Dr. Fahad Aldossari, the President of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), headed the delegation from GASTAT participating in the 11th Meeting of the Standing Committee for Statistical Work Affairs held in Muscat, Oman. The meeting aimed to enhance Gulf joint statistical work, support sustainable development plans, and exchange statistical expertise among member states. 

The Committee reviewed the implementation of its previous decisions and examined performance reports from the past period. It discussed ways to strengthen cooperation among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to elevate statistical work, keep pace with global developments, and continuously improve mechanisms for exchanging statistical data. The committee also focused on collaboration in sharing expertise and information, supporting programs to raise statistical awareness, and addressing common challenges.

GASTAT’s President highlighted the importance of relations among the GCC countries in pushing wider horizons for effective cooperation in the field of information and statistical data. He expressed his appreciation to the committee members for their efforts in consolidating the concepts of statistical work and its role in supporting development plans and national visions for the council's countries. He praised the support that statistical offices receive from the leaders of GCC countries.

The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (“GCC-Stat”) was established to enhance statistical and informational work for national statistical centers and planning agencies, serving as the official source of data, information, and statistics in the member states. The establishment of GCC Stat was approved by the GCC Ministerial Council in September 2011. The Charter was officially endorsed in December 2012 by the GCC Supreme Council (comprised of heads of member states).