UAE Becomes First Arab Member on International Electrotechnical Commission Board

UAE Becomes First Arab Nation to Join International Electrotechnical Commission Board

UAE Becomes First Arab Nation to Secure a Seat on the International Electrotechnical Commission Board
The United Arab Emirates has been elected to the Board of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for the 2025-2027 term, marking a historic milestone as the first Arab country to hold this influential position. This election took place at the IEC’s General Assembly in Edinburgh, UK, in October, where Farah Al Zarooni, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Standards and Regulations Sector at the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), received unanimous support from IEC National Committee members.

This achievement underscores the UAE’s dedication to advancing global quality standards and its continuous work in strengthening quality infrastructure through policies, regulatory measures, and international conformity standards. The UAE’s seat on the IEC Board enhances its ability to contribute to the development of international standards, directly supporting national industries, strengthening local production, and advancing sustainable supply chain practices.

The UAE’s strategic objectives, such as the Make it in the Emirates and Operation 300bn programs, are in line with this membership, according to Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. He went on to say that the nomination also represents international acknowledgement of the UAE’s high-quality infrastructure and regulatory skills.

This recent success follows the UAE’s election to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Board in September 2023. With both IEC and ISO memberships, the UAE is better positioned to influence international industrial standards, which boosts local industries’ competitiveness and aligns with national initiatives aimed at enhancing industrial growth.

Farah Al Zarooni, who led the UAE delegation in Edinburgh, highlighted that the UAE has developed over 27,000 standards across various sectors, aiming to harmonize UAE regulations with international standards. By supporting initiatives such as the IEC Young Professionals Programme, which promotes youth development in standardization, the UAE demonstrates a commitment to empowering the next generation of Emirati experts in global standards.

A major advancement in the UAE’s goals of international cooperation, sustainable development, and industrial excellence is the country’s membership on the IEC Board.