Oman Joins Islamic Standards Body: What This Means for Investors and Businesses in the Sultanate
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman has been officially approved as a member of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) starting in 2027. This membership will enhance Oman’s role in developing unified technical and halal standards across Islamic markets.
Joining SMIIC is expected to bolster cooperation in the areas of standardisation, metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessment, thereby facilitating trade among member countries. SMIIC, affiliated with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, is headquartered in Türkiye.
Oman’s membership was confirmed during SMIIC’s 31st Board of Directors meeting, following an application submitted by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. Imad bin Khamis al Shukaili, Director-General of Standards and Metrology, highlighted that membership will enable Oman to actively contribute to the development and enhancement of standards used by member states.
It will also provide Omani experts with access to specialized training programs, workshops, and technical exchanges designed to enhance national capabilities in standardisation, quality, and metrology. The Directorate-General of Standards and Metrology will represent Oman in the SMIIC General Assembly and its technical bodies, including the Standardisation Management Council and the Metrology Council. This participation will grant Oman a voice in shaping technical policies and standards adopted across Islamic nations.
Dr Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Director of the Oman Accreditation Centre at the ministry, emphasized that membership will advance the national halal system. Collaboration with SMIIC and its members will enable Oman to develop an integrated halal accreditation framework covering products, services, and certification bodies.
The adoption of common standards is expected to facilitate the entry of Omani products into international markets, enhance competitiveness, and reduce technical trade barriers. Membership will also support training and certification programs for Omani assessors and auditors to meet SMIIC requirements, ensuring high-quality audits of halal products, particularly in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. This will strengthen protections against counterfeit or adulterated goods.
The Oman Accreditation Centre will participate in SMIIC’s Accreditation Council, which aims to establish a unified accreditation system among member states and verify the competence of certification bodies.
Al Busaidi noted that this achievement aligns with Oman’s efforts to reinforce its national standards and metrology framework and prepare the Oman Accreditation Centre for international recognition. The new membership is expected to facilitate the signing of memoranda of understanding and mutual recognition agreements with Islamic countries in standardisation, conformity assessment, and halal accreditation.
Furthermore, it will support ongoing initiatives to align Oman’s quality infrastructure with internationally recognized practices and requirements. This development is part of the Sultanate’s broader strategy to improve product and service quality, enhance institutional capacity, and promote trade and economic diversification in line with Oman Vision 2040.
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Oman’s membership in the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) from 2027 positions the Sultanate as a strategic player in harmonizing halal and technical standards across Islamic markets, enhancing export potential and market access. This creates significant opportunities for businesses to expand into new markets with reduced trade barriers while urging smart investors and entrepreneurs to capitalize on improved accreditation frameworks and quality assurance programs. Aligning with Oman Vision 2040, this move strengthens Oman’s economic diversification and quality infrastructure, boosting competitiveness on a global scale.
