Statistics Centre-Abu Dhabi (SCAD) has signed a Service Agreement with digital payments firm Visa, for provision by the latter of rich data and insights on consumption behavior and spend patterns in the market.
The agreement opens new prospects for cooperation with the private sector in the field of data and contributes to stronger ties with the private sector. SCAD is keen to build strategic partnership with the private sector and enhances its involvement in statistical work in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to achieve sustainable economic development.
The agreement was signed online by His Excellency Ahmed Mahmoud Fikri, Director General of SCAD, and Shahebaz Khan, Visa’s General Manager for the UAE, in the virtual presence of representatives of the two parties.
This cooperation comes under SCAD’s new orientation to build new partnerships that harness international capabilities and expertise in data in order to support Abu Dhabi government’s ambitious vision. SCAD seeks to develop an updated database that contributes to providing timely readings about the most active sectors for consumers in the local market and providing insights and analysis that support economic decision-making, enhance spending efficiency, and direct it towards the sectors in Abu Dhabi emirate.
His Excellency Ahmed Mahmoud Fikri, Director General of SCAD, stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation with the private sector and international companies, saying: “The private sector is a strategic partner and an influential contributor to the sustainable development process. This cooperation with Visa is a good step towards achieving data integrity and accuracy for strategic planning that draws up proactive solutions to keep pace with the challenges and developments in Abu Dhabi’s future journey. Undoubtedly, this cooperation will strengthen the joint statistical work, allowing the determination of spending and consumption data for a large sample of society in Abu Dhabi’s Emirate that meets decision-maker’s needs.
For his part, Shahebaz Khan, Visa’s General Manager for UAE, welcomed this strategic partnership and cooperation with SCAD in the field of economic data analysis since the Centre is the official statistical authority in Abu Dhabi Emirate. He said, “We are delighted to partner with SCAD and have this opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. As the market leader in digital payments, Visa offers broad, rich data insights that present an accurate view of market and consumer trends. We look forward to working closely with our SCAD colleagues in providing the Emirate’s policy-makers with actionable market data to enrich and inform their plans to support economic recovery and growth that will benefit the country’s residents and businesses.”
