MUSCAT, SEPTEMBER 5
Oman is extending its technical standards programme into artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, renewable energy, logistics and tourism as new technologies reshape production and market requirements.
More than 80 per cent of projects included in the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology’s 2026 plan had been completed by the end of the second quarter, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion said.
The directorate is involved in preparing and reviewing about 1,567 draft unified GCC standards. This includes approximately 325 projects prepared by Oman, in addition to 16 draft national standards.
Among the new projects are proposed GCC standards covering the environmental sustainability of artificial intelligence systems and data quality for analytics and machine learning.
Other work addresses asset management and lifetime extension for wind-power systems, facilities performance, cold-chain logistics, storage and transportation.
Tourism-related projects include environmental guidelines for accommodation establishments and standards governing information provided to participants in adventure tourism activities.
Oman has also adopted 10 international standards as national standards for the electricity and electronics sector. These cover conductive charging systems for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, electrical transformer safety and industrial internet applications.
Several proposed standards focus on products and activities specific to Oman, including frankincense essential oil, distilled frankincense water used in cosmetics and fishing boats measuring less than 14 metres.
Imad bin Khamis al Shukaili, Director-General of Standards and Metrology, said technical standards establish requirements for quality, safety and efficiency while helping products comply with conditions in domestic and export markets.
He said linking standardisation with the requirements of industry and trade could reduce technical barriers and give producers and investors greater clarity over product specifications.
More than 170 representatives from government bodies, regulators, private companies, universities and research institutions participate in the technical committees responsible for preparing and reviewing standards.
Nadia bint Mohammed al Siyabi, Director of the Standards Department, said projects are selected according to sector requirements and technological changes affecting products and services.
The wider programme also covers food, construction materials, petroleum products, children’s toys and electrical appliances, alongside energy efficiency, emissions reduction, waste management and biodegradable plastics.
The ministry separately reported growth of 33.8 per cent in an indicator covering Omani and unified GCC standards and said the second-quarter result exceeded its target by 65 per cent.
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