Heriot-Watt University Dubai and Aurora50 have released the GCC Board Gender Index Report 2026, marking the third edition of the region’s only comprehensive study tracking women’s representation on boards of publicly listed companies across the GCC.
The report highlights continued progress, with women now holding 7 per cent of board seats across the region, reflecting steady year on year growth.
Regional Progress and Key Figures
As of January 2026, women occupy 7 per cent of board positions across the GCC, up from 6.9 per cent in 2025. While the increase is gradual, it signals sustained momentum towards greater gender diversity in corporate leadership.
The index now covers 759 publicly listed companies, with total board seats rising from 5,668 to 5,755. A total of 341 women hold 403 board roles, compared to 334 women and 390 positions the previous year, indicating growth in both participation and representation.
UAE Leads the Region
The United Arab Emirates continues to lead the GCC for the third consecutive year, with women holding 15 per cent of board seats across its stock exchanges. Bahrain follows with 10.5 per cent, while Oman records 7 per cent.
Other countries include Kuwait at 5.6 per cent, Qatar at 3.2 per cent and Saudi Arabia at 2.9 per cent.
Sector Insights and Broader Participation
The 2026 report introduces sector level analysis across 12 industries. The UAE and Saudi Arabia stand out as the only countries where women hold board positions across all sectors.
In the UAE, the financial sector accounts for the highest number of female board seats, followed by the industrial sector and consumer staples.
Leadership Perspectives
“Aurora50 is proud to partner for a third time with Heriot-Watt University Dubai on this authoritative GCC-wide benchmark that continues to deliver consistent tracking and provides transparent data in and for the region. It’s particularly encouraging to see the UAE’s progress in this space, with women’s board representation in the nation growing from 3.5% to 15% since 2020. This is a true testament to the vision of the UAE’s leadership in advancing gender equity in the workplace. Women in board positions bring broader perspectives, stronger governance, and significant organisational growth at a time when the world demands resilient, adaptive business leaders, my hope is that the value of diversity will continue to be recognised and leveraged.”
Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairperson of Aurora50
“The GCC Board Gender Index has, over time, become an important benchmark for understanding how boardrooms across the region are evolving. What stands out in this year’s findings is not just the increase in representation but also the consistency of that progress, underpinned by a growing breadth of data and insights. The UAE continues to demonstrate what is possible with sustained focus, but there is a clear opportunity to accelerate more broadly across the region. Our collaboration with Aurora50 is grounded in a shared belief that rigorous, transparent data can play a meaningful role in shaping better outcomes. It is encouraging to see the region continuing to move in the right direction, and I am keen to build on this progress through our ongoing work, informed conversations and contribution to long term, systemic change in board composition across the GCC.”
Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Data Driven Insights for the Region
The GCC Board Gender Index is supported by Board Intelligence, AlixPartners and Grant Thornton.
The report provides detailed and verified data on board directors, ensuring accuracy even where companies are listed on multiple exchanges or individuals serve on several boards. It serves as a key resource for policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders, while highlighting the ongoing progress of women in leadership roles across the GCC.
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