General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued, through its official website www.stats.gov.sa today, Thursday, 24 Dhu al-Qa’dah 1443, corresponding to June 23, 2022, Saudi Arabia's International Trade Publication for April 2022.   The value of the Saudi Arabia's merchandise exports during April 2022 amounted to (137,119 million) one hundred thirty-seven billion one hundred nineteen million Riyals, compared to (69,252 million) sixty-nine billion two hundred fifty-two million Riyals during April 2021, with an increase of (67,867 million) sixty-seven billion eight hundred sixty-seven million Riyals, by (98.0%), according to the data of the publication. The value of oil exports during April 2022 was (109,750 million) one hundred nine billion seven hundred fifty million Riyals, compared to (49,214 million) forty-nine billion two hundred fourteen million Riyals during April 2021, with an increase of (60,536 million) sixty billion five hundred thirty-six million riyals, by (123.0%) , the results indicated. The value of non-oil exports during April 2022 registered (27,370 million) twenty seven billion three hundred seventy million Riyals, compared to (20,038 million) twenty billion thirty-eight million Riyals during April 2021, with an increase of (7.331 million) seven billion three hundred thirty-one million riyals, by  (36.6%), according to the results. While the value of the Saudi Arabia's merchandise imports during April 2022 amounted to (55,274 million) fifty-five billion two hundred seventy-four million Riyals, compared to (49,703 million) forty-nine billion seven hundred three million Riyals during April 2021, with an increase of (5,572 million), five one billion five hundred seventy two million Riyals, by  (11.2%).

GASTAT's Board of Directors, headed by His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning, Mr. Faisal bin Fadhil Al-Ibrahim, issued a decision to appoint Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Dossari as GASTAT's President, starting from today, Sunday, to lead the work in GASTAT in order to achieve the goals of transformation in GASTAT, and to complete the development of the system Statistical work. His Excellency the Minister expressed his congratulations to Dr. Al-Dossari on this occasion, wishing him success in leading GASTAT and achieving its goals during the next critical period of the strategic transformation phase. On behalf of the members of the Board, the Minister expressed his thanks to Dr. Konrad Pesendorfer for his efforts during his presidency, and for his role in upgrading the work in GASTAT, developing its statistical products, leading the transformation project, overcoming the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 during the past two years, and  implementing the Saudi Census Program 2022, looking forward to continuing his efforts as an advisor to the Chairman of GASTAT's Board of Directors. Dr. Al-Dossari has held a number of leadership positions, the last of which was Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia, which included the areas of systems analysis, economic research, and statistics. He also had a membership in many governmental and professional committees along with boards of directors of local and international funds and banks. GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and researches, analyzes data and information, in addition to documenting and archiving all works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well.

GASTAT revealed on Monday, Muharram 3, 1444, corresponding to August 1, 2022, the results of the real estate price index for the second quarter of 2022, and published it on its official website www.stats.gov.sa The publication results indicated a 0.7% increase in the general real estate price index for the second quarter of 2022, compared to the same quarter of the previous year 2021, mainly due to increase in residential real estate prices of +1.9%. According to the publication results, the increase in residential land prices largely affected the increase in real estate prices in the second quarter of 2022, compared to the second quarter of 2021. The residential sector recorded a 1.9% increase affected by a 0.2% increase in the residential land plots prices, on an annual basis in the second quarter of 2022, due to its high relative importance in the general index. Among other residential real estate prices, the prices of villas, apartments, and houses decreased by 1.1%, 1.1% and 0.9% respectively.  However, the prices of residential buildings stabilized and did not record any significant changes. The commercial sector recorded a 1.5% decrease, impacted by the decrease in the prices of commercial lands plots by 1.5%.  The prices of galleries also decreased by 1.1%, while the prices of commercial centers increased by 0.1%. On the other hand, the commercial buildings prices stabilized and did not record any significant changes. The agriculture sector decreased by 0.6% affected by the decrease in agriculture land prices by -0.6%. GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It carries out all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and researches, analyzes data and information, in addition to documenting and archiving all works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources. Data are written, classified, and analyzed; their indicators are extracted as well.