The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) issued Decision No. 103/2022 to release the National Data Strategy on the basis of the National Documents and Archives Act promulgated by Royal Decree No. 60/2007, the Law on Classifying of State Documents and Governing of Protected Places promulgated by Royal Decree No. 118/2011, Royal Decree No. 31/2012 stipulating the establishment of the National Centre for Statistics and Information, Royal Decree No. 40/2014 promulgating the development of the system of NCSI, the Statistics and Information Act promulgated by Royal Decree No. 55/2019, and the approval of the distinguished Council of Ministers, as required under public interest.
His Excellency Dr. Khalifa bin Abdullah Al Barwani, Chief Executive Officer of NCSI stated that "The Centre's issuance of the National Data strategy, in cooperation with relevant authorities, reflects the content of article 5 of the Law on Statistics and Information promulgated by Royal Decree No. 55/2019. This strategy represents an integrated regulatory framework for management and regulation of data generated by governmental and non-governmental entities. The strategy includes identification of the source and ownership of data, mechanisms for the exchange and integration of data, and their availability to governmental and non-governmental entities.
The strategy also includes mechanisms for the creation, use, storage and control of data; the selection of appropriate techniques, mechanisms for monitoring their performance; and methods of data processing, such as governance, storage, quality assurance, classification of confidentiality, and validity period".
Commenting on the importance of the strategy, His Excellency noted, "The importance of the strategy is to make public data available to build a knowledge conscious society and support the digital economy approach, as well as to ensure the confidentiality of personal information and data.
Moreover, His Excellency further explained that the strategy also aims to enhance the economic, social, cultural, and developmental benefit of the data, increase the confidentiality, quality, and inclusivity of the data, assist the government in making sound decisions through allowing data exchange, place the appropriate mechanisms that increase the productivity of the administrative apparatus units, other legal persons and governmental companies, and raise the efficiency of the services associated with utilities and basic services pertaining to citizens, expats and businessmen.
The provisions of the National Data Strategy apply to units of the state's administrative apparatus units, legal persons, governmental companies whose capital is contributed by the Government by at least 25 percent, and companies engaged in public utility activities. Data on the military and security aspects deemed confidential by the National Security Council are excluded from applying the strategy's provisions.
The decision of issuing the National Data Strategy consists of 11 chapters, whose articles include the provisions regarding data classification, collection, and archiving, as well as the quality, security and availability of the data, reference databases, data breaches provisions, data management in relevant entities, and supervision of the strategy.