GASTAT Hosts 15th OIC Statistical Commission in Jeddah

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) hosted the 15th session of the Statistical Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-StatCom) in Jeddah on September 29–30, 2026, bringing together heads and representatives of statistical agencies from member states alongside regional and international organizations. The two-day gathering, announced through official Saudi channels, focused on advancing statistical cooperation across the Islamic world and strengthening the role of reliable data in national planning and international development. GASTAT President Fahad Al-Dossari delivered the Kingdom’s address at the opening session, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to modernizing official statistics. Have you ever considered how much of a nation’s progress depends on the quality of its data?

The Jeddah session reflects a broader recognition among OIC member states that credible, timely, and comparable statistics are essential to sound policymaking. Delegates examined how digital systems, artificial intelligence, and updated international accounting frameworks can improve the accuracy of national data. The meeting also served as a milestone on the road to the sixth UN World Data Forum, which Riyadh will host in November 2026. For international observers, the session offers a clear signal that Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a convening power in the global data community, not only as a participant but as a host and agenda-setter.

Context and Background

Why does a statistical commission matter in an era of rapid technological change? The OIC Statistical Commission was established to harmonize statistical standards across member states, enabling comparable data on population, economic output, and social development. Its annual sessions provide a platform for statistical agencies to share methods, review progress, and align their work with global frameworks. The 15th session in Jeddah continued that tradition, with a packed agenda that addressed some of the most pressing methodological questions facing national statistical offices today.

Hosting the session in Saudi Arabia carries particular significance. The Kingdom has invested heavily in upgrading its statistical infrastructure as part of its national transformation agenda, recognizing that Vision 2030’s ambitious targets require rigorous measurement. GASTAT has expanded its surveys, digitized data collection, and published a growing range of indicators covering employment, housing, tourism, and economic activity. The Jeddah meeting allowed Saudi officials to present these advances to peers while learning from the experiences of other member states facing similar challenges.

The timing of the session is also notable. Global statistical systems are undergoing their most significant overhaul in decades, with the adoption of the System of National Accounts (SNA) 2025 and the ongoing refinement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators. Member states must update their methodologies to remain comparable and to track progress accurately. By hosting the commission, Saudi Arabia placed itself at the center of these technical discussions, reinforcing its reputation for institutional seriousness and international engagement.

Key Details

What exactly was discussed during the two days of deliberations? According to official Saudi information, the session addressed several core topics related to advancing statistical work across member states. A major agenda item was the modernization of population and housing statistics through digital systems, a priority for countries seeking more frequent and granular demographic data. Delegates also reviewed the implementation of the System of National Accounts (SNA) 2025, which updates how economies measure output, income, and wealth in an increasingly digital world.

Monitoring Sustainable Development Goal indicators formed another pillar of the agenda. Member states shared their approaches to tracking progress on poverty, health, education, and environmental sustainability, with an emphasis on improving data coverage in areas that have historically been difficult to measure. The session also examined how modern technologies and artificial intelligence can be applied to official statistics, from automated data cleaning to satellite imagery analysis. These discussions reflect a shared understanding that statistical agencies must innovate to keep pace with the demands of policymakers and the public.

In his address, GASTAT President Fahad Al-Dossari emphasized that hosting the session reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing statistical work and enhancing its role in keeping pace with evolving trends. He highlighted the importance of using modern technologies to develop official statistics and to provide reliable data that supports informed decision-making. GASTAT also outlined Saudi Arabia’s preparations to host the sixth UN World Data Forum in Riyadh in November 2026, including the ‘Road to Riyadh’ activities, a series of workshops and panel discussions designed to foster engagement and exchange knowledge ahead of the main event.

International and Regional Impact

How will the outcomes of this session resonate beyond the conference room? The OIC Statistical Commission serves as a bridge between national statistical systems and global standards, and its decisions influence how member states report data to international bodies. By aligning methodologies on population statistics, national accounts, and SDG indicators, the commission helps ensure that data from OIC countries can be compared and aggregated reliably. This has practical consequences for development finance, where credible statistics are often a prerequisite for accessing international support.

For Saudi Arabia, the session reinforced its role as a regional leader in institutional capacity-building. Delegates from across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East had the opportunity to observe Saudi Arabia’s statistical modernization firsthand, including its use of digital platforms and its preparations for the World Data Forum. The presence of regional and international organizations at the Jeddah meeting further elevated its profile, creating opportunities for partnerships that extend beyond the two-day agenda. In a world where data governance is increasingly linked to economic competitiveness, such gatherings help shape the rules of the road.

The ‘Road to Riyadh’ activities add a forward-looking dimension to the session’s impact. By organizing workshops and panel discussions in the months leading up to the UN World Data Forum, GASTAT is building momentum and ensuring that the Riyadh forum benefits from broad participation. This approach reflects a deliberate strategy of sustained engagement rather than one-off events, and it positions Saudi Arabia as a reliable partner in the global effort to strengthen data systems.

Economic and Strategic Significance

Why should businesses and investors pay attention to a statistical commission? Reliable statistics underpin every major economic decision, from monetary policy to infrastructure investment. When national accounts are updated to reflect new sectors and digital activity, they provide a more accurate picture of an economy’s size and composition. For Saudi Arabia, the adoption of SNA 2025 and the modernization of population statistics will improve the evidence base for Vision 2030 programs, helping policymakers allocate resources efficiently and measure results transparently.

The session also highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence in official statistics. AI tools can process vast datasets, identify patterns, and produce timely indicators that traditional methods might miss. For member states, building capacity in this area is both an economic and a strategic imperative. Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on technology-driven statistics aligns with its broader ambitions in digital transformation, including the development of smart cities and a knowledge-based economy. By sharing its experience, the Kingdom contributes to a collective upgrading of statistical systems across the OIC.

From a strategic perspective, hosting the OIC-StatCom session strengthens Saudi Arabia’s soft power and its network of institutional relationships. Statistical cooperation may appear technical, but it creates durable channels for dialogue and trust-building. The Kingdom’s ability to convene statistical leaders from dozens of countries demonstrates its convening authority and its commitment to multilateral problem-solving, qualities that are increasingly valued in a fragmented global environment.

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does a statistical conference connect to Saudi Arabia’s long-term vision? Vision 2030 is built on a foundation of evidence-based policymaking, with targets spanning economic diversification, social development, and quality of life. Achieving those targets requires accurate, timely data, and GASTAT’s modernization efforts are directly tied to that need. Hosting the OIC-StatCom session and preparing for the UN World Data Forum in Riyadh are concrete expressions of the Kingdom’s determination to build a world-class statistical system that serves both national and global purposes.

The emphasis on digital systems, artificial intelligence, and international standards mirrors the Vision 2030 pillars of a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. By investing in statistical capacity, Saudi Arabia is not only improving its own governance but also contributing to the global public good of reliable data. As the Kingdom prepares to welcome the world to Riyadh in November 2026, the Jeddah session stands as an important step in a longer journey, one that links statistical excellence to sustainable development and international cooperation. The message is clear: data is not a back-office function but a strategic asset, and Saudi Arabia is treating it as such.

20 Questions

Q1. What was the main event hosted by GASTAT in Jeddah?

A1. GASTAT hosted the 15th session of the OIC Statistical Commission in Jeddah on September 29–30, 2026, with participation from member states and international organizations.

Q2. Who delivered the Kingdom’s speech at the opening session?

A2. GASTAT President Fahad Al-Dossari delivered the Kingdom’s speech, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing statistical work and using modern technologies.

Q3. What are the key agenda items discussed at the session?

A3. Agenda items included modernizing population and housing statistics, implementing SNA 2025, monitoring SDG indicators, and leveraging AI in official statistics.

Q4. Why is modernizing population and housing statistics important?

A4. Modernized statistics provide more frequent and granular demographic data, which helps governments plan services, allocate resources, and track development progress accurately.

Q5. What is the System of National Accounts (SNA) 2025?

A5. SNA 2025 is an updated international framework for measuring economic output, income, and wealth, reflecting changes in the digital economy and new sectors.

Q6. How does the session relate to Sustainable Development Goals?

A6. Member states reviewed approaches to monitoring SDG indicators, sharing methods to improve data coverage on poverty, health, education, and environmental sustainability.

Q7. What role does artificial intelligence play in official statistics?

A7. AI can automate data cleaning, analyze satellite imagery, and produce timely indicators, helping statistical agencies keep pace with growing data demands.

Q8. What is the sixth UN World Data Forum?

A8. It is a major global gathering on data and statistics, scheduled to be hosted in Riyadh in November 2026, with preparations already underway.

Q9. What are the ‘Road to Riyadh’ activities?

A9. They are a series of workshops and panel discussions organized by GASTAT to foster engagement and exchange knowledge ahead of the UN World Data Forum.

Q10. How does hosting this session benefit Saudi Arabia?

A10. It reinforces Saudi Arabia’s role as a convening power, showcases its statistical modernization, and strengthens institutional relationships across the OIC.

Q11. What is the OIC Statistical Commission?

A11. It is a body that harmonizes statistical standards among OIC member states, enabling comparable data on population, economy, and social development.

Q12. How many member states participate in OIC-StatCom?

A12. The commission includes heads and representatives from OIC member states across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, along with regional and international organizations.

Q13. What did GASTAT present about Saudi Arabia’s statistical progress?

A13. GASTAT outlined its expanded surveys, digitized data collection, and preparations for the World Data Forum, highlighting advances in national statistical infrastructure.

Q14. Why are reliable statistics important for Vision 2030?

A14. Vision 2030 requires evidence-based policymaking; accurate data helps measure progress on economic diversification, social development, and quality of life.

Q15. What economic impact could improved statistics have?

A15. Better statistics improve the evidence base for investment, monetary policy, and resource allocation, supporting sustainable growth and informed decision-making.

Q16. How does AI adoption in statistics align with Saudi digital ambitions?

A16. It supports the development of a knowledge-based economy and smart cities, reflecting the Kingdom’s broader digital transformation goals under Vision 2030.

Q17. What is the significance of the Jeddah session for international cooperation?

A17. It creates durable channels for dialogue and trust-building, helping align statistical methods and improving data comparability across member states.

Q18. What happens after the Jeddah session?

A18. GASTAT will continue ‘Road to Riyadh’ activities, leading up to the sixth UN World Data Forum in Riyadh in November 2026.

Q19. How does the session reflect Saudi Arabia’s global role?

A19. It demonstrates the Kingdom’s ability to convene statistical leaders and contribute to global data governance, enhancing its soft power and multilateral engagement.

Q20. What is the long-term goal of these statistical efforts?

A20. The goal is to build a world-class statistical system that supports national development, international cooperation, and the global public good of reliable data.

Reader Feedback

We value your thoughts. Please share your feedback on this article.

Name *

Message *

Your feedback helps us improve our coverage.