GCC Certification (G-Mark)
GCC Certification, officially known as the Gulf Conformity Mark (G-Mark), is a mandatory market access certification for products entering the seven member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Its core value is “one certification, valid in seven countries”, significantly simplifying compliance for businesses entering this high-potential market.
The Seven Gulf States：United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen
📋Scope of Certification
GCC certification primarily addresses product safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and restrictions on hazardous substances. Important updates to the scope and standards have been made for 2025-2026.
| Product Category | Updated Scope / Specific Requirements |
|---|---|
| Low Voltage Electrical Equipment (LVE) | AC 50-1000V or DC 75-1500V range, mainly covering 13 core household appliances including air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, electric fans, plugs and sockets, etc. |
| Children’s Toys | All toys intended for children under 14 years of age are subject to mandatory certification, complying with the GSO Technical Regulation for Children’s Toys. |
| Automotive Parts | Includes motor vehicles, tyres, batteries, and seat belts, all requiring compliance with relevant GSO standards. |
| Building Materials & Consumer Goods | Products such as steel, PVC pipes, food contact materials, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic modules were added to the mandatory scope in 2025. |
| Water-Saving Products | Faucets, urinals, flow regulators, flushing tanks, etc., are also included and must additionally bear a water-efficiency label. |
| New as of 2026 | Smart home devices, wireless chargers, and new energy vehicle accessories have been explicitly added to the mandatory certification scope. |
| Other | Some countries have specific requirements. For example, Oman has mandated, effective April 30, 2026, that personal e-mobility devices (electric scooters, balance wheels, etc.) must bear the GCC certification mark. |
- Exempted Products: Military equipment, second-hand goods, temporary imports (not exceeding 6 months), and personal use items may be exempted.
🛂 Certification Models & Process
The certification process varies depending on the product’s risk level.
- High-Risk Products (Mandatory Type Verification)
- Scope: High-risk products such as LVE equipment and children’s toys must undergo strict assessment by a third-party body authorised by the GSO (Gulf Standards Organization).
- Process: Submit application, technical documents, and product testing → Type testing by an authorised body → Certificate issuance, affix G-mark, and upload to GSO database → Certificate valid for 3 years (renewal required upon expiry).
- Low-Risk Products (Declaration of Conformity)
- Scope: Products not listed in the mandatory certification list, but still must conform to relevant GCC standards.
- Process: Company completes compliance file and signs DoC → Affix G-mark, bearing full compliance responsibility.
🚨 Key Updates & Action Points for Businesses
In recent years, the GCC certification system has undergone significant updates regarding certificate numbering, documentation requirements, and market access.
1. Six Core Updates
- Certification Body Code Upgrade: Code on certificates has been upgraded from 4 digits to 6 digits and is synchronised in real-time with the GSO central database, enhancing validation stringency.
- Full Digitisation of Certificates: Full adoption of electronic certificates; system-generated registration numbers are entered into the Gulf Central Database, allowing online verification by customs authorities for more efficient clearance.
- Tighter Documentation Requirements: The CB test report issued date must be within 3 years of the application date (previously 5 years). Additionally, bilingual declarations (Arabic and English) must be notarised.
- Technical Standards Updates: GCC certification adopts the latest GSO/IEC standards. A 2-year transition period is provided after a standard update, after which old certificates become invalid. For example, the new standard for washing machines (IEC 60335-2-7:2024) became mandatory on January 30, 2026.
- HS Code Change: Effective January 1, 2026, the SABER system implemented new HS codes. Enterprises must use the new codes when registering new products or renewing certificates to avoid customs clearance issues due to mismatched information.
- Saudi SABER System Mandatory: Saudi Arabia has fully tightened customs policies; all goods must be processed through the SABER platform. Procedure: Apply for a Product Conformity Certificate (PC, valid for 1 year) using the GCC certificate → Apply for a Shipment Conformity Certificate (SC) for each batch before arrival.
2. Action Checklist for Enterprises
- Check Immediately: Confirm whether your product falls within the mandatory scope, and verify that existing GCC certificates are based on the latest standards.
- Plan Ahead: The certification process typically takes 4-8 weeks. It is recommended to start at least 6 months in advance to account for possible delays and peak seasons.
- Affix Correctly: The G-mark, certificate registration number, and QR code must be clearly and durably affixed to the product body, packaging, and instruction manual.
- Complete Documentation: Prepare a full technical file including bilingual manuals, drawings, test reports, risk assessment reports, and ISO 9001 certificate.
- Choose a Reputable Body: Must select a GSO-authorised certification body. Their code can be verified on the GSO website to avoid unqualified intermediaries.
💎 Summary
GCC certification is a legal mandatory requirement for products entering the seven Gulf countries. Its core purpose is to ensure product safety and consumer protection, and it serves as the fundamental proof for customs clearance and shelf access. Given the continuously evolving regulations and standards, the most important starting action is: immediately verify whether your products have obtained GCC certification based on the latest standards, and follow the action checklist above to ensure compliance.
G Mark For Children’s Toys
| HS code | Item |
| 8712 | Bicycles and other cycles (including delivery tricycles)- not motorised. |
| 871200100001 | Two-wheeled bicycles with less than 16 |
| 871200100002 | Two-wheeled bicycles with of 16 to 20 |
| 871200100003 | Two-wheeled bicycles with a size of more than 20 |
| 871200100005 | Two-wheeled scooters |
| 9500 | Toys, games and sports requisites, parts and accessories thereof |
| 9503 | Tricycles- scooters- pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls carriages; dolls; other toys; reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models- working or not; puzzles of all kinds. |
| 950300100001 | Kids bicycles with three wheels |
| 950430000000 | – Other games, operated by coins, banknotes,bank cards, tokens or by other means of payments, other than bowling alley equipment |
| 950490000006 | Dice games (table, ladder and serpent, monopoli ..) |
| 9505 | Festive- carnival or other entertainment articles- including conjuring tricks and novelty jokes. |
| 950600000000 | Articles and equipment for general physical exercise- gymnastics- athletics- other sports (including table? tennis) or outdoor games- not specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter; swimming pools and paddling pools. |
Gmark For Low Voltage Electrical Products And Appliances Compliance Timeline
| HS code | Item |
| 84145100 84145900 | — Table- floor- wall- window- ceiling or roof fans- with a self-contained electric motor of an output not exceeding 125 W– Other |
| 84181000 84182100 84182900 84183000 84184000 | Refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or freezing equipment |
| 84211200 84501100 84501200 84501900 | Centrifugal clothes dryers and clothes washing machines, including machines thatboth wash and dry |
| 85094000 | – Food grinders and mixers; fruit or vegetable juice extractors |
| 85167200 | — Toasters |
| 85163100 85163200 85163300 | Electro-thermic hair dressing apparatus and hand dryers |
| 85162910 | – – – Domestic electric heating apparatus |
| 85165000 | – Microwave ovens |
| 85166000 | – Other ovens; cookers, cooking plates. boiling rings, grillers and roasters |
| 85161000 | – Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters |
| 85164000 | – Electric smoothing irons |
| 85444220 85366910 | Plugs, socket outlets, adapters, cord extension sets, and chargers |
| 84151000 | – Window or wall types- self-contained or “split-system” Air conditioning |