Monday 22 / June / 2026
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), represented by the Oman Accreditation Centre and in collaboration with Nama Water Services, marked World Accreditation Day 2026 under the theme ‘Innovation, Trust and Sustainability: Power of Accreditation,’ with the participation of officials, experts, and representatives of public and private entities.
The event reaffirmed the importance of accreditation as one of the fundamental pillars of the quality infrastructure and its role in supporting economic development and enhancing the competitiveness of various sectors.
Through this event, the MoCIIP reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to developing the national quality system and strengthening the reliability of services, products, and processes. This contributes to enhancing confidence in the results of testing, inspection, and certification bodies, supporting the business and investment environment, and facilitating trade flows, in line with the goals of Oman Vision 2040.
In his opening speech, Dr. Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Director of the Oman Accreditation Centre, stated that the MoCIIP places great importance on the accreditation system as one of the key pillars of the quality infrastructure. He noted that accreditation has become a central element in building trust, stimulating innovation, and ensuring the quality of products and services in accordance with best international practices.
He added that the Oman Accreditation Centre continues its efforts to strengthen its regional and international presence and complete the requirements for international recognition, thereby enhancing the global acceptance of the results of national conformity assessment bodies and supporting Oman’s exports and attracting investment.
He pointed out that during the first half of 2026, the OAC registered over 202 conformity assessment bodies, including testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies. It also carried out assessment and accreditation processes for a number of national laboratories in accordance with the international standard ISO/IEC 17025, contributing to improving the efficiency of the testing and inspection sector and enhancing confidence in its results locally and internationally.
The programme included a visual presentation on World Accreditation Day 2026 delivered by Nauf bint Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Balushi, Head of the Accreditation Department at the OAC at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. She highlighted this year’s theme, ‘Innovation, Trust and Sustainability: Power of Accreditation’, and showcased the growing role of accreditation in supporting innovation, digital transformation, and strengthening trust between regulatory bodies, the private sector, and consumers, in addition to its role in supporting sustainability across various vital sectors.
Al Balushi also presented a working paper on international recognition of the Oman Accreditation Centre, addressing the Centre’s efforts in implementing the international standard ISO/IEC 17011 and the requirements of regional and international accreditation organisations. She outlined the steps being taken towards obtaining international recognition, which would enhance the acceptance of national conformity assessment bodies’ results in regional and global markets and reduce the need for re-testing or re-certification.
The event also featured a working paper titled ‘Role of Quality and Accreditation in the Advancement of Nama Water Services,’ presented by Dr. Zahran bin Saif Al Kiyumi. He reviewed the company’s experience in implementing international quality and accreditation systems and obtaining several ISO certifications in quality, environment, occupational health and safety, information security, asset management, laboratory efficiency, and customer services. He also highlighted the use of modern digital technologies in laboratory management and water quality monitoring, as well as efforts to enhance environmental sustainability through reuse projects and the circular economy.
In addition, a specialised session titled ‘From Registration to Accreditation: An Integrated National Framework to Enhance Laboratory Quality and Efficiency’ was presented by Eng. Taghreed bint Mohammed Al Lawati, an expert at the OAC. She highlighted the importance of the national system linking laboratory registration and accreditation as an integrated model for developing the laboratory sector, enhancing the reliability of testing and calibration results, and improving the efficiency of the national quality infrastructure.
Najla bint Salim Al Akhzami, Senior Accreditation Technician at the OAC, reviewed the regulatory framework for testing and calibration laboratories, explaining that it represents an integrated framework for regulating laboratory operations and enhancing confidence in their results by defining the technical and administrative requirements for their establishment and operation. This contributes to improving the readiness of national laboratories to obtain accreditation in line with international standards.
The event concluded with a practical simulation of laboratory assessment processes in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025 international standard, with the participation of specialists from the Oman Accreditation Centre and several laboratories and technical assessors. The aim was to familiarise participants with evaluation and accreditation procedures and enhance awareness of internationally adopted practices in this field.
The event forms part of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion’s efforts to develop the national quality system and enhance the competitiveness of Oman’s economy by improving the efficiency of conformity assessment bodies, empowering national laboratories, and supporting innovation and sustainability. This contributes to strengthening investor and consumer confidence and facilitating the access of Oman’s products and services to regional and international markets.
