What is the G-Mark?
The G-Mark, or GCC Conformity Marking, is the regional conformity mark of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It indicates that a product meets the applicable GCC technical regulation and is eligible for placement on the market in all GCC member states.
The G-Mark scheme is administered by the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), based in Riyadh (الرياض). It was established to create a unified market for regulated products across the GCC, reducing the need for separate national certifications in each country.
For lighting products, the G-Mark is issued under the GCC Low Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances technical regulation, which covers a wide range of electrical products including luminaires, lamps, and control gear.
Which countries accept G-Mark?
The G-Mark is recognized in all six GCC member states:
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (المملكة العربية السعودية)
- United Arab Emirates (الإمارات العربية المتحدة)
- State of Qatar
- State of Kuwait
- Sultanate of Oman
- Kingdom of Bahrain
In theory, a product with a valid G-Mark can be placed on the market in any of these six countries without needing separate national certification. In practice, the implementation varies by country — some have fully adopted the G-Mark as the primary conformity assessment route, while others maintain additional national requirements alongside it.
G-Mark for lighting products
Lighting products fall under the GSO Low Voltage Electrical Equipment technical regulation. The regulation covers most types of electrical lighting equipment used in general, commercial, and industrial applications.
Product categories covered include:
- LED luminaires of all types — downlights, track lights, panels, linear systems, floodlights
- LED lamps and modules
- LED drivers and control gear
- Fluorescent and discharge lamp luminaires
- Emergency lighting fixtures
G-Mark certification for lighting products requires compliance with GCC technical requirements based on IEC standards, plus factory quality management system assessment and ongoing surveillance.
The G-Mark certification process
The G-Mark certification process is more comprehensive than many national certifications because it includes factory assessment and ongoing surveillance. Here is how it works:
Step 1: Product testing
The product is tested by a GSO-recognized testing laboratory according to the applicable GCC standards (which are based on IEC standards). For luminaires, this means testing against the GCC equivalent of IEC 60598-1 and the relevant part 2 standard.
Step 2: Factory audit
Unlike the SASO IECEE scheme, G-Mark requires a factory quality management system audit. A GSO-recognized certification body visits the manufacturing facility and assesses whether the quality system can consistently produce products that meet the certified specification. The audit covers production processes, quality control, incoming material inspection, and documentation.
Step 3: Certification review
The certification body reviews the test reports and factory audit findings. If everything meets the requirements, they issue a G-Mark certificate of conformity.
Step 4: G-Mark registration
The product and certificate are registered with GSO and added to the GSO G-Mark database. The manufacturer is authorized to apply the G-Mark to the certified product.
Step 5: Ongoing surveillance
G-Mark certification is not a one-time event. It requires ongoing surveillance, including:
- Periodic factory audits (typically annual or biennial)
- Market surveillance testing — products may be randomly selected from the market for retesting
- Reporting of any product changes that could affect compliance
This surveillance element is what distinguishes G-Mark from simpler certification schemes. It provides a higher level of assurance that certified products remain compliant over time.
G-Mark vs. national certifications
The relationship between G-Mark and national certification schemes varies by country. Here is how it works in the key GCC markets for lighting:
Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, G-Mark and SASO IECEE operate alongside each other. A G-Mark certificate can be used as supporting documentation for SABER registration, but products entering Saudi Arabia still need to go through the SABER system and obtain PCoC and SCoC certificates. The G-Mark does not replace SABER — but it can simplify the process because the product has already been tested and audited.
For the full picture of Saudi requirements, see our SASO 2902 guide and SABER registration guide.
UAE
In the UAE, the G-Mark is recognized by MOIAT (formerly ESMA) and can support ECAS registration. However, like Saudi Arabia, the UAE maintains its own national system (ECAS) alongside the G-Mark. Products with G-Mark may find the ECAS registration process faster and simpler, but ECAS registration is still required.
Our MOIAT ECAS guide covers the UAE system in detail.
Other GCC countries
In Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, the G-Mark is generally more directly accepted as the primary conformity mark for products covered by GCC technical regulations. However, specific product categories may still have additional national requirements, and import procedures vary by country.
Benefits of G-Mark for multi-country projects
For lighting suppliers and specifiers working across multiple GCC markets, G-Mark certification offers several concrete advantages:
- Single certification, multiple markets. One G-Mark certificate covers all six GCC countries. Instead of managing six separate national certifications, you manage one.
- Simplified national registration. When a country requires its own national registration (like SASO/SABER in Saudi Arabia or ECAS in the UAE), having G-Mark certification can speed up the process because much of the testing and documentation is already done.
- Factory audit efficiency. The G-Mark factory audit is done once, not once per country. For manufacturers, this reduces audit costs and disruption.
- Consistent quality baseline. Because G-Mark includes ongoing factory surveillance, it provides a more consistent quality standard across markets than schemes that rely only on initial type testing.
- Easier project scaling. If you start a project in one GCC country and expand to others, G-Mark-certified products can move with you without starting certification from scratch.
For multi-country hotel chains, retail brands, and developers working across the GCC, G-Mark simplifies procurement and reduces compliance risk across your entire portfolio.
Common G-Mark misconceptions
G-Mark is one of the most misunderstood certification schemes in the Gulf. Here is what people get wrong:
1. "G-Mark replaces all national certifications"
It does not. While the G-Mark is recognized in all GCC countries, several countries — including Saudi Arabia and the UAE — maintain their own national certification requirements in addition to G-Mark. The G-Mark supports and simplifies national registration, but does not replace it.
2. "G-Mark is just a sticker"
Some suppliers treat the G-Mark as something you just print on the label. It is not. Genuine G-Mark certification requires product testing by a GSO-recognized lab, factory quality system audit, and ongoing surveillance. A fake G-Mark on a product that has not been through the process is a compliance and legal risk.
3. "If it has G-Mark, it will clear customs anywhere in GCC"
Not automatically. Customs clearance procedures vary by country. In Saudi Arabia, for example, you still need SABER registration and an SCoC to clear customs — even with G-Mark. G-Mark is a conformity mark, not a customs clearance document.
4. "G-Mark covers the whole product family"
Like other certifications, G-Mark is model-specific. Each product model must be individually certified and listed on the certificate. A certificate for one model does not automatically extend to similar models in the same product line.
5. "G-Mark is only for safety"
G-Mark covers safety under the low voltage regulation, but it does not by itself cover energy efficiency requirements. Many GCC countries have separate energy efficiency programs that run alongside G-Mark. You need both.
How to verify G-Mark certification
Verifying G-Mark certification follows the same principles as verifying other certifications, but with some specific GSO resources:
1. Request the certificate
Ask for the G-Mark certificate of conformity issued by a GSO-recognized certification body. Check that it includes the GSO logo and registration number.
2. Check the certificate details
- Exact model numbers covered — must match what you are specifying
- Certificate validity dates
- Issuing body must be GSO-recognized
- Manufacturer name and factory location
- Applicable GCC technical regulation and standards
3. Cross-check the GSO database
GSO maintains a public database of G-Mark certified products. Search by certificate number, manufacturer, or product to confirm the certification is valid and current. This is the most reliable way to verify G-Mark status.
4. Check product marking
On physical products, the G-Mark should be clearly visible along with the certificate number. The mark should be durable — not a sticker that peels off.
At Yakeen, our architectural lighting products carry G-Mark certification alongside national certifications for Saudi Arabia (SASO 2902) and the UAE (ECAS). This means you can specify the same fixtures across multiple GCC markets with confidence. We provide full G-Mark documentation, and our team can help you understand how G-Mark interacts with national requirements in each country where you have projects.