GCC marks Gulf Statistics Day, highlights unified data vision

MUSCAT: The Statistical Centre of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) marked Gulf Statistics Day on December 24, underscoring the vital role of official statistics in decision-making and sustainable development. This year’s celebration was held under the theme “Unified Data... A Shared Gulf Vision.”
Jassim bin Mohammed al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, said Gulf Statistics Day recognizes the contributions of professionals working in the statistical field and their essential role in supporting development policies across the region. He noted that, guided by the vision of GCC leaders, statistical cooperation has become a cornerstone of joint Gulf action.
He highlighted that the GCC Statistical Centre, established in 2011, serves as a central source of unified data, supports evidence-based decision-making and strengthens economic and social integration among GCC member states.
This year’s celebration coincided with the outcomes of the 2025 GCC Summit in Manama, which emphasised enhancing integration, unifying policies and advancing sustainable development as key priorities. The theme of the event reflects the summit’s directives, as unified data provides the technical foundation for monitoring economic integration, diversification indicators and progress toward the GCC’s Sustainable Development Goals.
As part of the celebration, the center honored winners of its statistical competition, which aims to promote statistical awareness, encourage innovation in data use and inspire Gulf talent to apply data in analysis, research and forecasting.
The event also featured a panel discussion titled “Unified Data for a Shared Gulf Vision Towards Statistical Integration Supporting Sustainable Development.” Discussions focused on standardising data and indicators, strengthening official statistics, digital transformation of statistical systems, and enhancing cooperation between statistical agencies and policymakers.
Participants addressed challenges related to data integration, quality and timeliness, as well as the role of statistics in strategic planning, measuring impact and improving public policy efficiency across GCC countries.
On the sidelines of the event, the GCC Statistical Centre launched the Youth Creativity in Data Award, targeting Gulf youth aged 18 to 34. The initiative, launched in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Qatar National Statistics Center, aims to promote data literacy and encourage young people to use data in support of sustainable development.
Intisar bint Abdullah al Wahaibiyah, Director General of the GCC Statistical Centre, said the award sends a clear message that Gulf youth are future leaders in the data and statistics field. She emphasized that data is no longer just numbers, but a powerful tool shaping development and decision-making, adding that investing in young talent is essential to building a knowledge-based economy in the GCC. — ONA