Doha:International Organization for Standardization: The new international quality management system standard, ISO 9001:2026, has been released, including an Arabic edition alongside the international version.
According to Qatar News Agency, this initiative aims to enhance access to international standards in Arabic, aiding organizations and professionals throughout the Arab region in implementing global best practices for quality management systems. The effort also highlights the collaborative and integrative efforts among Arab nations in this sector.
Eng. Jabor Mohammed Al Naimi, President of the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), emphasized that this development is a significant milestone for expanding the reach of international standards to users and stakeholders in Arab countries. It supports the adoption of global quality management practices, enhances institutional performance, and boosts competitiveness.
Al Naimi noted that the Arabic edition results from the collaboration of the Arab Translation Management Group (ISO/TMB/ATMG), which oversees the translation of international standards into Arabic. The Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS) acts as the group's technical secretariat, with GSO participating as the group's rapporteur, alongside contributions from Arab standards bodies and experts in translation and review.
He further explained that this achievement is a prime example of Arab cooperation in standardization, facilitating access to technical knowledge in Arabic and expanding the benefits and implementation of international standards. This accomplishment stems from the coordination and integration among all involved technical and implementing parties.
ISO 9001 is one of the most widely used quality management system standards globally. The latest edition, ISO 9001:2026, is the sixth version, developed from a periodic review of the previous ISO 9001:2015. It includes updates for enhanced clarity, ease of implementation, and suitability for modern business environments, emphasizing leadership, quality culture, ethical behavior, risk management, and integration with other management system standards.
The ISO technical committee ISO/TC 176/SC 2 is tasked with preparing, reviewing, and developing the standard and its supporting documents, with the United Kingdom, represented by the British Standards Institution (BSI), serving as the committee's technical secretariat.
The GSO had previously adopted the earlier editions of the standard as Gulf standards, and an update based on the new edition is included in the 2027 plan for the Gulf team focusing on management systems and sustainable development.