The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) of Qatar has officially unveiled the second edition of the Qatar Open Data Portal, a national platform designed to provide open data and information in accordance with international standards. The first edition of the portal was initially established in 2019 by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT). As of 2023, the responsibility for operating and managing the portal has been transferred to the PSA, which is currently working in collaboration with relevant ministries and government agencies to develop an enhanced open data platform covering various topics.
HE Dr. Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit, President of the PSA, commended the efforts exerted by all stakeholders in the MCIT and PSA teams, leading to this significant milestone of unveiling the updated edition of the portal. Dr. Al Nabit emphasized that open data, as highlighted during the United Nations Statistical Commission’s fifty-fourth session in March 2023, serves as the foundation for ensuring access to data for all, enabling its use and reuse. Open data transcends technical definitions and encompasses a value chain of socio-economic and environmental data, with transparency and periodic availability on the portal to benefit the public and enhance knowledge.
Dr. Khalid Ali Al Quradaghi, Director of the Information Systems Department and Advisor to the Office of the PSA President, emphasized that the success of the Qatar Open Data Portal relies on the commitment of partners to consistently provide up-to-date information to the platform. The portal covers a wide range of topics, including population, price indices, trade, environment, energy, and economy. PSA has already initiated the posting of the “Qatar; Monthly Statistics” bulletin on the platform, which includes data from 2018 to 2023. The PSA will continue to update the statistical content regularly, incorporating additional data, graphs, and other resources. The portal currently offers detailed data spanning the past five years, categorized under various topics related to national development.
The Qatar Open Data Portal aims to facilitate the effective use of data by collaborating with ministries, government agencies, and other partners to ensure the provision and uploading of relevant data. By harnessing the power of open data, Qatar is enhancing transparency, promoting accessibility, and fostering greater knowledge dissemination for the benefit of the public and national development.