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General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) participated in the 42nd meeting of the United Nations High-level Group for Partnership, Coordination and Capacity-Building for statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (HLG-PCCB), which was held virtually with the participation of heads of statistical offices and representatives of regional and international statistical organizations and agencies that are members of the group.
The meeting was held as part of the preparations for the Sixth United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF), scheduled to take place in Riyadh from 9 to 12 November 2026. During the meeting, participants reviewed updates on the Forum’s overall program and hosting arrangements, in addition to discussing several international initiatives related to data governance, development financing, and statistical capacity-building.
Fahad Aldossari, President of GASTAT, affirmed during the meeting the continued progress in the Kingdom’s preparations to host the Forum, as well as the ongoing coordination with the United Nations Statistics Division and international partners. He noted that these efforts reflect the Kingdom’s readiness to host this specialized international event and further strengthen its position as an active partner in supporting the global data and statistics agenda.
Aldossari also highlighted the continued progress of the “Road to Riyadh” events, which contribute to strengthening international dialogue and the exchange of expertise in data, statistics, and innovation. He further emphasized their role in supporting cooperation among relevant international entities and institutions, thereby contributing to the development of statistical systems and enhancing the utilization of statistical data in policymaking and decision-making. He affirmed that the Kingdom remains committed to supporting all international efforts and initiatives related to data and sustainable development.
It is noteworthy that the 6th UNWDF 2026 is one of the most prominent international platforms focused on data and sustainable development. It brings together a distinguished group of representatives from governments, international organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil society to discuss the future of data and its role in supporting public policies and fostering global innovation. Hosting this event in Riyadh reflects the international  confidence in Saudi Arabia’s standing and capabilities in the fields of data and statistics.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) released the Short-term Business Statistics Publication for March 2026, which showed that the Operating Revenues Index increased by 10.2% compared to the corresponding month of 2025. This growth was driven by the performance of several economic activities, most notably the mining and quarrying activity, which rose by 25.5%, the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles activity, which increased by 4.6%, in addition to a 4.8% increase in construction activity and a 17.6% increase in financial and insurance activities.
Monthly, the Operating Revenue Index recorded an increase of 8.1% in March 2026 compared to February 2026, supported by a 4.4% increase in manufacturing activities, a 38.6% increase in mining and quarrying activity, and a 0.2% increase in the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles activity. Financial and insurance activities also increased by 2.6%, while information and communication activities rose by 0.6%, respectively.
It is noteworthy that the Short-term Business Statistics Publication is one of the economic statistical products aimed at measuring the short-term performance of various economic sectors through monthly indicators that monitor developments and growth rates across each activity. It covers all economic activities of establishments operating in the business sector in Saudi Arabia.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) published the Air Transport Statistics Publication 2025, which showed an increase in the total number of passengers passing through the Kingdom’s airports, reaching 140.9 million passengers, marking a 9.6% increase compared to 2024. The number of arriving and departing international passengers reached 75.8 million, an increase of 9.4%, while domestic passenger traffic amounted to 65.1 million, increasing by 9.8%.
King Abdulaziz International Airport ranked first among the Kingdom’s airports in terms of passenger numbers, recording 53.5 million passengers, followed by King Khalid International Airport with 40.8 million passengers, and King Fahd International Airport with 13.7 million passengers. The average daily number of passengers reached 178.6 thousand on domestic flights and 207.7 thousand on international flights.
The publication showed that the total number of arriving and departing flights at the Kingdom’s airports reached 979.8 thousand flights in 2025, representing an increase of 8.3% compared with 2024. Domestic flights totaled 506.3 thousand, increasing by 6.8%, while international flights reached 473.5 thousand, marking an increase of 9.9%. At the airport level, King Abdulaziz International Airport ranked first with 314.4 thousand flights, followed by King Khalid International Airport with 296.8 thousand flights, and King Fahd International Airport with 108.5 thousand flights. The average daily number of domestic flights reached 1,387 flights, compared with 1,297 international flights per day.
In terms of air connectivity, the number of countries reached through the Kingdom’s international airports stood at 66 countries, an increase of 1.5%, while the number of destinations rose to 176, increasing by 2.3% compared with 2024. Saudia ranked as the airline with the highest utilization of Saudi airspace, accounting for 25.5%, followed by flynas at 13.3% and flyadeal at 8.6%. The Kingdom ranked 18th in the Global Air Connectivity Index in 2025, compared with 17th place in 2024.
The Air Transport Statistics Publication is based on administrative records from a number of government and private entities, which undergo statistical processing and review procedures to ensure data quality and accuracy before publication.
It is noteworthy that the Air Transport Statistics Publication is an annual publication that provides statistics and indicators on the air transport system, including flight and passenger traffic, cargo, and air transport infrastructure. The publication serves as a reliable reference for conducting studies and research in the field of air transport, as well as for local, regional, and international comparisons. It is based on administrative records data obtained from a number of government and private entities.
 

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) organized today a panel discussion titled “Data Innovation to Advance Official Statistics” as part of the Road to Riyadh events. The initiative comes within Saudi Arabia’s preparations to host the 6th  UN World Data Forum 2026 in Riyadh next November, with broad international participation from global experts, academics, and specialists in the fields of data, statistics, and sustainable development.
The panel discussion aimed to foster the exchange of knowledge and expertise on best practices for enhancing the capabilities of Arab statistical agencies in the field of data innovation, while enabling the effective use of innovative data approaches to improve statistical operations, enhance the quality of statistical indicators, support public policy design, and contribute to economic and social development plans.
The panel discussion brought together a distinguished group of regional and international experts and specialists in data and statistics. It was moderated by Dr. Lilac Alsafadi, Advisor at  GASTAT, and included the participation of Dr. Ziad Abdullah, Director General of the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics;  Ms. Jenna Slotin, Interim CEO of Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data; Mr. Mohammed Al-Musfer, General Supervisor for Data Management and Governance at GASTAT and Dr. Abdulrahman Habib, President of International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics. Participants discussed key opportunities and challenges in the field, as well as ways to leverage advanced technologies in data collection, analysis, and dissemination to keep pace with rapid global transformations.
It is noteworthy that the 6th UNWDF 2026 is one of the most prominent international platforms focused on data and sustainable development. It brings together a distinguished group of representatives from governments, international organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil society to discuss the future of data and its role in supporting public policies, measuring Sustainable Development Goal indicators, and fostering global innovation. Riyadh’s hosting of this event reflects international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s standing, organizational capabilities, and growing leadership in the fields of data and statistics.