GASTAT: 420,070 workers served 1,673,230 male and female pilgrims in Hajj 1446H/ 2025

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued the Hajj Statistics Publication for the year 1446 H / 2025. According to the publication’s results, the number of workers serving pilgrims during the 1446H/2025 Hajj season from both the public and private sectors, including security sectors, reached 420,070 workers, serving a total of 1,673,230 male and female pilgrims. Of these workers, 92% were male, while 8% were female.
Meanwhile, the number of male and female volunteers within the holy sites reached 34,540, who contributed a total of 2,134,398 volunteer hours during the 1446 H / 2025 Hajj season.
The publication also revealed that 314,337 male and female pilgrims benefited from the "Makkah Route Initiative" this year, representing 20.9% of all external pilgrims. These pilgrims arrived from eight countries. The initiative, which began during the 2017 Hajj season, aims to facilitate travel procedures for pilgrims arriving to perform the Hajj rituals.
It is worth noting that on 9 Dhul-Hijjah 1446 H (June 5, 2025), the General Authority for Statistics announced that the total number of pilgrims reached 1,673,230, including 1,506,576 external pilgrims who arrived through various entry points, and 166,654 internal pilgrims comprising both citizens and residents.
GASTAT’s statistical results for this year's Hajj also indicated that the number of male pilgrims was 877,841, while the number of female pilgrims was 795,389 out of the total number of internal and external pilgrims
It should be noted that the General Authority for Statistics relied in issuing the Hajj Statistics Publication on administrative records provided by the Ministry of Interior, which included the number of pilgrims, their detailed characteristics, and the services provided within the temporal and spatial boundaries of the pilgrimage. These data were collected, analyzed, and classified according to the statistical procedures followed over the past five years.
 

Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of the General Authority for Statistics, officially received the hosting rights for the 6th UN World Data Forum 2026 on behalf of Saudi Arabia. This announcement came at the conclusion of the 5th edition of the forum, held in Medellín, Colombia, from November 12 to 15, 2024. The forum gathered representatives from 193 UN member states. The High-Level Group for Partnership, Coordination, and Capacity-Building in Statistics welcomed Saudi Arabia’s selection as the host for the next forum in Riyadh, following its success in securing the majority vote within the group. The Kingdom’s outstanding bid and capabilities were commended by the group. This achievement highlights Saudi Arabia’s leadership in statistical work and the significant advancements in its statistical system. It also reflects the impact of the Kingdom’s data in demonstrating its role in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On this occasion, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, extended his congratulations, on behalf of himself and GASTAT employees, to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Prime Minister. He expressed gratitude for the support and empowerment GASTAT has received in recent years, which has significantly strengthened its local and international presence, enabling it to excel in statistical work and compete on the global stage. Aldossari noted that Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the 6th UN World Data Forum in Riyadh in 2026 reflects the Kingdom’s significant advancements across various sectors, including its statistical system. He emphasized that the event presents a valuable opportunity to share technical expertise in statistics and establish strategic partnerships with national statistical offices worldwide.
In his speech, Aldossari expressed his gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Colombia, the United Nations, and the National Department of Statistics (DANE) for hosting and organizing this global event. He also extended his appreciation to all representatives of national statistical offices, the program team, and members of the HLG-PCCB for their dedication and hard work in preparing the program. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment, through the General Authority for Statistics, to enhancing the quality and transparency of statistical data across various fields. He highlighted the Kingdom’s exemplary leadership and outstanding performance in the region, underscoring its pivotal role in advancing statistical excellence.

The UN World Data Forum is a major international event attended by over 20,000 participants, including representatives from governments, national statistical offices, international and regional organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector. The forum serves as a platform to discuss challenges facing the global data and statistics system and to foster collaboration among policymakers and experts from around the world. It reflects the growing level of cooperation across diverse data systems and underscores the critical importance of data and statistics.
It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority for Statistics, will host the 6th UN World Data Forum in 2026 in Riyadh. The High-Level Group for Partnership, Coordination, and Capacity-Building in Statistics for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda (HLG-PCCB) announced Saudi Arabia’s selection by majority vote, following a review of competing countries’ bids and an assessment of their hosting capabilities. This decision reflects the Kingdom’s prominent global standing and its pivotal role in advancing efforts to provide high-quality data and statistical indicators. It also highlights the exceptional contributions of the General Authority for Statistics to the field of statistical work, reaffirming the Kingdom’s leadership in the global statistical community.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report for the first quarter of 2025. According to the publication’s results, real GDP achieved a growth rate of 3.4% compared to the same quarter of 2024, driven by a 4.9% growth in non-oil activities, in addition to a 3.2% growth in government activities, while oil activities recorded a decline of 0.5%. Meanwhile, seasonally adjusted real GDP rose by 1.1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.

The results also showed that non-oil activities are the main driver to the annual real GDP growth, contributing 2.8 percentage points. Additionally, government activities and net taxes on products contributed positively by 0.5 and 0.2 percentage points, respectively.

It is worth noting that most economic activities achieved positive annual growth rates. Wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels recorded the highest growth rates during the first quarter of 2025, reaching 8.4% year-on-year and 0.7% quarter-on-quarter.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced the official statistics for Hajj 1446H, reporting a total of (1,673.230) pilgrims. Of these, (1,506,576) pilgrims arrived from outside the Kingdom through various entry points, while (166,654) were citizens and residents pilgrims, including both Saudi citizens and residents. According to GASTAT’s statistical release, the number of male pilgrims, both internal and external, reached (877,841), while the number of female pilgrims totaled (795,389). GASTAT also revealed that a total of (1,435,017) pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom through airports, while (66,465) pilgrims entered via land border crossings, and (5,094) pilgrims arrived through seaports. 
It is worth noting that the General Authority for Statistics has relied on administrative records from the Ministry of Interior as the primary source for data and statistical indicators related to the Hajj season of 1446H / 2025. This approach aims to provide high-accuracy and reliable register-based data for Hajj statistics, using a standardized model that includes several key components. This methodology is a continuation of the statistical approach adopted over the past five years. 
As the Kingdom’s official statistical authority, GASTAT is the exclusive provider of official statistics in Saudi Arabia that is entrusted with overseeing all national statistical activities. Its responsibilities include providing technical supervision, conducting field surveys and research, performing data analysis, and managing the documentation, preservation, and tabulation of statistical information across all sectors of life in the Kingdom. 
On this occasion, His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of GASTAT, extended his sincere appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, for their unwavering support and comprehensive care provided to the pilgrims. He also prayed to Allah Almighty to accept the pilgrims’ Hajj and to grant continued success to all government entities in delivering outstanding services.

To view the executive summary of Hajj statistics 1446 AH, please visit the following link:

https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/hajj-report-1446h-en-1-

أصدرت الهيئة العامة للإحصاء اليوم نشرة إحصاءات التجارة الدولية السلعية لشهر مارس 2025 والربع الأول من العام ذاته، والتي كشفت عن استمرار نمو الصادرات غير البترولية. وأظهرت نتائج النشرة أن الصادرات غير البترولية (شاملة إعادة التصدير) سجلت ارتفاعًا ملحوظًا بنسبة 13.4% خلال الربع الأول 2025 مقارنةً بالربع المماثل من عام 2024، كما حققت نموًا بنسبة 10.7% في مارس 2025 مقارنة بمارس 2024، ما يعكس اتساع مساهمة القطاعات غير النفطية في التجارة الخارجية للمملكة. في حين أن الصادرات السلعية الكلية سجلت انخفاضًا بنسبة 3.2% في الربع الأول من عام 2025 مقارنةً بالفترة ذاتها من عام 2024، بينما بلغت نسبة الانخفاض في شهر مارس 9.8%. 
أما الواردات السلعية فقد ارتفعت بنسبة 7.3% خلال الربع الأول 2025، وبنسبة 0.1% في مارس 2025، مقارنةً بالفترات المماثلة من العام السابق. في حين تراجع الفائض في الميزان التجاري بنسبة 28% في الربع الأول، وبنسبة 34.2% خلال شهر مارس. 
وأوضحت نتائج النشرة تحسّن نسبة الصادرات غير البترولية إلى الواردات، حيث بلغت 36.2% في الربع الأول من 2025 مقابل 34.3% في الربع الأول من 2024، كما ارتفعت النسبة في شهر مارس لتصل إلى 36.5% مقابل 33% في مارس 2024. في المقابل، تراجعت نسبة الصادرات البترولية من إجمالي الصادرات الكلية إلى 71.8% في الربع الأول 2025 مقارنة بـ 75.9% في نفس الفترة من 2024، وإلى 71.2% في مارس مقارنة بـ 76.5% في مارس 2024.
وتصدرت "منتجات الصناعات الكيماوية" قائمة سلع الصادرات غير البترولية، حيث شكلت 23.8% من إجمالي الصادرات غير البترولية في الربع الأول، و25.7% في مارس 2025. في حين كانت "الآلات والأجهزة والمعدات الكهربائية وأجزاؤها" أكبر السلع المستوردة، بنسبة 25.8% في الربع الأول، و26.1% في مارس. 
وبيّنت النشرة أن جمهورية الصين الشعبية لا تزال الشريك التجاري الرئيس للمملكة، حيث استحوذت على 15.7% من إجمالي الصادرات و26.6% من إجمالي الواردات في الربع الأول 2025، بينما بلغت نسبتها في شهر مارس 15.5% للصادرات و25.3% للواردات.
تجدر الإشارة إلى أن إحصاءات التجارة الدولية السلعية تعتمد على السجلات الإدارية من هيئة الزكاة والضريبة والجمارك فيما يخص البيانات غير البترولية، ومن وزارة الطاقة للبيانات البترولية، وتُصنف السلع وفقًا للنظام المنسق لتوصيف السلع الأساسية وترميزها 2022.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) revealed that the digital economy’s share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased to 15.6%, marking a 1.6% rise compared to 2022. This is according to the results of the 2023 Digital Economy Statistics Publication, issued today.
The publication indicated that imports of information and communications technology (ICT) goods recorded a notable increase, reaching SAR 54.9 billion in 2023 compared to SAR 45.8 billion in 2022, an increase of 19.9%. Conversely, exports and re-exports of the same technologies grew by 76.1%, rising from SAR 6.7 billion to SAR 11.8 billion during the same period.
The publication further highlighted that 71.6% of internet-connected establishments are leveraging smart devices or internet-enabled systems. These include advanced technologies such as smart alarm systems, smart meters, smart lighting, and surveillance cameras. 
From a financial perspective, the ICT sector reported substantial performance in 2023, with operating revenues reaching approximately SAR 236.4 billion. Operating expenditure stood at SAR 115.4 billion, while total employee compensation amounted to SAR 27.5 billion.
In terms of digital economy stratification, the core level, which comprises enterprises engaged in the direct production of ICT goods and services, contributed 2.6% to GDP. The narrow level, which includes businesses that depend primarily on digital inputs for their operations, accounted for 2.3%. Most notably, the broad level, representing entities that utilize digital technologies to substantially enhance their products and services, contributed 10.7%. 
It is worth noting that this survey is based on international standards outlined in the Handbook on Measuring Digital Economy Statistics issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), ensuring the international comparability of the indicators published by the Kingdom.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released Air Transport Statistics Publication 2024, which showed a notable increase in both passenger and air cargo traffic across the Kingdom’s airports compared to 2023. The total number of passengers at Kingdom’s airports exceeded 128 million, marking a 15% increase compared to the previous year, according to the publication.

International flight passengers surpassed 69 million, representing a 14% rise from 2023, while domestic flight passengers exceeded 59 million, an increase of 16% from the same year. King Abdulaziz International Airport topped the list in terms of passenger numbers, receiving around 49 million passengers with a growth rate of 14%, followed by King Khalid International Airport, which handled 37.6 million passengers with an 18% increase. King Fahd International Airport came third, serving 12.8 million passengers with a 15% rise. The average daily number of domestic flight passengers at Kingdom’s airports reached approximately 162 thousand, while the average number for international flights stood at around 189 thousand, the report noted. 

Regarding air cargo, total cargo volumes reached 1.2 million tons in 2024, recording a 34% increase compared to 2023. March was the peak month for cargo traffic, with a total of 123 thousand tons. The cargo volumes were distributed as follows: 64 thousand tons of outbound cargo, 720 thousand tons of inbound cargo, and 407 thousand tons of transit cargo.

The total number of aircraft in the Kingdom’s fleet reached 361 in 2024, representing an 11% increase compared to 2023. Commercial aviation fleet recorded the highest share, with 258 aircraft, an increase of 12% over 2023, and a capacity of more than 250 passengers, totaling 97 aircraft. Meanwhile, the general aviation fleet included 103 aircraft, marking a 7% increase. 

It is worth noting that the Air Transport Statistics Publication is published annually by GASTAT to provide accurate data and indicators on the air transport system in the Kingdom, including passenger movement, flights, and cargo operations across both commercial and general aviation sectors, in support of development efforts within the air transport industry.
 

GASTAT's President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Professor Markus Sovala, Director General of Statistics Finland of the Republic of Finland, in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning, Chairman of GASTAT’s Board of Directors, Mr. Faisal Alibrahim, and His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar Alkhorayef, during the Saudi Statistics Forum organized by GASTAT in the capital Riyadh, on April 27-28, 2025

MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two parties, improve coordination and integration of efforts in statistical work, establish a general framework for joint activities and tasks, and develop institutional capacities to serve the strategic objectives of both parties. It includes several areas of cooperation, notably: exchanging technical and knowledge-based support and expertise according to the specialization of each party, exchanging programs focused on promoting statistical awareness, developing communication strategies with the public, and organizing conferences, seminars, and workshops.

The Saudi Statistics Forum is the first of its kind and aims to discuss important statistical topics, highlight the positive impact of the statistics sector in supporting the Kingdom's path of progress and sustainable development, and reinforce the importance of data and statistics in raising awareness among members of society.

GASTAT's President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, received today at GASTAT headquarters in Riyadh an official delegation from the UAE’s FCSC, headed by Ms. Hanan AHLI, Director of the Center.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Aldossari welcomed the visiting delegation, stressing the depth of the brotherly relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and the importance of bilateral cooperation between the two statistical agencies in the two brotherly countries to support the march of statistical work and develop national capabilities to achieve the goals of sustainable development and the ambitious vision of the two countries.
An expanded meeting was also held between the two sides, during which some topics of common interest in the fields of statistical work were discussed, most notably: exchanging experiences in developing modern statistical methodologies, enhancing integration in collecting and analyzing statistical data, developing mechanisms for producing strategic indicators to support decision-making, reviewing best practices in making open data available and ensuring its quality, and discussing future cooperation opportunities in statistical innovation and modern analytical techniques such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis. The two sides also reviewed the most prominent national achievements made by the Kingdom and the UAE in the field of official data development and the efforts made to improve data quality and expand the use of statistics to support development plans and national visions.
At the end of the meeting, GASTAT's President expressed his appreciation for the visit of the UAE delegation, pointing out the importance of enhancing statistical cooperation between the two countries through practical initiatives that contribute to the exchange of knowledge and expertise, enhance GCC statistical integration, and support building an advanced knowledge economy based on accurate and reliable data. The two sides also affirmed their commitment to continue joint work to explore new areas of statistical cooperation to enhance the position of the two countries in the regional and international arena.

The Saudi Statistics Forum concluded its work on its last day with three-panel sessions that addressed some key topics and themes in the statistical sector, with the participation of some representatives of international organizations, local and international experts, and decision-makers.
On the second and final day, a panel discussion entitled “Modern Methods of Innovation and Statistical Development” was held in which participants talked about the role of innovative technologies in changing and modernizing the way data is produced, collected, and analyzed across various fields; employing remote sensing techniques and satellite images in geographical and agricultural statistics; using statistical methods to analyze future trends and forecasts; raising awareness of the automation of statistical processes; and the role of statistical innovation in increasing the level of confidence in official statistics.
The fourth-panel discussion was devoted to the topic: “The Role of The Private Sector in Producing Statistical Data” in which some specialists in the statistical sector discussed the role of the private sector in supporting and producing statistical data and integration between statistical institutions and data users, in addition to the importance of the contribution of private sector components from private companies and institutions in providing data and producing statistics related to the private sector or the national development scope in general, and the challenges it faces in producing and providing high-quality data, the importance of big data and statistical analysis innovations in improving the quality of economic estimates and indicators and opportunities to enhance partnership with the private sector.
The last session reviewed “Enhancing the Relationship between Statistical Agencies and Data Beneficiaries” and discussed ways to enhance the relationship between statistical offices and users by facilitating access to data and indicators of statistical products and providing them in multiple formats and various services and emphasizing the continuous work to develop the level of relationship and communication by offering platforms capable of presenting data in a safe manner and various digital formats supported by graphs, tables, and explanatory designs according to the best local and international practices, standards, and technologies.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released today the results of the Industrial Production Index (IPI) for March 2025, which showed a 2.0% increase in the overall index compared to the same month of the previous year.
According to the publication, manufacturing activities recorded a notable year-on-year growth of 5.1%, while the water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities rose by 15.0%. In contrast, mining and quarrying activities decreased by 0.2%, and electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply activities declined by 0.9%.
At the level of major economic classifications, oil-related activities increased by 0.5%, while the non-oil activities recorded a 5.6% rise compared to March 2024.
It is worth noting that the General Authority for Statistics issues the Industrial Production Index on a monthly basis to measure the relative changes in industrial production volumes. This is based on data from the Industrial Production Survey, which is conducted on a selected sample of establishments operating in targeted industrial sectors, including: mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, and water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) announced the launch of the second edition of the Saudi Statistician Program. This initiative aims to attract outstanding graduates from local and international universities, and qualify them academically and professionally to become promising national cadres in the fields of statistics and data science.
The program objective is to enable Saudi talents to pursue their higher studies at top global universities in certain fields including statistics, applied statistics, and data science, with full financial support that covers tuition fees, training, and monthly allowances. This support enhances the competitiveness of national talents in both the local and global labor markets.
Accepted candidates will undergo several integrated developmental stages, starting with basic training, which includes training in statistical programming languages, developing personal and technical skills, and job rotation, before moving on to academic scholarship and then returning to apply the expertise they have gained and contribute to implementing the National Statistics Strategy.
This program represents one of the strategic steps to build a specialized national elite capable of enhancing the quality of statistical work in the Kingdom and strengthening its global competitiveness, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and the principles of sustainability, governance, and digital transformation.
GASTAT welcomes all those who have passion and excellence and who meet the program requirements. Interested applicants can visit GASTAT’s website for more details and information .

https://careers.stats.gov.sa/en/job-search-results/?

GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, held a meeting with John List, Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago and his accompanying delegation during their recent visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
During the meeting, Dr. Fahad Aldossari reviewed key transformations of the statistical sector in the Kingdom in recent years. He highlighted the significant expansion in the statistical work and the qualitative initiatives led by GASTAT to enhance the production of statistical indicators, develop the infrastructure and governance of the statistical sector, and integrate multiple data sources while improving exchange mechanisms according to the highest international standards. The two parties also discussed areas of cooperation aimed at linking research and innovation in the statistical field to several areas within the Kingdom.
 This collaboration seeks to contribute to raising the level of awareness and disseminating research that enhances global scientific content in relevant disciplines, through an integrated framework between GASTAT and the University of Chicago.
 It is worth noting that this meeting aligns with GASTAT's strategic direction towards expanding its scientific and research partnerships with leading international academic institutions. This aims to enhance its capacity to produce high-quality statistics and support the integration between its statistical products and scientific research, ultimately contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals and strengthening the Kingdom's statistical standing at both regional and international levels.
 

GASTAT signed four agreements on the concluding day of the Saudi Statistics Forum. The event was held under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning, Chairman of GASTAT’s Board of Directors. It brought together several ministers, heads and representatives of international organizations and statistical offices, local and international experts and decision-makers in the statistical sector.

The cooperation agreements were signed with the Riyadh Chamber, Jeddah University, the Social Development Bank, and ROSHN Group. The agreements aim to strengthen collaboration, enhance coordination, and integrate efforts across the parties' areas of expertise. They also establish an institutional framework for joint activities and tasks, while supporting the development of institutional capacities in areas of mutual interest.

The areas of cooperation focused on several strategic tracks, most notably the exchange of technical support and expertise according to each party’s specialization, strengthening partnerships in the development of statistical products and indicators, improving the quality of statistical data, and promoting statistical awareness across various sectors.

GASTAT's president, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, emphasized that strengthening cooperation with government and private sectors is a key pillar in achieving national and sustainable development goals. He emphasized that the exchange of statistical data and expertise contributes to enhancing institutional performance efficiency, meeting the needs of various stakeholders, and anticipating future trends for the development of statistical products and services, thereby strengthening the national economy and raising public awareness that supports comprehensive development.

It is worth noting that GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It plays a key role in collecting, analyzing, and studying statistical data and information to support decision-makers and policy-makers.

GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, and Managing Director of FCSC, Ms. Hanan Mansour AHLI, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities in the presence of H.E. Faisal F. Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning and Chairman of GASTAT's Board of Directors; H.E. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources; and H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The MoU was signed during the Saudi Statistics Forum held in Riyadh. This initiative aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in statistical fields. It seeks to coordinate and integrate efforts in areas of statistical work, develop institutional capacities, and exchange technical and knowledge-based expertise. It also aims to share programs related to raising statistical awareness and public communication strategies and organize conferences, seminars, and workshops.

                                    
GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, held a series of bilateral meetings with several heads and directors of international organizations and statistical centers during the Saudi Statistics Forum. The forum was hosted in Riyadh from April 27-28, 2025.
These meetings involved discussions on areas of bilateral cooperation, exploring opportunities for integration and the exchange of expertise in developing statistical work, and examining ways to expand partnerships with leading statistical entities at both regional and international levels. The aim was to enhance data quality and contribute to the development of statistical products and indicators that support decision-making.
The meetings included discussions with: Dr. Johannes Jutting, Executive Head of PARIS21; Dr. Ola Awad, President of PCBS; Dr. Steve Macfeely, OECD Chief Statistician; Professor Xuming He, President of ISI; Mr. Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Obaidly, Director-General of the National Statistics Center of Qatar; Intisar Abdullah Al Wahaibi, Director General of the GCC Statistical Centre;   Dr. Diaa Awad Kazem, President of the Statistics and Geospatial Information Authority in Iraq; Dr. Khalifa Al-Barwani, Chief Executive Officer at National Centre for Statistics and Information in Oman; Ms. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, Director General of SESRIC; Mr. Rafeal Diaz, Senior Statistician at ILO; and Dr. Ziad Abdullah, Director General of the Arab Institute for Training and Statistical Research.

During the meetings, Dr. Fahad Aldossari emphasized GASTAT's commitment to strengthening its international and regional partnerships to develop methodologies, enhance the efficiency of statistical systems, expand the scope of open data, and keep pace with global technological advancements in the field of statistics and analysis.

The Saudi Statistics Forum is a significant national platform for activating statistical cooperation, promoting capacity building, and transferring knowledge. It was held with the participation of prominent statistical leaders, decision-makers, and local and international experts, and was attended by over 300 participants from various entities related to statistical work.
 

GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, received the Chief Statistician of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Dr. Jose Rosero, at GASTAT’s headquarters in Riyadh. They held a bilateral meeting to discuss several topics of mutual interest.

During the meeting, they reviewed GASTAT’s key projects and highlighted its strategic transformation journey, which includes the improvement of various statistical product methodologies, the enhancement of the digital infrastructure within GASTAT, and the improvement of information technology efficiency supporting statistical work.

Dr. Jose Rosero expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome, stating FAO's interest in enhancing cooperation with GASTAT, considering the increasing importance of data regularly requested by the organization from international statistical offices and agencies.
 

GASTAT’s President, Dr. Fahad Aldossari, met with the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Dr. Claudia Mahler. During the meeting, they reviewed the efforts made by GASTAT to support the elderly through the production of updated statistical data and indicators specifically for this group.

Dr. Fahad Aldossari provided an overview of the statistical transformation project launched in 2023, which aims to ensure comprehensive coverage of all statistical indicators in the Kingdom, including data and indicators related to the elderly. He also emphasized that after collecting, analyzing, and processing field and register-based data, it is essential to align this data in cooperation with relevant government entities to achieve accurate results that continuously enhance service quality.

It is worth mentioning that this meeting is part of GASTAT's efforts to enhance international cooperation and exchange experiences with international organizations, aiming to raise the Kingdom's ranking in international indicators and develop statistical work according to the best global practices.
 

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GASTAT, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, the Saudi Statistical Forum was launched, organized by GASTAT in the capital, Riyadh, with the participation of a number of HE ministers, heads and representatives of international organizations and statistical offices, as well as local and international experts and decision-makers in the statistical sector. The forum was attended by more than 300 individuals interested in statistical work and will continue over two days, 27–28 April 2025.
His Excellency Minister Faisal Alibrahim delivered a speech in which he emphasized that the forum was inspired by the  insightful guidance of HRH the Crown Prince in developing and advancing the Kingdom’s data system, to serve as an example in measuring performance levels and identifying the impact of legislation through data and statistical indicators. He confirmed that the Kingdom has made great strides in enhancing the quality and accuracy of indicators, including economic, social, and environmental statistics. Statistics and data today have become a reliable reference for decision-makers.
His Excellency added that we will continue  in the coming phase to develop data platforms, strengthen the digital transformation journey, and benefit from artificial intelligence and modern technologies in developing statistical processes and data analysis, in a way that enhances efficiency, increases the accuracy of indicators, facilitates access to information, and contributes to accelerating the pace of development and maximizing the positive impact locally and globally in statistical work.”
For his part, Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari, President of GASTAT, expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning for his sponsorship of the forum, valuing at the same time the presence of HE the ministers, specialists, and experts from inside and outside the Kingdom, which adds qualitative momentum to the forum and reinforces its role as a national platform concerned with the development of statistical work and the support of public policies and knowledge-based decision-making.
Dr. Aldossari clarified that the forum organized by GASTAT stems from its belief in the importance of meeting, integration, and exchange of expertise to build a knowledge-based future founded on reliable data and statistics. He pointed out that GASTAT constantly works to develop its statistical system in a way that enhances the capacities of entities and supports decision-makers in planning and policy-making to achieve national objectives.
The forum's agenda includes five panel sessions. On the first day of the forum, two panel sessions will be held. The first session "The Role of Statistics in Policy Development and Decision Making" will be attended by His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, and Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah Aldossari , President of GASTAT. The session will  highlight the importance of statistical data as a fundamental pillar in the formulation of public policies, decision-making, defining national priorities. It will also emphasize the role of data providers in improving data quality and accuracy, as well as the importance of statistical indicators in measuring the success of policies and their alignment with national objectives, and the impact of cooperation and integration between national statistical offices and governmental and private entities in decision-making and enhancing developmental impact.
The second session "International Statistical Methodologies and Practices" will include the participation of several heads of statistical offices, representatives of international organizations, and local and international experts. The speakers will discuss the importance of globally approved statistical standards and classifications and the unification of methodologies to ensure comparability between countries, the role of modern technologies in developing statistical methodologies, in addition to discussing challenges in statistical practices and ensuring reliability and transparency in official statistics.
Speakers on the second day of the forum will participate in three panel sessions, namely:
Modern Methods of Innovation and Statistical Development,
The Role of the Private Sector in Producing Statistical Data,
Enhancing the Relationship Between Agencies and Data Beneficiaries
The third and fourth sessions will address the importance of remote sensing technologies and satellite imagery in geographic and agricultural statistics, and the use of advanced statistical methods in data analysis and their impact on decision-making, as well as the challenges facing the private sector in data production, and opportunities to enhance the partnership between the public and private sectors to develop sustainable and accurate data sources that support economic and developmental decision-making.
The forum will dedicate the final session to discussing the mechanism for facilitating access to data and statistical indicators in multiple formats that allow data users to access and interact with the data in ways that meet their needs, and to develop the level of relationship and communication with users through the provision of secure and diverse digital platforms for presenting data supported by charts, tables, and illustrative visuals. In addition, it will highlight the importance of providing high-quality data that contributes to supporting the private sector and its future directions.
On the first day, GASTAT signed a number of agreements with several statistical offices and centers in the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Estonia, and the Republic of Finland, aiming to exchange expertise to develop statistical work.
It is worth mentioning that the Saudi Statistical Forum is the first of its kind and aims to discuss important topics at the statistical level and highlight the positive impact of the statistical sector in supporting the course of renaissance and sustainable development in the Kingdom, and in reinforcing the importance of data and statistics in raising awareness among members of society.

Saudi Arabia made significant progress in the 2024 Open Data Inventory report issued by Open Data Watch, rising to 41st place globally out of 197 countries. This marks an advancement of 28 positions compared to the year 2022 assessment. Also, Saudi Arabia advanced from 15th to 9th place among G20 countries in this year’s report reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing transparency and data openness. The ODIN report is based on two main elements: the Data Coverage Score, which measures the comprehensiveness and diversity of published official data, and the Data Openness Score, which measures the ease of access and usability of data.

Open Data Watch, through its official report, praised the significant progress made by the Kingdom, considering this advancement the result of ongoing efforts and notable initiatives worthy of recognition. The Kingdom’s data coverage score increased by 16 points, and the data openness score rose by 15 points, achieving a growth of 143% in the overall score since 2017. underscoring its commitment to adopting global best practices in the field of open data.

This national achievement is the result of the efforts of the General Authority for Statistics, which leads the national statistical ecosystem by developing statistical products, launching strategic indicators that support Saudi Vision 2030, expanding the provision of open data, and facilitating access through official digital platforms.

In line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, GASTAT has strengthened its strategy to develop IT infrastructure, enabling government entities, the private sector, and researchers to use data to support strategic planning and decision-making. GASTAT’s efforts have also contributed to fostering a culture of transparency and open data, raising community awareness of the importance of data as a key driver of sustainable development and innovation.

This progress in the open data inventory report reflects the Kingdom’s growing status as a regional and global hub for providing official data and statistical indicators, reinforcing its role in building a sustainable, knowledge-based economy, enhancing transparency, attracting investment, and keeping pace with the rapid digital transformations taking place worldwide.