MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) and the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology (DGSM), continues its concerted efforts to develop the national standards and metrology system in line with the goals of the 10th Five-Year Development Plan and Oman Vision 2040. These efforts aim to strengthen the national quality infrastructure and enhance the competitiveness of the national economy at both regional and international levels.
This project forms part of an integrated package of initiatives that includes regulating precious metals and valuable stones in local markets, developing the conformity assessment system, activating the role of standards in supporting development sectors through the Omani Standards Store, enhancing technical capabilities in the field of metrology, establishing the Oman Accreditation Centre, further developing the Omani Quality Mark, preparing a national strategy for standardisation and quality for the period 2026 to 2030, and implementing a quality management system in accordance with the international standard ISO 9001.
Imad bin Khamis al Shukaili, Director General of DGSM, stated that the current year marked a significant milestone in the strategic achievements for the period 2025 to 2028. The Sultanate of Oman successfully signed memoranda of understanding with Bahrain, India, Belarus and Tunisia to enhance mutual recognition in the fields of precious metals and conformity assessment. The Sultanate of Oman has also strengthened its international presence by intensifying its participation in global standardisation organisations, notably the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the International Organisation of Legal Metrology and the Arab Industrial Development, Standardisation and Mining Organisation. This engagement reinforces Oman’s effective integration into the global quality system and strengthens its international standing.
In the area of standards development, Al Shukaili confirmed that the DGSM completed five new national projects covering traditional Omani vessels, frankincense products, cosmetics, energy efficiency for lighting products and smart water metre. Nine new national standards were approved under the 2025 plan, alongside the adoption of 1,009 unified GCC standards, including 196 standards prepared by the Sultanate of Oman within the same plan. Key examples include standards for traditional Omani vessels, frankincense products, cosmetics, energy efficient lighting, smart water metres, smart electricity metres, smart water systems, sustainable building materials, packaged food safety and basic medical devices. These efforts have strengthened Oman’s presence within the Gulf standardisation system, with the number of Omani representatives in Gulf technical committees rising to 170 members, enhancing Oman’s role in shaping and developing unified regional standards.
Regarding conformity assessment, Al Shukaili noted that the Conformity Department continues to streamline procedures for importers and manufacturers. Over 135,000 e-certificates of conformity were issued during the year, in addition to 79 national conformity certificates and 68 ‘To Whom It May Concern’ certificates. More than 1,163 energy efficiency labels were also issued for products covered under the second phase of the relevant technical regulation. In the field of accreditation, the media identity of the Oman Accreditation Centre was launched, five new testing laboratories were accredited and more than 109 testing and calibration laboratories were registered or renewed. The number of registered conformity assessment bodies increased by 6% up to October 2025 compared to the previous year, while 173 conformity assessment bodies were licensed within a single year. This reflects the rapid growth of the national accreditation system and reinforces market confidence in the quality infrastructure.
In the area of capacity building, Al Shukaili explained that the Ministry implemented seven specialised programmes in cooperation with the Gulf Accreditation Centre as part of the project to establish the Oman Accreditation Centre. Over 250 trainees were trained over the past two years in the fields of registration, accreditation, testing and calibration, enhancing national competencies and improving market readiness. In addition, more than fifteen technical training programmes were delivered bringing together several public-private sector entities, including SMEs.
In terms of supporting and developing the skills of entrepreneurs, Al Shukaili stated that the DGSM is preparing to launch a fast hallmarking service in precious metals laboratories and for the hallmarking of jewellery, bringing together SMEs in this project. A dedicated programme for entrepreneurs will also be introduced, covering manufacturing and import activities (Category I), in addition to conformity assessment, certification bodies and inspection bodies. This will open up wide investment opportunities in the supply of laboratory devices and equipment, as well as maintenance services; and will enhance the contribution of entrepreneurs to supporting the national quality system.
Al Shukaili noted that the National Calibration Centre has continued to play its vital role in verification and calibration activities. During this period, the national mass standard was launched as one of the most important standards within the metrology system. The Centre also carried out verification work on 1,121 fuel pumps through the mobile laboratory to ensure their compliance with approved specifications and standards in the Sultanate of Oman. In addition, during 2025 the Centre calibrated 955 measuring instruments and devices in the fields of mass, dimensions, temperature and volume; and prepared standards for smart electricity metres and smart water systems, thereby enhancing measurement accuracy and reinforcing confidence in the national quality infrastructure.
In the context of digital transformation, Al Shukaili stated that the DGSM launched five new e-services via the unified government portal, redesigned the conformity services system to meet current requirements and prepared a plan to integrate the energy efficiency labelling issuance system within the Hazm platform. Implementation rates for initiatives ranged between 85 and 95 per cent, while the initiatives related to the Omani Standards Store, Omani Quality Mark and the regulation of oversight over precious metals and valuable stones in local markets achieved a full completion rate of 100%.
On strengthening the quality infrastructure as a core pillar for ensuring the competitiveness of local products and creating an attractive investment environment, Al Shukaili explained that the Sultanate of Oman achieved a qualitative leap by advancing 57 places in the Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development Index (QI4SD) issued by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. Oman reached 60th place globally out of 155 countries, compared to 117th in the previous edition and ranked sixth in the Middle East. The Directorate General of Standards and Metrology continues its intensive efforts through the team tasked with enhancing Oman’s membership in the ISO by monitoring indicators related to standardisation and quality policy, coordinating with various national entities and maintaining direct communication channels with UNIDO to build an effective quality system that contributes to improving the Oman’s position in international indices.
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