Oman Upgrades National Quality Framework: Key Impacts for Investors and Business Growth
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman, through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) and the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology (DGSM), is steadfastly advancing its national standards and metrology system. These initiatives align with the objectives of the 10th Five-Year Development Plan and Oman Vision 2040, aiming to fortify the national quality infrastructure and boost the competitiveness of Oman’s economy regionally and globally.
This comprehensive initiative encompasses several key projects: regulating precious metals and valuables in local markets, enhancing the conformity assessment framework, promoting standards to support development sectors via the Omani Standards Store, upgrading metrology technical capabilities, establishing the Oman Accreditation Centre, further developing the Omani Quality Mark, crafting a national standardisation and quality strategy for 2026-2030, and implementing an ISO 9001-based quality management system.
Imad bin Khamis al Shukaili, Director General of DGSM, highlighted 2025 as a pivotal year for strategic progress (2025-2028). Oman signed memoranda of understanding with Bahrain, India, Belarus, and Tunisia to bolster mutual recognition in precious metals and conformity assessment. Oman also intensified its engagement in international standardisation bodies such as ISO, the International Organisation of Legal Metrology, and the Arab Industrial Development, Standardisation and Mining Organisation, thereby strengthening its global quality system integration and international stature.
In standards development, DGSM introduced five new national projects covering traditional Omani vessels, frankincense products, cosmetics, energy-efficient lighting, and smart water meters. Nine national standards were approved under the 2025 plan, alongside the adoption of 1,009 unified GCC standards — including 196 developed by Oman. These standards span traditional vessels, frankincense, cosmetics, energy-efficient lighting, smart meters, sustainable building materials, food safety, and basic medical devices. Oman’s representation in GCC technical committees rose to 170 members, reinforcing its role in shaping regional standards.
On conformity assessment, Al Shukaili reported streamlined procedures for importers and manufacturers, issuing over 135,000 e-certificates of conformity, 79 national conformity certificates, and 68 “To Whom It May Concern” certificates in 2025. Additionally, 1,163 energy efficiency labels were issued under the second phase of technical regulations. The Oman Accreditation Centre’s media identity was launched, accrediting five new testing laboratories and registering or renewing over 109 testing and calibration laboratories. Registered conformity assessment bodies increased by 6% year-on-year, with 173 new licenses issued, reflecting robust growth in the national accreditation system and enhanced market confidence in quality infrastructure.
Capacity-building efforts included seven specialised programmes in partnership with the Gulf Accreditation Centre, training over 250 individuals in registration, accreditation, testing, and calibration over two years. More than fifteen technical training sessions engaged multiple public and private sector stakeholders, including SMEs.
Supporting entrepreneurial development, DGSM plans to introduce a fast hallmarking service for precious metals and jewellery laboratories, integrating SMEs. A dedicated entrepreneurial programme targeting manufacturing, import activities, conformity assessment, certification, and inspection bodies will also launch, opening investment opportunities in laboratory equipment supply and maintenance.
The National Calibration Centre maintained a critical role, launching the national mass standard and verifying 1,121 fuel pumps via its mobile lab to ensure compliance with national specifications. It calibrated 955 instruments relating to mass, dimensions, temperature, and volume in 2025 and developed standards for smart electricity meters and water systems, thus enhancing measurement accuracy and trust in Oman’s quality infrastructure.
In digital transformation, DGSM launched five new e-services on the government portal, revamped the conformity services system, and planned integration of the energy efficiency labelling issuance into the Hazm platform. Implementation rates of these initiatives ranged from 85% to 95%, with full completion of the Omani Standards Store, Omani Quality Mark, and regulation of precious metals oversight projects.
Al Shukaili emphasized that strengthening quality infrastructure is essential for local product competitiveness and attracting investment. Oman made a remarkable leap, advancing 57 places to rank 60th globally out of 155 countries on the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation’s Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development Index. The country is now sixth in the Middle East. DGSM’s dedicated team continues to enhance Oman’s ISO membership, monitor standardisation and quality indicators, coordinate nationally, and liaise with UNIDO to build a robust quality system that improves Oman’s international index standings.
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Oman’s strategic enhancement of its national standards and metrology system, aligned with Vision 2040, positions the Sultanate as a regional quality leader, improving competitiveness and international integration. For businesses, this creates opportunities in sectors like precious metals, smart technologies, and quality certification, while smart investors should consider expanding into emerging quality infrastructure services and export-ready industries backed by unified GCC standards. The rapid growth in accreditation and conformity assessment boosts market confidence but also raises the bar for compliance, posing risks for companies slow to adapt to evolving regulations.
