Heriot-Watt University and Aurora50 have today, April 29, unveiled the ‘GCC Board Gender Index Report 2025’, according to Aurora50.
The report marks the second edition of this landmark publication after the inaugural ‘GCC Board Gender Index Report 2024’.
The 2025 edition provides readers with thorough insights and analysis of women’s representation on the boards of publicly listed companies in the GCC.
Mainly, researchers collect data annually and release reports in April each year.
Through these reports, researchers can accurately identify opportunities and challenges to boost gender diversity in boardrooms.
Report’s Key Findings
Women Representation
- Women’s board representation in the GCC increased to 6.8% as of January 2025, compared to 5.2% in 2024.
- Since 2024, the representation of women on the boards of publicly listed companies has increased in each GCC country year on year.
- The UAE leads female representation with 14.8% of board seats held by women, up from 10.8% in 2024 (a 37% increase).
- Bahrain has exceeded Oman since 2024 as the GCC country with the second-highest percentage of women on boards.
Country-wise Representation
Here is the percentage of board positions led by women at publicly listed companies across the GCC:
- UAE: 14.8% (185 of 1,248 seats)
- Bahrain: 8.5% (30 of 353 seats)
- Oman: 6.6% (56 of 849 seats)
- Kuwait: 5.5% (52 of 946 seats)
- Saudi Arabia: 2.9% (53 of 1,809 seats)
- Qatar: 2.8% (13 of 459 seats)
Importantly, women held 379 (6.8%) of the 5,535 board seats in 729 publicly listed companies across the GCC. This remarkable growth stands as a testament to women’s continued progress toward inclusive leadership.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s noticeable progress from 2024 reflects a growing recognition among publicly listed companies of the significance of gender parity in boardrooms.
Remarks of Aurora50’s Director
Upon the launch of the GCC Board Gender Index 2025, HH Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Director of Aurora50, commented “When Aurora50 launched in 2020 with its vision of gender parity on corporate boards, only 3.5% of UAE board seats were held by women. As we mark our fifth anniversary, it is promising to see that figure rise over fourfold (to 14.8%) and to almost 7% across the region, highlighting the impact of our collective efforts.”
Al Nahyan also noted the importance of tracking this progress as a key to creating, and bolstering, a strong pipeline of female talent at every level.
“Our second report with Heriot-Watt University Dubai helps advance gender balance not just in the UAE, but across the GCC as a whole,” she added.
In addition, she stressed Aurora50’s dedication to paving clear paths for women to step into board positions, ensuring fundamentally diverse and balanced gender representation in our nation’s organizations.
“This dramatic shift in just five years reaffirms the UAE’s role as a global leader in gender balance,” Al Nahyan said.
Comments of Heriot-Watt University’s Vice Principal
Meanwhile, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, Professor Dame Heather McGregor, said, “Since moving to the UAE in 2022, I have continued my work in research into gender balance on public company boards, with a focus on the GCC region. As Heriot-Watt University celebrates its 20th anniversary in Dubai this year, we are proud to continue our collaboration with Aurora50 on this important work.”
McGregor described the current progress as “promising” noting that year-on-year growth in women’s board representation signals real momentum.
Although there is a lot of work to be done, the UAE has shown significant progress, which is a key step towards gender parity on boards.
“Along with Aurora50, I am committed to tracking this shift and providing reliable data that supports further advancement. It is encouraging to see the region moving in the right direction, and I look forward to continuing this crucial work,” she added.
Looking ahead, researchers will continue to update and publish the reports each year until at least 2027 and other DEI research projects are expected to progress in parallel.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Heriot-Watt University Dubai has gained a great reputation for world-class teaching and practical research as the first British university to establish a campus in 2005.
The university provides a vast array of programmes and disciplines, spanning postgraduate and undergraduate courses. In the light of this, its graduates are highly employable and sought after by the best organizations worldwide.
Aurora50
As a DEI impact agency, Aurora50 encourages inclusive workplaces and diverse leadership. It is also building a network of allies through strong connections and community.
Pathway is Aurora50’s powerful 12-week board accelerator for busy executives: the boardroom launchpad for influential GCC women. The pathway has been running since 2020. It will welcome the next cohort in Q4 2025.
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