Edinburgh: The UAE has been elected to serve on the Board of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for the term 2025-2027, marking the first time an Arab country has been voted onto the Board. The election took place during the IEC General Assembly held in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, where Farah Al Zarooni, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Standards and Regulations Sector in the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), received unanimous approval from all IEC National Committee Members.
According to Emirates News Agency, this milestone is a testament to MoIAT’s continued efforts to enhance the UAE’s quality infrastructure through initiatives aimed at developing standards, regulations, and conformity schemes. As a key member of the IEC, which includes 170 countries and a platform for over 30,000 experts globally, the UAE can share knowledge and best practices in standardisation to boost the competitiveness of locally manufactured products and ensure sustainable supply chains.
Dr. S
ultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, stated that the achievement aligns with the UAE’s leadership vision and commitment to capacity building, raising efficiency, and enhancing performance across all sectors. He emphasized that the election underscores the country’s leadership in quality infrastructure and the global trust in the UAE’s regulatory system.
The announcement follows the UAE’s recent election to the Board of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in September 2023. Dr. Al Jaber highlighted that this accomplishment reflects international recognition of the UAE’s efforts to establish a robust quality infrastructure system, which is a key pillar of its industrial growth strategy, aligned with the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, Operation 300bn, and the Make it in the Emirates initiative. He noted that membership on the IEC Board would support UAE industries, SMEs, and products by enhancing competitiveness and facilitating tr
ade with other countries, solidifying the UAE’s role as a key partner in shaping the future of industry.
Farah Al Zarooni led the UAE delegation at the IEC meetings, which included representatives from various organizations such as the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Space 42, Emirates Global Aluminium, and ABB, among others. Al Zarooni stated that the ministry collaborates with local government and private sector partners to enhance industry efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness by creating standards and regulations that adhere to international best practices. To date, the ministry has introduced over 27,000 standards, and membership in the IEC Board will further bolster the UAE’s efforts to integrate and harmonise its standards globally.
The UAE also participated in the IEC Young Professionals Programme, which aims to empower youth in standardisation and conformity. Each
year, the UAE nominates two young Emiratis; for the upcoming term, Majed Bin Zawbaa from ABB and Maha Al Shehhi from DEWA were selected. Bin Zawbaa was elected to the 2024 IEC Young Professional Leader’s seat for the Asia and Middle East region.
The IEC is a leading international organization in developing standards for electricity, electronics, and related technologies, aiming to facilitate global trade by ensuring quality and safety through international standards.