IJCA Vol 5 Issue 1 - Flipbook - Page 25
2026 | Volume 5, Issue 1
for attracting international investors, partners,
and insurers in large-scale oil and gas ventures.
In public-private partnership (PPP) models,
accreditation serves as a key enabler of
commercial trust and risk management.
4.5 Building a Culture of Quality Across Industries
From agriculture to infrastructure and from
environment to energy production, accreditation
serves as a foundation for the Gulf region’s
development. By establishing consistent,
internationally recognized frameworks for testing,
inspection, and certification, accreditation
supports the integration of quality, safety, and
reliability across complex and rapidly evolving
economic systems.
In practice, this cross-sector approach ensures
that:
• Products and services meet world-class quality
standards, supporting consumer confidence and
international market access.
• Processes are transparent, repeatable and
reliable, reducing variability, inefficiencies, and
operational risk.
• Economic activities align with safety,
sustainability, and strategic goals, reinforcing
long-term policy objectives and regulatory
coherence.
The sectoral impact of accreditation enhances
national competitiveness while reinforcing the
resilience and integrity of critical industries and
global economic shifts and regulatory pressures.
5.0 Growth of Accredited TIC Services in
the Gulf
The Gulf region is experiencing a rapid and sustained expansion of the Testing, Inspection, and
Certification (TIC) industry, driven by ambitious
national development strategies, expanding
industrial activities, and increasing regulatory sophistication. As Gulf countries advance economic
diversification and deepen integration into global
markets, accredited TIC services have become
essential infrastructure for ensuring that products,
processes, and systems meet safety, quality, and
international competitiveness requirements.
Industry projections indicate strong growth across
the Middle East and Africa (MEA) TIC market. The
sector was valued at approximately USD 12 billion
in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 19 billion by
2030, representing a compound annual growth
rate (CAGR) of about 4.9 percent. This growth
The International Journal of Conformity Assessment
reflects not only the expanding scale of economic
activity across the Gulf, but also the increasing prioritization of quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and internationally recognized certification
as strategic enablers of sustainable development
and market access.
6.0 Key Drivers of TIC Growth in the Gulf
The rapid expansion of accredited Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) services across the
Gulf is being driven by a convergence of largescale infrastructure investment, evolving regulatory frameworks, and increasing integration into
global trade systems. Together, these forces are
elevating accreditation from a technical function
to a strategic driver of economic resilience, market
access, and consumer trust.
6.1 Expanding Infrastructure and Mega-Projects
Gulf nations are home to some of the world’s
most ambitious construction and infrastructure
developments, including:
• NEOM (Saudi Arabia) – a $500 billion smart city
and industrial hub
• Lusail City (Qatar) – a futuristic urban center with
advanced mobility systems
• Mohammed Bin Rashid City (United Arab
Emirates) – a large-scale luxury residential and
commercial development
These projects demand extensive TIC involvement
across:
• Material testing and site inspections
• Mechanical and structural certification
• Environmental impact assessments
• Occupational health and safety auditing
Accredited TIC services are critical for managing
risk, enabling compliance with international
engineering standards, and improving access to
financing from global investors and development
partners.
6.2 Rising Regulatory Requirements and
Government Reforms
Across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),
governments are implementing updated technical
regulations, mandatory conformity assessment
schemes, and national quality frameworks to
strengthen product safety, regulatory oversight,
and market confidence. Examples include:
•SALEEM and SABER (Saudi Arabia) – product
safety and compliance systems administered
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