The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced that it has successfully completed the works of address canvassing phase in Saudi Census 2022, which has started on January 26, 2022 and ended on March 10, 2022.  “Address Canvassing” is considered an important preparatory phase and a fundamental step in the census. In this phase, all occupied and unoccupied housing units are enumerated, numbered and linked with the head of household’s identity. Preliminary data on the numbers of households’ members are collected as well through more than 14 thousand field enumerators in order to guarantee that the census is covering all housing units during the actual enumeration phase which will be implemented in early summer this year.   In the same context, GASTAT expresses its thanks and gratitude for all citizens and residents who cooperated with field enumerators during this phase. It also appreciated the efforts of all workers in the census project who have performed their tasks and duties professionally.  GASTAT stated that best international standards and practices are applied throughout the Saudi Census 2022 to assure the achievement of census goals. Modern technologies are applied for the first time in implementing the census works, including the use of satellite images to make sure that census is covering all housing units in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, field enumerators are provided with tablets to guarantee the automation of data collection process, and raise the accuracy and rapidness of work.  Furthermore, GASTAT clarified that the actual enumeration phase in Saudi Census 2022 will start around May 10th, where citizens and residents can participate in the census by choosing the self-enumeration option which allows the completion of census questionnaire electronically, or through a field enumerator visit.  GASTAT confirmed that the participation in Saudi Census is a huge opportunity for all Saudi Arabia’s population either citizens or residents, as this contributes to achieving Saudi Vision 2030, and preparing for a better future for everyone in our beloved country.  It is worth mentioning that the Ministers Cabinet has approved the reference night of the General Census of Population and Housing (1443 H/ 2022) to be on Monday May 9, 2022.

The General Authority for Statistics won the Practical and Institutional Excellence Award in Spending Efficiency within the initiatives pillar to classify periodic monthly reports submitted to the Government Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority.  The award was given in recognition of the outstanding efforts made by GASTAT in improving the quality of statistical projects, infrastructure planning, programs, initiatives and operations of the financial budget. In addition to achieving measurement indicators and standards in policies, plans and strategies relevant to the impact of expenditure, completing the applicable statutory procedures and continuously improving them, and adopting international best practices along with related technical applications in the statistical field through the formation of a working team in GASTAT under the name of “Spending Efficiency Team”. The team is in charge to prepare monthly periodic reports and to follow up on the relevant mechanisms and standards.  It also organizes the study of spending on projects, programs and initiatives in the statistical field and related financial aspects over the medium and long term, and their alignment with the financial sustainable goals for the coming years. In the presence of the Vice President Operations, Mr. Mohammad Al-Rasheed and the Spending Efficiency Team, Mr. Ahmed Al-Arini, Director General of Financial Affairs received the award on behalf of GASTAT. He thanked the Government Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority for its encouragement in such initiatives and programs that significantly contribute to achieving the future aspirations of Vision 2030. 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.

The General Authority for Statistics announced the activation of the field researcher identity verification service in the Saudi Census 2022 on “Tawakkalna”, within the list of the field researcher’s digital documents. This comes in cooperation with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), in the context of enhancing integration between government entities and strengthening efforts towards enabling digital transformation, which is one of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.  By launching this service, the General Authority for Statistics aims to raise the level of transparency and reliability among citizens and residents, and to give the greatest degree of reassurance to the heads of households during the field researcher’s visit in the address canvassing phase, in addition to the actual census phase which will be launched on May 9, 2022, corresponding to Shawwal 8, 1443 H, in order to ensure the facilitation of field work for the "Saudi Census 2022" program. Citizens and residents will have the right to view the identification card of the field researcher through the researcher's digital documents on "Tawakkalna". The address canvassing phase will be concluded on March 3. The actual census phase of the general population and housing census for the year 1443 H/2022 will begin on Monday evening, Shawwal 8, 1443 H, corresponding to May 9, 2022, which is the reference night of the census.