Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) journals actively support open and transparent research practices. Authors are strongly encouraged to make the data supporting their research findings publicly accessible whenever legally and ethically feasible. A Data Availability Statement (DAS) must accompany every manuscript submitted for publication, specifying whether the study's underlying data are accessible.
This policy aligns with international publishing standards and adheres to best practice guidelines established by organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Association of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Publishers (STM).
Purpose of the Data Availability Statement
The Data Availability Statement informs readers of the following:
Whether the data supporting the study’s findings are accessible.
Where the data can be accessed (including the repository name and a DOI or direct link).
Any restrictions governing data access, alongside the rationale for such limitations.
The formal procedure for requesting data access, where applicable.
Adherence to this policy promotes research transparency, facilitates scientific reproducibility, and fosters confidence within the global academic community.
Placement of the Statement
Authors are required to complete the Data Availability Statement Form and integrate a designated Data Availability section at the end of their manuscript—typically under the “Declarations” heading—alongside disclosures concerning funding, conflicts of interest, and ethical approvals.
Acceptable Formats for Data Availability Statements
The following standardized templates illustrate acceptable phrasing, contingent upon the authors' data-sharing status:
Publicly Available Data
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available in the [Repository Name] repository at [DOI or persistent URL].
Data Available Upon Request
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Data Unavailable Due to Restrictions
The data supporting the findings of this study are not publicly available due to [e.g., privacy concerns, ethical constraints, or commercial restrictions]; however, they may be made available by the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
No New Data Generated
No new datasets were generated or analyzed during this study. Accordingly, data sharing is not applicable to this article.
Data Included in the Manuscript
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included within this published article [and its supplementary information files, where applicable].
Preferred Repositories
UQU journals strongly encourage authors to deposit their research datasets in recognized, community-governed data repositories, which may include:
Institutional Repositories
All deposited datasets must be appropriately cited using persistent identifiers (such as DOIs or accession numbers).
Exceptions
Authors may withhold research data under the following circumstances:
When the data contain sensitive or personally identifiable information that cannot be reliably anonymized.
When legal, regulatory, or ethical mandates prohibit data dissemination.
When the data are subject to proprietary third-party rights that preclude redistribution.
Under such circumstances, the Data Availability Statement must explicitly articulate the precise nature and grounds of the access restrictions.
Editorial Review of Availability Statements
The editorial office will evaluate all information provided in the Data Availability Statement. Submitting inaccurate or incomplete statements may necessitate revisions during the editorial assessment or peer-review process.