Jeddah: Saudi Arabia has secured the hosting rights for the 6th UN World Data Forum, to be held in Riyadh in 2026. The announcement was made at the conclusion of the 5th UN World Data Forum, which took place in Medellín, Colombia, from November 12 to 15, 2024.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the forum gathered representatives from 193 UN member states. Saudi Arabia’s selection was endorsed by the High-Level Group for Partnership, Coordination, and Capacity-Building in Statistics (HLG-PCCB), in recognition of the Kingdom’s robust statistical capabilities and commitment to data-driven development. This decision also underscores the Kingdom’s role in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its advancements in data and statistics.
On this occasion, President of the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) Dr. Fahad Aldossari extended his congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salma
n Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He expressed gratitude for the support and empowerment provided to GASTAT in recent years, which has bolstered its local and international presence, enhanced its statistical expertise, and enabled it to compete on a global scale.
Dr. Aldossari emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the 6th UN World Data Forum reflects the Kingdom’s remarkable progress across multiple sectors, particularly in its statistical endeavors. He noted that the event will provide an invaluable opportunity to share technical expertise, foster strategic partnerships with national statistical offices worldwide, and strengthen global collaboration in statistics.
In his remarks, Dr. Aldossari also expressed appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Colombia, the United Nations, and Colombia’s National Department of Statistics (DANE) for hosting and organizing the 5th UN World Data Forum. He extended gratitude to representatives of national statistical offices, program tea
m members, and the HLG-PCCB for their dedication to preparing and delivering the program. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment, through GASTAT, to advancing the quality and transparency of statistical data across various fields. He highlighted the Kingdom’s leadership in the region and its pivotal role in promoting statistical excellence.
The UN World Data Forum is a major international event attended by more than 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 for addressing challenges in the global data and statistics system and fostering collaboration among policymakers and experts. It highlights the critical importance of data and statistics while promoting increased cooperation across diverse data systems.
Saudi Arabia, represented by GASTAT, will host the 6th UN World Data Forum in 2026 in Riyadh. The HLG-PCCB announced the Kingdom’
s selection by majority vote after evaluating competing countries’ bids and assessing their hosting capabilities. This decision underscores Saudi Arabia’s prominent global standing and its significant contributions to advancing high-quality data and statistical indicators. It also reaffirms the exceptional role of GASTAT in leading the global statistical community.
