People in Saudi Arabia took part in the national census on Tuesday, after delays caused by the coronavirus.
Citizens and residents can take part in the census online, or they can have a census taker pay a home visit or meet them at a registered office.
The General Authority for Statistics said it successfully completed canvassing addresses for the census, which started on January 26 and ended on March 10 this year.
Address canvassing is where all "occupied and unoccupied housing units are numbered and linked" with the head of household. Preliminary data was collected by a team of more than 14,000 officials to ensure the census covers all housing.
The census has been three years in the planning and is the fifth one the kingdom has conducted.
The last census took place in 2010, preceded by 2004, 1992 and 1974. The last census recorded the kingdom's population at 27,136,977 people, while a preliminary estimate for 2020 put it at more than 35,000,000.
"I had a very friendly official wearing their official uniform show up at our door over a month ago," said Farah Kasem, who lives in Jeddah.
"He took our data, asking how many people live here, ages and so on. He was using an iPad to register our information and was very professional and polite.
Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning and chairman of the board for the authority, Faisal Alibrahim, said the census was crucial for the planning and policymaking required to achieve the kingdom's Vision 2030 goals.
“We currently have 30,000 field researchers," Mr Alibrahim said in a press statement on Wednesday.
In February, the authority issued an official warning on its social media account asking residents to "beware of fraudulent impostors impersonating" field researchers.
Residents can do this through verifying the "official uniform specified for field enumerators, requesting his identification card, and by contacting us.”
The government body also asked Saudis to refrain from inviting census takers into their homes for tea, because it disrupts their work.
Mr Alibrahim said all residents should take part in the census as a national duty and social responsibility.
He encouraged people to co-operate with census takers and provide data as accurately as possible, because the "census results will directly impact policy".
The results will help policymakers in urban planning and development, providing public services and help the private sector and investors to take part in the kingdom’s economic growth.
For the first time, satellite imagery will be used to ensure a more comprehensive coverage of the country’s regions and provinces that have undergone major development since the last census in 2010.
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IF YOU GO
The flights
FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.
The tours
English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people.
The hotels
Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.
St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.
Moon Music
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
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Favourite animals: All of them
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Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
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Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
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The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Everton 0
Manchester City 2 (Laporte 45 2', Jesus 90 7')
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Collectively rare diseases affect 1 in 17 people, or more than 400 million people worldwide. Very few have any available treatment and most patients struggle with numerous health challenges and life-long ailments that can go undiagnosed for years due to lack of awareness or testing.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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Name: Zinah Madi
Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and links
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Occupation: Co-founder of Dots and Links
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