The United Arab Emirates has emerged as the regional frontrunner in advancing boardroom gender diversity, with women now holding 14.8 percent of board seats in public companies — a 37 percent jump from 2024, according to the latest GCC Board Gender Index by Heriot-Watt University in partnership with Aurora50.
Released in April 2025, the report highlights a significant shift across the Gulf, with all six GCC countries recording year-on-year growth in female representation on boards. The region-wide average now stands at 6.8 percent, up from 5.2 percent in 2024 — effectively doubling since Aurora50 launched its initiative in 2020, when women held just 3.5 percent of board roles in the UAE.
The UAE tops the index with 185 of 1,248 board seats occupied by women, followed by Bahrain at 8.5 percent, Oman at 6.6 percent, Kuwait at 5.5 percent, Saudi Arabia at 2.9 percent, and Qatar at 2.8 percent.
H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Director of Aurora50, called the progress “a remarkable transformation,” noting the fourfold increase in the UAE and emphasizing the importance of data-driven efforts to build a sustainable talent pipeline.
Professor Heather McGregor, Provost of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the UAE’s role in driving change and the need for consistent tracking to support continued progress.
The annual report, part of a multi-year research initiative running through 2027, aims to provide actionable insights and a searchable database to help advance diversity and inclusion across the region’s boardrooms.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
