The GCC Gulf Cooperation Council Accreditation Center (GAC) plays a key role in maintaining the reliability of products and services across the Gulf region. It is an integral part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) efforts to foster harmonized standards, conformity assessment, and regulatory systems across member states. Established in 2013, GAC ensures that certification and inspection bodies within the region comply with internationally recognized standards, improving both regional and international trade.

GAC’s main mission is to establish a solid framework for accreditation across the Gulf region, enhancing confidence in the region’s testing, calibration, and certification bodies. GAC provides accreditation services to certification bodies, inspection bodies, and laboratories, ensuring their practices comply with international standards, such as ISO/IEC 17011 for accreditation bodies and ISO/IEC 17025 for testing and calibration laboratories. The organization conducts audits and assessments, ensuring conformity assessment bodies meet the required technical competence standards. This contributes to reducing technical barriers to trade and increasing trust in the quality of goods and services both within the Gulf region and internationally.

GAC actively participates in regional and international accreditation networks, like the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). This collaboration ensures that GAC’s accreditation certificates are recognized globally, fostering mutual recognition agreements that facilitate trade. Through its active role in the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) and engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization (GSO), GAC supports the alignment of regional standards with international norms.
 

GAC’s accreditation services are critical in ensuring the quality of infrastructure across the Gulf region, from oil and gas to food safety and construction. By providing accredited conformity assessment bodies, GAC helps ensure that Gulf products and services meet international standards, enhancing the competitiveness of Gulf businesses in the global market. This, in turn, contributes to the economic growth and integration of GCC countries.

The Gulf Cooperation Council Accreditation Center is a cornerstone in the Gulf’s quality infrastructure, shaping the future of the region’s industry, trade, and public trust through rigorous and globally recognized accreditation services.