Oman records 33.8% growth in Omani, GCC standards by Q2 2026

The Sultanate of Oman recorded 33.8 per cent growth in the Omani and GCC standards indicator by the end of the second quarter of 2026, exceeding the target for the period by 65 per cent.
The development of the standards and metrology system is among the key enablers supporting the competitiveness of the national economy by establishing technical references for products and services, raising levels of quality, safety and efficiency, keeping pace with the needs of industrial, commercial and technology sectors, and supporting products in meeting technical requirements in various markets.
Under its 2026 plan, the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) is working on the preparation and review of around 1,567 draft unified GCC standards, including around 325 projects prepared by the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to 16 draft national standards. The completion rate of projects under the plan exceeded 80 per cent by the end of the second quarter of this year.
The standards projects cover several sectors, including food, construction materials, petroleum products, energy efficiency, electricity and electronics, as well as areas related to digital transformation, renewable energy, logistics and tourism, in line with technological developments, the needs of products and services, and market requirements.
Strengthening the economy’s technical infrastructure
Imad bin Khamis Al Shukaili, Director General of the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said that the growth of the standards system strengthens the technical infrastructure supporting the economy by providing clear requirements for quality, safety and efficiency, and supporting productive sectors in keeping pace with technological developments and market requirements.
Enhancing product readiness

He added that standardisation is directly linked to the needs of industry, trade and various economic sectors, and contributes to enhancing the readiness of products to comply with technical requirements applicable in markets, reducing technical barriers to trade, and providing a clear regulatory environment for producers and investors.
Expanding standards development
Al Shukaili explained that expanding standards development to include artificial intelligence, renewable energy, electric vehicles, logistics and tourism comes in response to the transformations taking place in these sectors and enhances the readiness of the standardisation system to address new products, services and technologies.
He stressed that the development of the standards system is based on partnerships between government entities, the private sector, and academic and research institutions, linking technical requirements with market realities and industry needs, while supporting the quality and competitiveness of products and services.
Digital transformation
In the field of digital transformation, the Sultanate of Oman has prepared a number of draft unified GCC standards, including a standard for the environmental sustainability of artificial intelligence systems and a standard for data quality for analytics and machine learning, in addition to a standard for terrestrial digital sound broadcasting receivers.
Resource and energy sustainability
In the field of resource and energy sustainability, the projects included a standard relating to wind power generation systems, asset management and lifetime extension. In industrial fields, the projects included standards for facilities performance management, cold-chain logistics, and requirements and guidelines for storage and transportation.
The projects also extended to the tourism sector through standards relating to guidelines for developing environmental standards for accommodation establishments and information provided to participants in adventure tourism, thereby providing technical frameworks for products and services associated with these activities.
The Sultanate of Oman has also adopted 10 international standards as national standards for the electricity and electronics sector, covering areas including conductive charging systems for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, electrical transformer safety, and industrial internet applications.
Over 80% of standards projects completed
Nadia bint Mohammed Al Siyabi, Director of the Standards Department at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said that the 2026 plan includes around 325 draft unified GCC standards prepared by the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to 16 draft national standards. She noted that the completion rate of projects under the plan exceeded 80 per cent by the end of the second quarter.
She added that standards projects are selected based on sector needs and technical and technological developments in products and services. This is reflected in the diversity of projects across industrial and commercial sectors and emerging fields, including artificial intelligence, renewable energy, electric vehicles, logistics and tourism.
Standards related to Omani products
Al Siyabi explained that the projects also include standards related to Omani products, including Omani frankincense essential oil and distilled Omani frankincense water used in cosmetics, as well as a standard for fishing boats less than 14 metres in length, with the aim of defining technical requirements related to the quality and safety of these products.
Technical participation from relevant entities
The Director of the Standards Department noted that the preparation and review of standards are based on technical participation from relevant entities. More than 170 Omani members from government and regulatory entities, the private sector, and academic and research institutions participate in technical standards committees, broadening the pool of expertise involved in preparing and reviewing standards.
She stressed that standards support product competitiveness by defining quality, safety and efficiency requirements and providing technical references that help producers meet requirements applicable in various markets, thereby facilitating trade and reducing technical barriers to the movement of goods.
Al Siyabi explained that the standards system covers areas directly related to market and consumer safety, including food, children’s toys and electrical appliances, as well as energy efficiency, emissions reduction, waste management and biodegradable plastics, combining quality and safety requirements with efficient use of resources.
She said that expanding the preparation and development of standards strengthens the technical infrastructure of economic sectors in the Sultanate of Oman and enhances their readiness to keep pace with industrial and technological transformations and market requirements. It also supports the quality of Omani products and their ability to meet the technical requirements necessary to access regional and international markets, in line with the objectives of economic diversification and enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy