Guardian Middle East LLC’s certificates are issued through three distinct accreditation chains: (1) Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd under UAF and IAS accreditation, also QS-recognised under RB066-26 for ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001; (2) TNV Global Limited under UAF accreditation for specialised standards; and (3) a Third-Party CB under IAS MSCB 154 for ISO 22301. All accredited certificates are listed on IAF CertSearch.
Accreditation is the cornerstone of credible third-party certification. The accreditation chain — the linkage between an accreditation body, a certification body, and the certificate that body issues — is what allows a certificate to be recognised, verified, and relied upon by regulators, supply-chain partners, and tendering authorities.
This page is published as the single, authoritative reference for all accreditation, recognition, and partnership arrangements relevant to Guardian Middle East LLC’s certification, attestation, and inspection activities in Qatar. Every individual standard page on guardian.qa references this page for the detailed accreditation chain that applies to that standard.
We publish this information in the interests of transparency, in alignment with IAF Mandatory Document MD 22 (Information for ISO/IEC 17021-1 audits applicable for management system certification by IAF MLA signatory) and the broader IAF transparency expectations applicable to certification bodies operating under MLA-recognised accreditation.
Guardian Middle East LLC operates under QFC Licence 03870, granted by the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) on 21 August 2025 under QFC Law No. 7 of 2005. The licence authorises Guardian Middle East LLC to carry out the regulated activity of accrediting and evaluating the conformity of goods and services to internationally recognised standards in or from the Qatar Financial Centre.
| QFC Licence Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Licence Number | 03870 |
| Licensed Entity | Guardian Middle East LLC (جارديان ميدل ايست ذ.م.م) |
| Issuing Authority | Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) |
| Effective From | 21 August 2025 |
| Regulated Activity | 6922-001 — Accreditation: Accrediting and evaluating the conformity of a good or service to internationally recognised standards acceptable to the QFCA |
| Verification | QFC Public Register at qfc.qa |
The United Accreditation Foundation (UAF) is an internationally recognised accreditation body headquartered in the United States. UAF accredits certification bodies, inspection bodies, and other conformity assessment bodies under the relevant ISO/IEC standards (notably ISO/IEC 17021-1 for management system certification and ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection).
UAF is a signatory of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA), meaning UAF-accredited certificates are recognised by IAF MLA signatories worldwide. UAF maintains a public register of its accredited bodies and the accredited scopes.
Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd is UAF-accredited as a Management System Certification Body (MSCB) under ISO/IEC 17021-1. The accreditation covers the management system standards forming Tiers 1, 2, and Tier 4 of Guardian Middle East’s certification portfolio in Qatar (excluding ISO 22301 — see #third-party-cb).
TNV Global Limited is UAF-accredited as both:
Note: Per-certificate UAF numbers, issue dates, and validity dates for the management system certification scope are maintained on this page only. Page-level disclosures on individual standard pages reference ‘UAF accreditation’ without listing specific certificate numbers — verification is via UAF and IAF CertSearch.
The International Accreditation Service (IAS) is an internationally recognised accreditation body based in the United States, operating as a non-profit, public-benefit corporation. IAS accredits certification bodies and inspection bodies across multiple ISO/IEC conformity-assessment standards. IAS is a signatory of the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement.
Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd is IAS-accredited as a Management System Certification Body. This accreditation supports Guardian Middle East’s Tier 1 and Tier 2 certification activity in Qatar, working alongside the UAF accreditation.
ISO 22301 (Business Continuity Management Systems) certification is delivered through a Third-Party Certification Body (CB) accredited by IAS under registration MSCB 154. Guardian Middle East LLC acts as the local representative in Qatar for this accreditation scope only.
This arrangement is disclosed transparently because the accreditation chain for ISO 22301 is structurally different from the chain for the other Tier 2 standards (ISO 21001, 27001, 37001), which are delivered under Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd’s UAF/IAS accreditation.
On every page where ISO 22301 is mentioned, including /iso-22301-certification-in-qatar/ and /certifications/uaf-ias-accredited/, the disclosure must read: ‘Issued by [Third-Party CB], IAS-Accredited (MSCB 154). Local representation in Qatar by Guardian Middle East LLC.
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is the world association of conformity assessment accreditation bodies. The IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) is the framework under which signatory accreditation bodies recognise the equivalence of each other’s accredited certificates.
In practical terms, an MLA-recognised certificate issued under one IAF signatory’s accreditation must be accepted by all other IAF MLA signatories and their accredited certification bodies. This recognition framework underpins the global trust in accredited management system certification.
Guardian’s accreditation chains are linked to the IAF MLA in two ways:
All accredited certificates issued by Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd, TNV Global Limited, and the Third-Party CB are publicly listed on IAF CertSearch — the IAF’s global verification register. Anyone may search for a certificate by certificate number, accreditation body, or organisation name at https://www.iafcertsearch.org.
This public verification mechanism is consistent with IAF MD 22 transparency requirements and provides regulators, tendering authorities, supply-chain partners, and the public with independent means of verifying any Guardian-issued accredited certificate.
The Qatar General Organization for Standardization (QS) is the National Standards Body of the State of Qatar. Among its functions, QS recognises certification bodies that meet the criteria established under Ministerial Decree No. 363 of 2018 to operate in Qatar.
Important distinction: QS is a Recognition Body — not an Accreditation Body. The terminology used on this site reflects this carefully: we describe Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd as ‘QS-Recognized’, not ‘QS-Accredited’. International accreditation is held by UAF and IAS (which are accreditation bodies); QS provides national-level recognition of accredited certification bodies for in-country regulatory acceptance.
QS issued Registration Certificate for Certification Body number RB066-26 on 02 April 2026 with the following particulars:
QS Recognition Field | Value |
Certificate Number | RB066-26 |
Body Name | |
Represented By | Guardian Middle East LLC (جارديان ميدل ايست ذ.م.م) |
Date of Issue | 02 April 2026 |
Date of Expiry | 01 April 2027 |
Address (Qatar) | Zone 45, Street 250, Building 67 |
CR No. | QFC 03870 |
Scope of Registration | QMS ISO 9001 EMS ISO 14001 HSMS ISO 45001 |
Issued under | Ministerial Decree No. 363 of 2018 |
TNV Global Limited is an independent, internationally-accredited Management System Certification Body and Inspection Body. TNV holds UAF accreditation under ISO/IEC 17021-1 (management system certification) and ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (inspection).
Guardian Middle East LLC has a non-exclusive partnership with TNV Global Limited, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Under this arrangement:
The following accreditation details are maintained on this page for transparency. They are NOT republished on individual standard pages — page-level disclosures use generic ‘UAF accreditation via TNV Global Limited’ wording.
Detail | Value |
MSCB Certificate | TNV Global Limited Management System Certification Body — UAF Accredited |
MSCB Standard | ISO/IEC 17021-1 |
MSCB Issue Reference | Issue 47, dated 24 February 2026 (or current issue at time of certificate consultation) |
MSCB Scope | QMS, EMS, OHSMS, FSMS, MDQMS, ABMS, EnMS, AMS, ItSMS, FMMS, EOMS, ISMS, PIMS, AIMS |
Inspection Body Certificate | UAF Inspection Body — Cert. 5241222IB04 |
Inspection Standard | |
Inspection Body Validity | 28 December 2024 to 27 December 2028 |
Inspection Body Issue | Issue 03 |
Verification | UAF directory and IAF CertSearch (https://www.iafcertsearch.org) |
Note on FSMS: TNV Global Limited’s UAF MSCB scope includes Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS / ISO 22000). FSMS is not currently offered by Guardian Middle East LLC — this exclusion is intentional and permanent in V1.
The Guardian Approved Scheme is a certification scheme operated under Guardian Middle East LLC’s internal procedures. The scheme covers six standards for which Guardian provides certification or attestation services without external accreditation: ISO 37301 (Compliance Management Systems), ISO 20121 (Event Sustainability Management Systems), ISO 39001 (Road Traffic Safety Management Systems), ISO 28000 (Supply Chain Security Management), ISO 14068-1 (Carbon Neutrality), and ISO 26000 (Social Responsibility — attestation only).
The Guardian Approved Scheme is operated in alignment with ISO/IEC 17021-1 (Conformity Assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems) and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents (notably MD 1, MD 2, MD 4, MD 5, MD 9, MD 11, MD 22, MD 23). However, the scheme is NOT accredited by UAF, IAS, IAF MLA, or any equivalent accreditation framework.
Mandatory disclaimer (replicated on every Tier 4 page): Guardian Approved Scheme certifications are issued under Guardian Middle East LLC’s internal certification scheme. They are not accredited under UAF, IAS, IAF MLA, or any equivalent accreditation framework. Guardian’s internal scheme procedures are aligned with ISO/IEC 17021-1 and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents. Clients should consider whether an accredited certification (where available) better suits their stakeholder, regulatory, or contractual requirements.
ISO 26000 (Guidance on Social Responsibility) is a guidance standard, not a certifiable management system standard. Guardian issues an Attestation against ISO 26000, not a Certification. Use of ‘Attestation’ rather than ‘Certification’ for ISO 26000 is mandatory throughout all marketing materials, certificates, and website content.
This table is the authoritative mapping between each standard Guardian offers and the accreditation chain that applies to that standard. Per-page disclosures on individual standard pages must align with this table.
| Standard | Tier | Issuing Body | Accreditation / Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | Tier 1 | Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd | |
| ISO 14001 | Tier 1 | Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd | |
| ISO 45001 | Tier 1 | Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd | |
| ISO 21001 | Tier 2 | Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd | |
| ISO/IEC 27001 | Tier 2 | Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd | |
| ISO 37001 | Tier 2 | Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd | |
| ISO 22301 | Tier 2 | Third-Party CBGuardian ME LLC = local representative | |
| ISO 13485 | Tier 3 | TNV Global LimitedGuardian ME LLC = local rep | |
| ISO/IEC 27701 | Tier 3 | TNV Global LimitedGuardian ME LLC = local rep | |
| ISO/IEC 20000-1 | Tier 3 | TNV Global LimitedGuardian ME LLC = local rep | |
| ISO 50001 | Tier 3 | TNV Global LimitedGuardian ME LLC = local rep | |
| ISO 55001 | Tier 3 | TNV Global LimitedGuardian ME LLC = local rep | |
| ISO 41001 | Tier 3 | TNV Global LimitedGuardian ME LLC = local rep | |
| ISO/IEC 42001 | Tier 3 | TNV Global LimitedGuardian ME LLC = local rep | |
| ISO 37301 | Tier 4 | Guardian Middle East LLC | Guardian Approved SchemeInternal scheme aligned with ISO/IEC 17021-1 |
| ISO 20121 | Tier 4 | Guardian Middle East LLC | Guardian Approved SchemeInternal scheme aligned with ISO/IEC 17021-1 |
| ISO 39001 | Tier 4 | Guardian Middle East LLC | Guardian Approved SchemeInternal scheme aligned with ISO/IEC 17021-1 |
| ISO 28000 | Tier 4 | Guardian Middle East LLC | Guardian Approved SchemeInternal scheme aligned with ISO/IEC 17021-1 |
| ISO 14068-1 | Tier 4 | Guardian Middle East LLC | Guardian Approved SchemeInternal scheme aligned with ISO/IEC 17021-1 |
| ISO 26000 | Tier 4 | Guardian Middle East LLC | Attestation onlyGuardian Approved Scheme |
| ISO/IEC 17020Inspection | Insp. | TNV Global LimitedGuardian ME LLC = authorised local rep | UAF Cert 5241222IB04Valid: 28 Dec 2024 to 27 Dec 2028 |
Examine the certificate. The issuing body name will identify whether the certificate was issued by Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd (Tier 1, Tier 2 except 22301), TNV Global Limited (Tier 3 + Inspection), or the Third-Party CB (ISO 22301).
Visit iafcertsearch.org and search by certificate number, accreditation body, or organisation name. All accredited certificates issued by Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd, TNV Global Limited, and the Third-Party CB are listed on this register.
For ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certificates that reference QS recognition, the QS Registration Certificate may be referenced — RB066-26, valid 02 April 2026 to 01 April 2027.
Guardian operates an independent complaints and appeals process compliant with ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015.
Full process: → /complaints-appeals/
Each accreditation body (UAF, IAS) and each accredited certification body (Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd, TNV Global Limited) has a defined accreditation scope. Different ISO standards fall within different scopes. Using multiple chains allows Guardian to offer a comprehensive portfolio of standards while maintaining the appropriate accredited path for each — fully transparent on this page.
Accreditation is granted by an Accreditation Body (such as UAF or IAS) to a Certification Body, formally attesting to the CB's competence to certify against specific standards. Recognition is a national-level acceptance of an accredited certification body for in-country regulatory purposes — for example, QS recognises Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd in Qatar under RB066-26.
Yes. Both UAF and IAS are signatories of the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). Certificates issued under UAF or IAS accreditation are recognised by all IAF MLA signatories worldwide and may be verified on IAF CertSearch.
No, they serve different purposes. International accreditation (UAF, IAS, IAF MLA) provides global recognition of certification competence. QS Recognition is national-level recognition for use of the certificate in Qatari regulatory and tendering frameworks. Guardian holds both — for ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001.
ISO 22301 (Business Continuity) is delivered through a Third-Party CB accredited by IAS under MSCB 154, with Guardian Middle East LLC acting as the local representative in Qatar. This arrangement allows Guardian to offer ISO 22301 to Qatar-based clients under an internationally-recognised accreditation chain that is transparent and verifiable.
The Guardian Approved Scheme is Guardian Middle East LLC's internal certification scheme for six standards: ISO 37301, 20121, 39001, 28000, 14068-1, and ISO 26000 (attestation only). The scheme is aligned with ISO/IEC 17021-1 and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents but is NOT accredited by UAF, IAS, or IAF MLA. Clients should consider whether accredited certification (where available) better suits their needs.
The QS Registration Certificate for Certification Body, RB066-26, is issued bilingually (Arabic / English) by the Qatar General Organization for Standardization. The certificate identifies Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd as the Body Name and Guardian Middle East LLC as the Represented Entity in Qatar. Validity: 02 April 2026 to 01 April 2027.
No. The scheme is structured as a self-administered certification scheme operated under documented procedures aligned with ISO/IEC 17021-1 and applicable IAF Mandatory Documents. The scheme is fully transparent — every Tier 4 page carries a mandatory disclaimer making the absence of accreditation explicit. Clients are entitled to choose accredited or non-accredited certification based on their stakeholder requirements; transparency enables informed choice.
Accredited management system certificates issued under ISO/IEC 17021-1 follow a three-year cycle: initial certification + two annual surveillance audits + recertification. Inspection certificates (ISO/IEC 17020) follow project-specific or annual cycles. ISO 26000 attestation is typically valid for one year. Validity is stated on each certificate.
Per-certificate UAF certificate numbers, issue dates, and validity dates are maintained on this page (#uaf and #tnv sections) and on the issued certificate itself. Page-level disclosures on individual standard pages reference 'UAF accreditation' generically — verification is via UAF and IAF CertSearch.
Guardian does not 'provide' accreditation to its clients. Accreditation is granted by an Accreditation Body (UAF, IAS) to a Certification Body (Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd, TNV Global Limited, the Third-Party CB). Clients receive a certificate of conformity from the accredited Certification Body — not an accreditation. The certificate's authority derives from the accreditation chain disclosed on this page.
IAF MD 22 is the IAF Mandatory Document on the application of ISO/IEC 17021-1 for management system certification by IAF MLA signatories. It establishes mandatory requirements for transparency, including public listing of accredited certificates on a verification platform. Guardian's accredited certificates are listed on IAF CertSearch in alignment with MD 22 expectations.
Yes. Regulators, tendering authorities, and supply-chain partners may contact UAF (https://www.uafaccreditation.org), IAS (https://www.iasonline.org), or QS (https://www.qs.gov.qa) directly to verify Guardian's accreditation or recognition status. This independent verification path is fully supported by Guardian's transparency commitments.
Both. The certificate itself is the authoritative document for individual certifications — it identifies the issuing body, the accreditation body, the standard, the scope, and the validity dates. This page is the authoritative explanation of the accreditation chains underpinning Guardian's portfolio. If the certificate and this page differ in any factual detail, the certificate prevails for that specific certification.
This page is the authoritative reference for Guardian Middle East LLC’s accreditation and recognition arrangements. The information published here is consistent with: QFC License 03870; QS Registration Certificate RB066-26 (issued 02 April 2026, expiring 01 April 2027); UAF accreditation held by Guardian Assessment Pvt Ltd; UAF accreditation held by TNV Global Limited (MSCB and Inspection Body 5241222IB04); IAS accreditation held by the Third-Party CB (MSCB 154) for ISO 22301. For independent verification of any accredited certificate, visit IAF CertSearch at https://www.iafcertsearch.org. For QS recognition verification, visit https://www.qs.gov.qa.
