On 2 November 2024, the UAE won a seat on the board of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for the term 2025–2027, becoming the first Arab country ever to hold the position. The historic election took place at the IEC General Assembly in Edinburgh, where Farah Al Zarooni, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Standards and Regulations Sector at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), secured unanimous approval from all IEC National Committee Members.
UAE Elected to IEC Board in a Historic First
The victory marks a landmark moment for the UAE's quality-infrastructure programme and underscores the country's growing influence in international standardisation. H.E. Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, called it "quite a historical achievement for the UAE to secure the membership in the board of IEC — the first for any Arab nation." He added that the success reflects international confidence in the UAE's regulatory and quality system.
MoIAT has driven the achievement through continuous efforts to strengthen the country's standards and conformity framework. As an IEC board member, the UAE can now exchange standardisation information and results with the commission's network, boosting the competitiveness of UAE-made products and promoting sustainable supply chains.
What the IEC Membership Means for UAE Standards
The IEC brings together 170 countries and more than 30,000 experts to develop standards for electricity, electronics, and related technologies. Sitting on the board gives the UAE a direct voice in shaping those standards globally.
Al Zarooni highlighted MoIAT's work to improve industrial efficiency through internationally aligned standards activity, noting that the ministry has delivered over 27,000 international standards for implementation across the country. The IEC seat follows the UAE's earlier election to the board of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), further cementing the nation's credentials in global standards governance.
UAE Youth Taking a Lead Role in Global Standardisation
The UAE delegation also contributed to the IEC Young Professionals Programme, which nurtures the next generation of standardisation experts. Two UAE-based engineers — Majed Bin Zawbaa of ABB and Maha Al Shehhi of DEWA — were nominated under the programme. Bin Zawbaa was subsequently elected as the 2024 IEC Young Professional Leader for Asia and the Middle East, a further recognition of UAE talent on the world stage.
