UAE nominated to UN advisory board on global statistics

The United Arab Emirates has been nominated to serve on the UN's Consultative Advisory Board on the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, marking the first time a country from the region will be represented on the body.

The nomination was announced on the sidelines of the 57th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission, the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities.

In its new role, the UAE will contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening data governance, the development of official statistics and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to support evidence-based decision-making.

The advisory board provides guidance to national statistical authorities, the UN Statistical Commission and the United Nations Statistics Division on implementing the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics - global standards designed to ensure the credibility, independence and reliability of official data.

The principles, first adopted by the UN Statistical Commission in 1994 and later endorsed by the UN General Assembly, set out the framework for how official statistics should be produced and shared to maintain public trust and support policymaking.

Officials say the UAE’s participation reflects the country’s growing role in shaping international discussions on data governance and the future of statistics, particularly as governments increasingly rely on digital technologies and advanced analytics to guide policy and economic planning.