Emre Demiral and Rania Abushamala
23 October 2026•Update: 23 October 2026
Saudi Arabia announced Friday that the UN World Data Forum and the Saudi Statistics Forum, scheduled for November in Riyadh, have been postponed until 2027.
The Saudi General Authority for Statistics said in a statement on the US social media company X that the decision was made “in coordination with the United Nations Statistics Division.”
Both forums were due to take place from Nov. 9 to 12. New dates will be announced later through official channels, it added.
The authority said the postponement reflects its commitment to delivering an experience that meets the expectations of the data and statistics community and enables broad international participation by speakers, experts and partners.
This would strengthen the intended impact of the UN World Data Forum, it said.
The authority confirmed that the Road to Riyadh activities leading up to the UN forum will continue.
The postponement came amid an ongoing escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group since July, alongside renewed fighting between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s government against the Houthis since March 2015.
The group has controlled the capital, Sanaa, and other parts of Yemen since September 2014.
