The GCC Accreditation Center (GAC) is proud to announce its election as the Chair of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, which was established following the merger of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

This unprecedented achievement marks a historic milestone for the Gulf region and the Arab world, as GAC becomes the first accreditation body globally to assume the presidency of this international organization. The win reflects the leadership position and excellence of the accreditation ecosystem in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and underscores the influential Arab presence in international quality infrastructure forums.

The election took place during the second General Assembly of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (IAF & ILAC), held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 15 to 24 October, where the GCC Accreditation Center (GAC) secured 70 votes against 50 for the competing candidate, out of a total of 127 votes cast.

This success will further enhance the development of accreditation activities across the GCC, reinforcing the competence of conformity assessment bodies operating within the region. It will also contribute to strengthening the GCC common market, facilitating intra-regional trade, and promoting economic integration. Moreover, it will support the development of Gulf technical expertise and capabilities, fostering collaboration with global experts in various accreditation fields and leveraging international best practices to demonstrate the quality and proficiency of conformity assessment bodies in the region.