As the economic integration in the Middle East region continues to deepen, the regulatory requirements for product quality and safety in the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have been continuously enhanced. In 2026, the GCC certification system introduced several key updates, providing enterprises with a more clear and convenient compliance access plan for expanding into the markets of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen and Oman.

In 2026, when applying for GCC certification, please pay attention to the following three points: 
The certification institution code has been upgraded to six digits. 
Starting from 2026, the certification agency codes next to the GCC logo will be uniformly upgraded from the original 4 digits to 6 digits and updated in the database of the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO). This move will significantly enhance the accuracy of product traceability, allowing purchasers and regulatory agencies to directly query the certification details by scanning the QR code. 

2. Fully implement electronic certificates 
The GCC product conformity certificate (PC certificate) will adopt electronic signature seals and will be valid simultaneously with the paper version. Once the certificate registration number is generated, it will be immediately entered into the central database of the Gulf region. The customs of each member country can conduct real-time verification online, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of goods clearance. 

3. The scope of mandatory certification has been expanded. 
Starting from 2026, three types of products - smart home devices, wireless charging devices and some components of new energy vehicles - will be newly included in the mandatory certification scope. Relevant enterprises need to promptly check whether their products fall within this range and complete the certification preparations in advance. 

GCC Certification Application Procedure
The entire process of applying for GCC certification in 2026 mainly consists of the following three key steps: 
Step 1: Prepare samples and documents 
The manufacturer or exporter is required to send product samples to the testing institution recognized by GSO, and simultaneously prepare all the application materials, which mainly include: 
Application Form

Circuit schematic diagram and technical specification sheet 
Customs Code (HS Code) 
Product Manual (Arabic/English) 
Valid ISO 9001 system certificate 
Bilingual Consistency Statement (Confirmation of Content Consistency between Arabic and English) 
Conformity Declaration

Power of Attorney (if applicable) 
CB test report (if applicable) 

Step 2: Laboratory testing 
The testing institution conducts the tests in accordance with the current GSO standards and issues GSO test data reports that comply with the 2026 format requirements. If the test fails, the institution will point out the non-compliant items and provide improvement suggestions; after the test is passed, the system will automatically generate a unique registration number for the product. 

Step 3: Issue the certificate 
Subsequently, the testing institution officially issued the GCC certification certificate and provided the new G-Mark logo. The QR code attached to this logo already contains a 6-digit certification institution code. Enterprises must clearly display this logo in a prominent position on their products in order to be able to sell them in the GCC member countries' markets. 

Attention required for GCC certification application materials:
In 2026, there will be two key updates to the application materials for GCC certification. Enterprises are kindly requested to pay special attention to these: 
The bilingual consistency statement must be notarized. 
Previously, the document for verifying the consistency of Arabic and English content only needed to be self-declared. Now, it has been adjusted to require formal notarization by a local or international notary office. 
2. The validity period of the CB test report has been shortened. 
The issuance time of the submitted CB test report has been shortened from the previous 5 years to no more than 3 years. 

The update of the GCC certification system in 2026 reflects the clear direction of the Gulf countries in continuously promoting the standardization of market access and the facilitation of trade.