What Is GAB Accreditation?
The Gulf Accreditation Body (GAB) is the mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) signatory for the GCC region under the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC). GAB accreditation provides internationally recognised assurance that a verification body has been independently assessed and confirmed to meet the requirements of ISO 14065:2020—the international standard for bodies that validate and verify greenhouse gas assertions.
GAB accreditation under ISO 14065 means that a verification body has demonstrated:
- Technical competence: Qualified personnel with expertise in GHG quantification, reporting, and verification across relevant sectors.
- Impartiality: Structural safeguards ensuring that verification opinions are free from conflicts of interest—including separation from consulting services provided to the same client.
- Systematic methodology: Documented verification procedures aligned with ISO 14064-3, including evidence gathering, materiality assessment, and opinion formation.
- Quality management: Internal quality assurance processes, technical review, and continuous competence development.
Why GAB Accreditation Matters for Qatar
Regulatory Requirements
Qatar’s evolving climate regulatory framework increasingly requires verified GHG data. QSE-listed companies face growing ESG disclosure expectations, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is developing national GHG reporting requirements. GAB-accredited verification provides the credibility and rigour that regulators and investors demand.
Carbon Market Participation
The Global Carbon Council (GCC)—Qatar’s voluntary carbon crediting programme—requires projects to be validated and verified by accredited bodies. GAB accreditation under ISO 14065 is the recognised credential for GCC programme participation, enabling the issuance of Global Carbon Credits (GCCs) for emission reduction and removal projects in the region.
International Recognition
Through GAB’s membership in the APAC MRA and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) multilateral recognition arrangement, GAB accreditation is recognised internationally. This means that GHG verification conducted by a GAB-accredited body in Qatar carries the same recognition as verification by UKAS-accredited bodies in the UK, JAS-ANZ in Australia, or ANAB in the United States.
What We Verify
Our GAB accreditation scope covers GHG validation and verification for:
- Organisational GHG inventories: Verification of corporate Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions inventories prepared under ISO 14064-1 or the GHG Protocol.
- Project-level GHG assertions: Validation of emission reduction and removal project designs, and verification of monitored emission reductions for carbon credit issuance.
- Carbon neutrality claims: Verification of carbon neutrality assertions under PAS 2060 or equivalent standards.
- Product carbon footprints: Verification of product-level GHG assessments under ISO 14067.
The Verification Process
A GAB-accredited verification follows a structured process:
| Phase | Activities | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement | Scope definition, conflict of interest check, team assignment | 1–2 weeks |
| Strategic analysis | Review of GHG assertion, boundaries, methodologies, and risk assessment | 1–2 weeks |
| Verification planning | Sampling plan, materiality threshold, data verification procedures | 1 week |
| Evidence gathering | Document review, data testing, site visits, interviews | 2–4 weeks |
| Evaluation | Assessment of findings, identification of misstatements, completeness check | 1–2 weeks |
| Reporting | Verification statement, findings report, management letter | 1 week |
| Technical review | Independent review by a qualified reviewer not involved in the verification | 1 week |
Choosing an Accredited Verifier
When selecting a GHG verification body, organisations should consider:
- Accreditation scope: Confirm the verifier’s accreditation covers the relevant sector and GHG programme.
- Impartiality: Ensure the verifier has not provided consulting services (GHG inventory preparation, emission reduction project development) to the same entity for the same reporting period.
- Local presence: Verification requires site visits and access to operational data. A locally based team reduces costs and improves the depth of evidence gathering.
- Sector expertise: Verified competence in the relevant industry sector (oil and gas, industrial, real estate, transport) ensures meaningful technical scrutiny.
GAB accreditation is not a label—it is an ongoing commitment to impartiality, competence, and rigour in every verification engagement. For organisations in Qatar and the GCC, working with a GAB-accredited verifier means that their GHG data meets the highest international standards of assurance.