The Celebration Emphasizes Accurate Statistics and Reliable Data for Change and a Better Future for All
The United Arab Emirates, represented by the National Bureau of Statistics and led by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority alongside local statistical centers and executive councils, joins the global community in commemorating World Statistics Day on October 20. This event, celebrated every five years since its establishment by the United Nations in 2010, aims to highlight the significance of statistical data in development and decision-making while underscoring the critical role statistics play in monitoring the progress countries are making toward achieving their developmental goals.
This year’s celebration of World Statistics Day in the UAE marks its fourth iteration and carries the theme: “Accurate Statistics and Reliable Data Drive Change and Create a Better Future for All.” It builds on a rich legacy of significant achievements within the UAE’s statistical journey and presents an ambitious vision for the future, paving the way for a new era of statistical transformation. This transition will enable the national statistical system to evolve from routine surveys to proactive analysis and impactful decision-making, establishing the UAE as a country that shapes the future through data.
Hanane Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, remarked: “We celebrate World Statistics Day with the global community to reflect the vital and active role that statistical agencies play in supporting developmental trajectories and data-driven decision-making while confidently and innovatively looking towards the future.”
She added, “The statistical system in the UAE is entering a new phase of qualitative transformation, where we harness advanced technologies, digital solutions, and artificial intelligence to shift from mere data collection to an integrated system that supports strategic planning and future policymaking based on a scientifically developed approach to data analysis and utilization.”
Hanane Ahli emphasized, “Statistics in the UAE transcend mere numbers, becoming the language of the future that expresses our reality and directs our developmental journey. Through unifying efforts at both federal and local levels to publish unified Emirati figures, we strengthen the country’s position as a global model for data accuracy and quality, supported by wise leadership and effective partnerships with statistical centers.”
A Voice for Progress
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamid Al Qasimi, Head of the Statistics and Community Development Department in Sharjah, stated: “Statistics is a tool for development and a voice for progress and prosperity. Through unified collaborative efforts, we translate the data of the UAE into knowledge, convert knowledge into decisions, and ultimately turn those decisions into a better reality for the citizens.”
Abdullah Al Qamzi, Director General of the Statistics Center in Abu Dhabi, noted: “Statistical integration between federal and local entities is a fundamental pillar for constructing a unified national statistical system that accurately reflects the UAE’s developmental reality, enabling decision-makers to have evidence-based insights.”
Amid the shift towards an AI-enhanced government, we are collaboratively working on developing an intelligent system that links data with policies, transforming figures into forward-looking insights that contribute to building a more prosperous and sustainable future, embodying our leadership’s vision for establishing a knowledge-driven economy and a pioneering country in foresight and future-making.
A Unique Character
Younes Al Nasser, CEO of the Dubai Data and Statistics Foundation, stated: “This year’s celebration has a distinct character, as it not only emphasizes the importance of numbers but also celebrates an era where statistics transition from mere measurement tools to instruments of foresight and decision-making.”
He added, “In the UAE, federal and local efforts have united within a comprehensive national framework that conveys, in one language, the reality of development and offers the world a model for transforming data into knowledge and knowledge into tangible impacts on human life. Statistics today has become a living language that tells the story of a nation progressing through precise data and ambitious visions.”
Dr. Hajar Al Habishi, Director General of the Ajman Statistics Center, remarked: “Each statistical number in the UAE carries a success story behind it. Through our effective national collaboration in data production, we ensure that the success story of the UAE is communicated to the world in a unified, precise, and clear language.”
Hamid Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Executive Council in Umm Al-Quwain, stated: “World Statistics Day reminds us that data is the cornerstone of planning and development. In collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics, we enhance the quality of our figures and data, unifying the statistical message of the UAE.”
Najwa Yaqoub, Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Statistics Center, said: “When efforts are integrated at both local and federal levels, statistics transform into a cohesive and effective national system that accurately reflects the achievements of the UAE and documents its journey toward global leadership.”
Dr. Ibrahim Saad Mohammed, General Director of the Fujairah Statistics Center, emphasized: “Unifying our statistical efforts at the level of the UAE is our investment in a prosperous future, as every precise piece of information contributes to developing more efficient policies and sustainable development that reflects the aspirations of our wise leadership.”
Decades of Achievements
The journey of statistical work in the UAE, which began with the establishment of the federation, has recorded numerous significant achievements aimed at creating a developed statistical system that aligns with the latest global standards. The first decade of this journey took place from 1971 to 1981, during which the need for a planning and statistical system to support the establishment of the new state was identified. This included forming a framework for federal planning and setting an initial vision for the UAE’s developmental policies, as well as launching the first national census of the population and facilities in 1975.
The second decade, from 1982 to 1991, focused on converting oil revenues into measurable indicators within developmental plans through the establishment of comprehensive databases for urban and economic planning. Annual reports and supporting studies for development were issued, alongside the continued implementation of federal census programs in 1980 and 1985.
During the third decade, from 1992 to 2001, the “comprehensive and balanced development” approach was adopted, along with regional planning across the seven emirates, to enhance transparency and evaluate developmental performance. The country participated regionally in several meetings, including those organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
Institutionalizing Statistics
The fourth decade, spanning 2002 to 2011, marked the true beginning of institutionalizing statistical work in the UAE. This involved linking federal development plans to economic policies through the modernization of statistical and economic data presentation and dissemination. It saw the creation of the Supreme Committee for Coordinating Joint Statistical Work at the national level for the first time, reinforcing global competitiveness indicators based on statistics and data and representing the UAE for the first time in UN Statistical Committee meetings in 2011.
A Decade of Recognition and Leadership
Having reached its fifth decade in 2012 and continuing to this day, the statistical system in the UAE has achieved numerous fruitful initiatives and significant landmarks essential for its evolution. This marks the start of a new era of statistical transformation, transitioning from census data collection to proactive analysis and impact generation, establishing the UAE as a country that molds its future through data, aiding in delivering the development journey framed within the “We are the UAE 2031” vision, leading up to the UAE Centennial 2071.
During this fifth decade, the UAE has joined the UN Statistical Committee for the period 2025-2028, further contributing to global statistical thinking and actively participating in global statistical activity decision-making. This decade also witnessed the launch of the “Unified Emirates Figures” project by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, aiming to enhance the national statistical system and support the country’s endeavors across various economic, demographic, social, and environmental fields. Additionally, the government initiated the “Data Index,” while the country hosted the regional headquarters of the UN platform for big data concerning sustainable development.
As the UAE embarks on its sixth decade of statistical work, it does so with confidence and a renewed vision, having established a comprehensive national statistical system across all levels, paving the way for a new phase that employs intelligent analysis, predictive modeling, and AI technologies to transform data into proactive insights that drive decision-making and guide the future.