News

 The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), launched the second edition of the "Statistical Knowledge" program in public schools. This initiative seeks to prepare the next generation to handle data analysis and comprehension in this information-rich era where knowledge is widespread across all sectors.
Targeting intermediate and secondary school students across various regions of the Kingdom, the program seeks to empower them with a solid foundation in basic statistical and data science concepts. It also aims to enhance their diverse skill sets, train them in research and analysis, and promote critical engagement with various data sources. Ultimately, the goal is to contribute to building an informed society equipped with the knowledge and competencies necessary to extract accurate information from reliable sources and engage effectively with both local and global knowledge sources.
This program is part of a strategic partnership between GASTAT and MoE to raise statistical literacy among students. It emphasizes the practical application of core statistical concepts in daily life and aims to nurture critical thinking and quantitative analysis skills, which ultimately enhances their readiness for advanced education and future careers in science and technology fields demanded by the labor market.
Notably, the "Statistical Knowledge" program includes a range of interactive educational activities designed in a simple and accessible format tailored to the target age group. It introduces students to key statistical and data concepts and their applications in real life, training them to utilize statistics in decision-making processes through a simplified interactive educational competition that blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on application. The competition runs for 10 days, from Sunday, 19 October, to Thursday, 30 October 2025.
The program also features several educational components, such as leveraging school broadcasts to raise awareness about statistical work and its role in socio-economic development. Additionally, leaders and staff from GASTAT will visit schools to deliver enriching and practical sessions covering various statistical knowledge areas.
GASTAT has shared the link to participate in the competition and other program activities via its official platforms and MoE’s accounts. The participation link is available at: https://www.stats.gov.sa/knowledge-competition.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) participated in the 43rd meeting of the Permanent Technical Committee for Statistics, held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. The meeting brought together representatives of Arab statistical offices and specialized organizations with the aim of strengthening Arab cooperation and promoting the exchange of expertise and information in the field of statistics.
The delegation of GASTAT was headed by the President of GASTAT, Fahad Aldossari. The meeting discussed several key items on the agenda, including the follow-up on the implementation of the recommendations of the previous meeting, the review of the statistical activities of Arab offices for 2025, and the reports and recommendations of the specialized subcommittees. The meeting also discussed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 indicators and the latest developments in the use of modern technologies in statistical work, in addition to the 2026 work program of the Statistics and Information Databases Department.
It is worth noting that the Permanent Technical Committee for Statistics is one of the leading Arab committees specialized in the field of statistics. It plays a key role in developing Arab statistical capacities and coordinating efforts between national offices and regional and international organizations in support of advancing joint Arab statistical work.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) participated in the 50th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics (AITRS), held on Monday, October 13, 2025, in Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. The meeting brought together representatives of Arab statistical offices and specialized organizations to discuss key topics related to the development of statistical work in the Arab region and to enhance cooperation and integration in the fields of training, research, and statistical studies.
The delegation of GASTAT was headed by the President of GASTAT, Fahad Aldossari. The meeting discussed a number of key items on the agenda, including the Director General’s report for 2025, the Institute’s work program and plan for 2026–2027, and the proposed budget for 2026. The meeting also reviewed the outcomes of the 2020–2030 strategy evaluation study and highlighted the statistical activities and initiatives implemented across Arab countries. Additionally, the meeting explored mechanisms to strengthen cooperation between the Institute and Arab statistical offices and discussed ways to further develop the Institute’s training programs to meet the evolving needs of Arab statistical offices.
It is worth noting that AITRS was established in 1973 and includes 22 Arab countries as members. The Board of Trustees, comprising the heads of Arab statistical offices, oversees the formulation of the Institute’s general policies and the approval of its programs and annual budgets.
 

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance fieldwork tools, improve data collection mechanisms, and adopt digital solutions to boost responsiveness in field data collection, the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has introduced a new service allowing verification of field researchers’ identities through “Tawakkalna” application. This initiative also leverages integration with government entities and leading digital platforms to strengthen the credibility of field researchers and support statistical field operations with the highest standards of accuracy and transparency.
This step reflects GASTAT’s commitment to fulfilling its national role in conducting various field surveys and producing statistical indicators by engaging trained field researchers who visit selected statistical samples, including households and establishments, in accordance with the regulations governing statistical work in the Kingdom.
GASTAT clarified that field researcher identity can be verified through the following steps:

• Wearing the official uniform designated for fieldwork.
• Displaying the digital ID card via the Tawakkalna application.
• Carrying the tablet device used for data collection.

GASTAT called on all members of the community to cooperate with its field researchers, emphasizing that they are Saudi citizens performing an official government duty. GASTAT stressed the significance of their work, which forms a vital pillar in improving the quality of statistical outputs and products.
In the same context, GASTAT reaffirmed its full commitment to the highest standards of confidentiality and data protection, in accordance with regulations, and assured that all collected data is used strictly for official statistical purposes. GASTAT also emphasized its dedication to safeguarding the rights of its employees during the performance of their official duties and taking all necessary legal measures against any obstruction to their work in order to ensure the continuity of field work, which is an integral component of statistical processes aimed at achieving national objectives.
For inquiries, please contact GASTAT via the unified number: 199009.