Today's Edition
Mays Ibrahim (ABU DHABI)
The Abu Dhabi Census Project, led by Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD), has won the Strategic Impact Initiative Award at the Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance (ADAEP), recognising its register-based approach to population data.
The project replaces the traditional once-a-decade census with a process that draws on administrative data from government and non-government entities.
By integrating these datasets and applying advanced AI tools, SCAD is able to generate detailed and frequently updated population statistics.
“We source data collaboratively from different government and non-government entities, and use an advanced methodology powered by artificial intelligence to produce highly accurate statistics,” Abdulla Alqemzi, Director General of SCAD, told Aletihad on the sidelines of the awards ceremony. “It closely reflects where people are living, their demographics, and more.”
The new system marks a significant departure from conventional census practices, which were conducted once every decade. The register-based model allows authorities to update population data almost annually, enabling faster and more responsive decision-making.
Alqemzi said the impact of the initiative lies in its ability to guide infrastructure and service planning. “Where do we need to build hospitals? Where do we need to build schools or parks? And for which age groups?” he said. “These are the kinds of decisions that can now be made with much greater precision.”
While artificial intelligence supported data processing and analysis, Alqemzi stressed that collaboration across entities was the key driver behind the project’s success. “Data played the biggest role, alongside strong cooperation between government and non-government partners,” he said.
The award, he added, recognises not only SCAD’s efforts but a wider ecosystem involving federal and local government bodies, as well as private and semi-government sectors.
According to SCAD data released in 2025 based on 2024 records, Abu Dhabi’s population reached 4,135,985, marking a 7.5% annual increase. The figures represent the first official release using the new register-based census methodology.
Looking ahead, SCAD plans to expand the scope and depth of its statistical outputs to support decision-making across sectors.
Alqemzi said the initiative is ultimately aimed at supporting Abu Dhabi’s long-term development. “It’s not only about supporting decision-makers in healthcare, education, and other sectors,” he noted. “It’s about how we ensure Abu Dhabi continues to be the best place to live and the best place to work.”
More detailed and frequently updated data will allow authorities to respond more effectively to demographic and economic shifts, helping guide sustainable growth, according to Alqemzi.
“Over the next five to 10 years, Abu Dhabi is reaching a peak economically, socially and otherwise,” he added, noting that data-driven insights will be central to managing that growth.
