The Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) is a regional body for the Arab states, designed to enhance and facilitate cooperation among accreditation bodies and other related entities involved in conformity assessment activities across the Arab region. Established in 2011, ARAC aims to promote and harmonize accreditation practices to ensure the competence and reliability of conformity assessment bodies in the Arab states, thereby supporting regional and international trade.

ARAC is instrumental in ensuring that products and services traded within the Arab region and exported to global markets meet required standards of quality and safety. It achieves this by operating mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) among its member bodies, ensuring that certificates and test results issued in one member state are accepted in others without the need for further testing. This mutual acceptance helps facilitate trade, reduces costs, and enhances the competitiveness of Arab products in the international marketplace. As a recognized regional cooperation group of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), ARAC aligns its standards and practices with global norms, further supporting international acceptance.

ARAC also plays a vital role in enhancing the technical capacity of accreditation bodies within the Arab region through training, workshops, and inter-laboratory comparisons. These activities help maintain high standards of accreditation and promote continuous improvement in the quality of conformity assessment services. By fostering a harmonized accreditation environment, ARAC contributes significantly to consumer protection, environmental preservation, and public health in the Arab states.

For more detailed information about ARAC’s mission, activities, and impact on regional and global trade, please visit their official website.