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The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), in collaboration with the UN Statistics Division, PARIS21, and Open Data Watch, organized a virtual panel discussion on Commit to Data, with the participation of a distinguished group of international leaders and experts in statistics, data, and development.
The panel discussion was held as part of Road to Riyadh events, a preparatory pathway for the 6th UNWDF 2026, which will be hosted in Saudi Arabia in November 2026. It aims to foster international partnerships, develop comprehensive and reliable data ecosystems, and translate commitments into sustainable development impact.
In his opening remarks, Fahad Aldossari, President of GASTAT, emphasized that committing to data is a key pillar for strengthening statistical governance, integrating statistical data, and supporting decision-making, while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that hosting this panel discussion reflects GASTAT’s commitment to fostering multilateral collaboration in the data field and enhancing the role of statistics in addressing development challenges.
The panel discussion brought together Shantanu Mukherjee, Acting Director of the UN Statistics Division; Johannes Jütting, Executive Head of PARIS21; Shaida Badiee, Managing Director of Open Data Watch; Amelia Greaves, Senior Program Manager of the Equality Insights Program at the International Women’s Development Agency; Cyrus Darpoh, Senior Administrative Officer at the Ghana Statistical Service; Samuel Annim, Director of the African Centre for Statistics at the UN; Zehra Selçuk, Director General of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC); Haitham Alghulaiga, Director General of International Partnerships at GASTAT; and Ian Rutherford from the UN Statistics Division.
Similarly, GASTAT showcased the strategic framework for Road to Riyadh events, highlighting the forums, seminars, workshops, and both in-person and virtual panel discussions held over the past period and planned for the coming months. These efforts aim to highlight Saudi Arabia’s readiness to host the Forum and demonstrate how its statistical work keeps pace with rapidly evolving global developments.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) today released the Short-Term Business Statistics publication for November 2025. According to the publication’s findings, the Operating Revenue Index for short-term businesses in the Kingdom recorded a 5.0% increase in November 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. This increase is primarily attributed to growth in several key economic activities. Manufacturing recorded a 6.5% rise, while wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair activities grew by 9.5%. The construction sector also increased by 7.4%. In addition, financial and insurance activities, as well as information and communication activities, rose by 14.4% and 8.6%, respectively.
On the other hand, the Employee Compensation Index within the Short-Term Business Statistics recorded a year-on-year increase of 13.6%. This growth was driven by an 18.8% rise in manufacturing activities, a 4.7% increase in construction, and a 10.5% increase in wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair activities. In addition, mining and quarrying activities grew by 15.0%, while financial and insurance activities increased by 9.5%.
It is noteworthy that the Short-Term Business Statistics product is among the most prominent newly released economic statistical products issued by GASTAT. This product aims to measure the short-term performance of various economic sectors through monthly indicators that track developments and growth rates across different activities. The product covers all the economic activities of establishments operating within the business sector across Saudi Arabia.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) today released the Real Estate Price Index publication for Q4 of 2025. According to the publication’s findings, the Real Estate Price Index in Saudi Arabia recorded a 0.7% decline in Q4 2025 compared to Q4 2024. This decline is primarily attributed to a 2.2% decrease in residential property prices, driven by a 2.4% decline in residential land prices, a 2.5% decrease in apartment prices, a 1.3% decrease in villa prices, and a 0.2% decrease in residential floor prices.
Quarterly, the Real Estate Price Index in Saudi Arabia recorded a decline of 0.4% compared to Q3 of 2025. This decline was driven by a 0.4% decrease in residential property prices and a 0.4% decrease in commercial real estate prices, while agricultural property prices fell by 0.7%.
It is noteworthy that the Real Estate Price Index is based on real estate transaction data from all administrative regions and is calculated quarterly using an updated methodology that incorporates geospatial artificial intelligence models and integrates data from multiple sources, thereby enhancing the quality and transparency of real estate price data in Saudi Arabia.
 

The annual inflation rate in Saudi Arabia reached 2.1% in December 2025, compared to December 2024, while it recorded a monthly increase of 0.1% compared to November 2025. In the same context, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) increased by 3.1% in December 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 and rose by 1.0% on a monthly basis. It is worth noting that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) reflects changes in prices paid by consumers for a fixed basket of 582 goods and services, while the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) measures the price movements of goods at pre-retail stages, based on a fixed basket of 343 items.