The Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) has launched the 5th cycle of the Statistical Maturity Index (SMI) project, which measures the readiness of Abu Dhabi government entities towards producing and disseminating high-quality statistics adhering to SCAD’s approved methodologies and standards.

The SMI is an important tool for ensuring the quality and reliability of official statistics produced by government entities in Abu Dhabi’s statistical ecosystem.

During the launch event, SCAD awarded 28 government entities for their contributions and achievements during the fourth cycle of the Statistical Maturity Index project.

In this context, H.E. Abdulla Gharib Alqemzi, Acting Director General of SCAD, said: “The remarkable progress achieved by the participating entities is a major step towards the enablement of Abu Dhabi government using reliable statistics and insights. The substantial improvement in the statistical maturity levels reflects a true commitment and dedication of our government to harness the power of data to make informed decisions and policies.”

H.E. added: “The SMI is aligned with Abu Dhabi government efforts to enhance the performance of key sectors including the knowledge-based economy in Abu Dhabi. The project comes in the context of our resolute dedication to fostering close collaboration with government entities to enable decision-makers through an advanced statistical ecosystem.”

During a workshop held on Wednesday 26 July 2023, SCAD introduced the SMI’s evaluation criteria and methodologies and the timeline of the project’s fifth cycle to the participating entities.

The SMI’s evaluation is based on two main criteria which measure the statistical maturity of government entities. The first is the government entities’ compliance with the laws and regulations set to build statistical capabilities and produce indicators. The second is measuring the commitment of government entities to the highest quality standards which are set by SCAD according to the international standards and best practices for data quality.

The index helps government entities to identify opportunities for improvement, as the results are being used to ensure the quality and reliability of official statistics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.