, in turn, enhances the data-driven economy and supports statistical work and its outputs, including results, reports, and indicators.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) in Saudi Arabia participated in the extraordinary coordinating meeting of the heads of national statistical offices of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The meeting was held virtually, with the participation of the heads of statistical offices of the member countries, along with the Director General of the GCC Statistical Centre.
This meeting was convened to enhance statistical coordination and integration among the GCC countries, thereby supporting decision-makers with accurate, reliable, and up-to-date data and indicators that reflect economic performance and keep pace with rapidly evolving global changes.
The president of GASTAT, Fahad Aldossari, emphasized the continued efforts to develop the statistical ecosystem and enhance its readiness by improving the quality of official statistics, strengthening the efficiency of statistical analysis, and expanding the use of administrative records to support national indicators.
The meeting also discussed several priority topics, most notably economic indicators such as price indices, industrial production, foreign trade, and gross domestic product (GDP).
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the importance of continuing joint statistical work, strengthening data integration and exchange, and developing coordination mechanisms and knowledge sharing to support effective responses to global changes and contribute to stability and sustainable growth.
 

The annual inflation rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Saudi Arabia reached 1.9% in March 2026, compared with March 2025. On a monthly basis, the index recorded a relative increase of 0.3% compared to February 2025.
In the same context, the annual rate of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) reached 3.3% in March 2026 compared to its counterpart in 2025. On a monthly basis, the index recorded a relative increase of 0.2% compared to February 2026. 
It is worth noting that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) reflects changes in prices paid by consumers for a fixed basket of 582 items, while the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) reflects price movements for goods at the pre-retail stage for a fixed basket of 343 items.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced the winning teams of the Data Innovation Hackathon, organized from February 15 to April 15, 2026. The hackathon is the first of its kind in leveraging innovation and technology to advance statistical work, as part of “Road to Riyadh” series of events in preparation for Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 6th UNWDF in November 2026.
In addition, GASTAT revealed that the hackathon comprised two main tracks, in which 132 teams competed. A total of 16 teams qualified for the final stage, with eight teams in the “Innovative Data Collection” track focusing on the use of non-traditional sources and eight teams in the “Intelligent Processing and Classification” track, leveraging artificial intelligence technologies. The final judging phase resulted in the selection of six winning teams that presented innovative solutions aimed at enhancing the quality of official statistics and enhancing their reliability.
In the same context, GASTAT will hold the closing ceremony on Monday, April 20, at its headquarters, where the detailed results of the hackathon will be announced. The event will showcase the winning projects and highlight the most prominent innovative solutions presented, in addition to honoring the winning teams in recognition of their efforts and contributions to advancing statistical work and enhancing data quality.
It is noteworthy that the Data Innovation Hackathon reflects GASTAT’s commitment to expanding the use of modern technologies and enhancing the role of artificial intelligence in developing statistical processes, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a knowledge-based economy driven by data. It also highlights the progress of the statistical sector in Saudi Arabia and strengthens its position as a leading regional hub in data and innovation while enabling national and international talent, including students, academics, and professionals to participate in developing practical solutions to statistical challenges.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the results of the Industrial Production Index (IPI) for February 2026, which showed an increase of 8.9% compared to the same month of the previous year, supported by growth in mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities.
In terms of sub-indices, the sub-index for mining and quarrying activity recorded a year-on-year increase of 13.0%. The manufacturing sub-index rose by 3.6%, while the sub-index for water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities increased by 8.1%. In contrast, the sub-index for electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply recorded a year-on-year decrease of 3.7%.
As for the main economic activities, the results showed a 11.5% year-on-year increase in the oil activities index and a 2.4% increase in the non-oil activities index.
It is noteworthy that the IPI is an economic indicator that reflects the relative changes in the volume of industrial production, based on data from the Industrial Production Survey. The survey is conducted on a sample of establishments operating in the targeted industrial activities, namely mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, as well as water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) held a panel discussion titled “Pulse of Numbers: Statistical Data in the Service of Health” as part of “Road to Riyadh” events, with the participation of a distinguished group of leaders and experts from GASTAT, the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Authority, and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.
The session discussed the pivotal role of statistical data in supporting decision-making in the healthcare sector by enhancing the quality and reliability of health indicators, advancing data governance practices, and strengthening integration among relevant entities, thereby improving the efficiency of health planning. It also addressed the role of advanced technologies in developing health systems and improving data accessibility, as participants reviewed prominent experiences and practices in this field.
Participants also addressed investment in modern technologies and the qualitative leap it has achieved in health data analysis, as well as the role of artificial intelligence, which has become a key enabler in supporting data-driven healthcare decision-making.
Participants highlighted Saudi Arabia’s achievement of advanced levels of international recognition for the quality of its health data, noting that improvements in mortality data quality have contributed to increasing life expectancy. They also indicated that health data has helped reshape a more comprehensive understanding of the health status in Saudi Arabia through the integration of statistical data with administrative records, as well as the role of field surveys in achieving more accurate population representation.
It is noteworthy that this session is part of GASTAT’s efforts to highlight the statistical progress witnessed by Saudi Arabia under Saudi Vision 2030, as well as to enhance preparedness and coordination for hosting the 6th UNWDF 2026, scheduled to take place next November.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) organizes a panel discussion titled “Pulse of Numbers: Statistical Data in the Service of Health” on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. The session is part of “Road to Riyadh” event series, organized in preparation for Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 6th UNWDF, scheduled to take place in Riyadh next November.
This session is part of efforts to strengthen the role of statistical data in supporting the national healthcare system by enhancing the quality and reliability of health statistics and advancing data governance practices, thereby improving the efficiency of health-related decision-making and strengthening the sector’s ability to respond to emerging health challenges.
The session addresses several key themes, including the role of advanced technologies in shaping the future of healthcare, strengthening the measurement of health indicators to support sustainable development, and improving access to and governance of health data. The session features several leaders and experts, including Dr. Abdullah Mufreh Asiri, Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Rabiah, Eng. Saad Abdulatif Alhuzami, Dr. Ada Mohammed Al-Qunaibet, Dr. Omar Saleh Aldibasi, and Dr. Arash Rashidian. The session is opened by Dr. Fatimah Al Waef, General Supervisor of Social Statistics at GASTAT, and moderated by Dr. Arwa Mohammed Alameenn, Director General of the General Department of Statistics and Information at the Ministry of Health.
It is noteworthy that this session is part of an integrated series of events including panel discussions, conferences, and workshops organized by GASTAT under “Road to Riyadh” events. These events aim to highlight the statistical advances underway in Saudi Arabia under Saudi Vision 2030 and to enhance coordination and readiness for hosting the Forum next November.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has announced that it will keep collecting data for the 2026 statistical surveys, which are designed to provide useful information to support decision-makers and policymakers create effective economic and social plans.
The data collection phase includes several methods, such as self-reporting, telephone interviews, and field visits. It targets establishments in both the public and private sectors, as well as households and individuals.
In the same context, GASTAT announced the launch of a self-reporting service for several statistical surveys and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of all data collected from targeted groups, which are used exclusively for statistical purposes. It also noted that self-reporting aligns with the objectives of digital transformation and Saudi Vision 2030.
In addition, GASTAT called on all members of society, including establishments, households, and individuals, to fulfill their national responsibility by responding to its call to participate in completing statistical survey data.
GASTAT also provided several communication channels to respond to inquiries, including the unified phone number (199009), the customer support email (info@stats.gov.sa), and its official accounts on social media platforms.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has announced the list of teams qualified for the final stage of the Data Innovation Hackathon. The first phase, covering outreach and screening, was launched on 15 February, alongside the official website and the reception of executive summaries of ideas. The hackathon aims to empower innovators and experts to address challenges related to the collection and processing of national statistical data.
The list of qualified teams includes 16 teams out of a total of 132 participating teams, with 8 teams selected for the “Innovative data collection” track, leveraging non-traditional data sources, and 8 teams for the “Intelligent processing and classification” track through the application of artificial intelligence technologies.
The final results are expected to be announced on April 15, following the virtual judging of the presentations. GASTAT will host a ceremony to honor the winners and award prizes totaling SAR 75,000.
It is noteworthy that the Data Innovation Hackathon is part of “Road to Riyadh” series of events organized by GASTAT in preparation for hosting the 6th UNWDF next November. The initiative aims to highlight Saudi Arabia’s readiness and the significant statistical development it is witnessing under Saudi Vision 2030.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) held a closing ceremony to celebrate the teams involved in the second round of Innovation Lab projects, acknowledging their hard work in creating statistical initiatives and projects that have helped improve institutional development and foster a culture of innovation in statistics.
During his opening remarks, the president of GASTAT, Fahad Aldossari, emphasized the importance of continuing to develop innovative initiatives and strengthening their role in advancing statistical work in a manner that supports decision-making.
It is noteworthy that GASTAT has launched a dedicated portal for receiving innovative ideas, enabling all those interested in official statistical work to submit their proposals and ideas via the following link:
https://www.stats.gov.sa/ar/innovation

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has launched the Innovative Ideas Platform, a platform designed to enable the submission of innovative ideas in the field of official statistics. The platform facilitates the sharing of innovative ideas and supports the development of statistical solutions and methodologies.
The platform aims to promote a culture of innovation in the field of statistics and to attract high-quality ideas and initiatives that contribute to advancing statistical work and achieving its national objectives. This initiative comes as part of GASTAT efforts to enhance its statistical services, solutions, and outputs, in line with the transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia, and in support of building a more efficient and innovative statistical ecosystem.
GASTAT invites all interested parties to submit their innovative ideas in the field of statistics through the following link: https://www.stats.gov.sa/innovation
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has released the results of the 2025 Volunteer Work Statistics, which showed that the volunteer rate among the population aged 15 years and older reached 9.5% during a four-week period and 19.0% over a 12-month period. Males recorded higher volunteer rates than females during both periods, with the male volunteer rate reaching 11.1% during the four-week period compared with 6.3% for females. Over the 12-month period, the volunteer rate for males reached 21.5%, compared with 14.2% for females.
The results also indicated that the volunteer rate among Saudis during the four-week period reached 9.3%, recording 11.9% for males and 6.8% for females. Meanwhile, the volunteer rate among non-Saudis during the same period reached 9.6%, with 10.7% for males and 5.3% for females. Over the 12-month period, the volunteer rate among Saudis reached 18.9%, recording 22.6% for males and 15.3% for females, while the volunteer rate among non-Saudis reached 19.1%, with 21.0% for males and 11.9% for females.
The results further indicated that direct volunteering was the most prevalent form of volunteering during the four-week period. Among Saudis, the direct volunteering rate reached 7.5%, compared with 1.6% for volunteering through volunteer-organizing entities and 0.2% for multiple volunteering. Among non-Saudis, the direct volunteering rate reached 8.0%, compared with 1.5% for volunteering through volunteer-organizing entities and 0.1% for multiple volunteering.

With regard to age groups, the results showed that the highest volunteer rate among Saudis during the four-week period was recorded in the 35–44 age group, at 13.6%. Within this group, the volunteer rate reached 18.5% among males and 8.8% among females. In terms of educational attainment, individuals holding a master’s or doctoral degree recorded the highest volunteer rates. The volunteer rate among Saudis holding a master’s or doctoral degree reached 19.5%, with 24.9% for males and 8.7% for females.
It is noteworthy that the Volunteer Work Survey is one of the household surveys conducted by GASTAT. The survey is based on a representative sample of approximately 24,000 households and aims to provide accurate data on the characteristics of volunteer work in Saudi Arabia, including volunteer rates, volunteering methods, and the characteristics of volunteers, in accordance with the standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the results of the Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Statistics for 2025 and Q4 of the year. According to its estimates, the real GDP of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recorded a growth rate of 4.5% in 2025 compared with 2024. This growth was driven by increases across all economic activities, as oil activities grew by 5.7%, non-oil activities increased by 4.9%, and government activities rose by 0.9%.
The results revealed that GDP at current prices reached SAR 4,789 billion in 2025. Activities related to crude oil and natural gas recorded the highest contribution among economic activities at 17.1%, followed by government activities at 14.0%, then wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and hotels at 12.3%. Manufacturing activities excluding oil refining contributed 11.1%, followed by construction activities at 8.0%.
The results indicated that the Saudi economy grew by 5.0% in Q4 of 2025. Several economic activities continued to record notable growth rates, with crude oil and natural gas activities achieving the highest growth during Q4 at 12.4% year-on-year and 4.2% quarter-on-quarter. This was followed by wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and hotels, which grew by 5.4% on a year-on-year basis.
Oil activities were the largest contributor to real GDP growth in Q4 of 2025, contributing 2.6 percentage points, while non-oil activities contributed 2.4 percentage points. On a seasonally adjusted basis, non-oil activities contributed 0.9 percentage points, while oil activities contributed 0.5 percentage points in Q4 of 2025.
 

Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), participated in the 57th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 3 to 6 March 2026. The session brought together heads of national statistical offices from around the world. Saudi Arabia’s participation reflects its commitment to strengthening its contribution to the development of international statistical work and supporting efforts to modernize the global statistical system.
The Saudi delegation was headed by the Vice President of GASTAT, Mr. Mohammed Al-Rshaid. During the meetings, the delegation highlighted Riyadh’s preparations to host the Sixth United Nations World Data Forum UNWDF next November, reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s commitment to early coordination with international partners to ensure alignment with the global statistical agenda and to strengthen integration between national and international data initiatives.
Mr. Al-Rshaid emphasized the leading role played by GASTAT in advancing the statistical sector, outlining three strategic pillars that underpin its development efforts. These include digital transformation and artificial intelligence through the integration of AI and Geo-AI technologies into statistical operations under an ambitious roadmap extending to 2030; knowledge leadership through spearheading the Arabic translation of the System of National Accounts 2025 to support the harmonization and advancement of statistical practices across the Arab region in line with international standards; and innovation in monitoring development through the launch of an integrated interactive system for managing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) data, ensuring efficient monitoring of indicators and meeting international requirements through an advanced methodological approach.
On the sidelines of the session, GASTAT participated in a specialized side event on “Data Governance” in its capacity as Co-Chair of the Data Governance Working Group established by the commission. During the event, the Vice President reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting the development of comprehensive data governance frameworks in the field of official statistics and to strengthening the role of national statistical offices within national and global data ecosystems, thereby enhancing the quality, reliability, and sustainability of data. The event featured a high-level panel discussion with the participation of members of the Working Group and several heads of national statistical offices. The discussion explored key challenges and opportunities related to data governance and reviewed the latest international practices in developing effective regulatory frameworks that enhance integration between data producers and users. In addition, the GASTAT delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with several international organizations and national statistical offices to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and exchange technical expertise.
The United Nations Statistical Commission is the highest decision-making body for international statistical standards and for monitoring progress on the SDGs. Its mandate underscores the importance of strengthening international cooperation to develop more integrated and resilient statistical systems, particularly considering the accelerating digital transformations shaping the global data landscape.