The Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) has won the bid to host the United Nations World Data Forum in Riyadh after a competitive bidding process.
The decision was made by the High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building for Statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (HLG-PCCB).
GASTAT President Dr. Fahad Aldossari presented Saudi Arabia’s bid to the HLG-PCCB group. Fahad Aldossari presentation highlighted GASTAT’s advancements in statistical work, and the Kingdom’s experience in hosting international events and its commitment to providing logistical support for a successful forum.
Saudi Arabia proposed the theme “Using the Latest Technologies and Methodologies to Enhance Global Statistical Systems and Enable Sustainable Development” for the forum.
Dr. Fahad Aldossari President – GASTAT
“Hosting this event reflects Saudi Arabia’s prominent status among nations and underscores the commitment of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to supporting the statistical sector. Statistical data plays a crucial role in driving comprehensive and sustainable development across all fields.”
Aldossari also said that winning the bid to host the UN World Data Forum in 2026 is a testament to GASTAT’s significant advancements in the statistical field.
The aim of the UN World Data Forum is to spur data innovation, nurture partnerships, mobilize high-level political and financial support for data, and build a pathway to better data for sustainable development. Since January 2017, the Forum’s community has grown from 2,000 people who attended the first and second Forum in Cape Town, South Africa and Dubai, United Arab Emirates to an active list of over 20,000 interested stakeholders.
