Women Hold 7% of GCC Board Seats in 2026; UAE Ranks Highest, Report Says
As of January 2026, women occupy 403 board seats across the GCC, held by 341 individuals, an increase from 390 seats held by 334 women in 2025.
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Women now hold 7% of board positions across the GCC, up slightly from 6.9% in 2025, according to the GCC Board Gender Index Report 2026.
The report found that as of January 2026, women occupy 403 board seats across the GCC, held by 341 individuals. This compares with 390 seats held by 334 women in 2025, reflecting a 2.1% rise in the number of women directors and a 3.3% increase in the number of board positions held.
Released by Heriot-Watt University Dubai, a British university in the UAE, and Aurora50, a diversity and inclusion agency, the report tracked 759 publicly listed companies across the GCC. It reported a 1.5% rise in total board seats to 5,755 from 5,668 the previous year.
At the country level, the UAE ranked highest for the third straight year, with women holding 15% (191 out of 1,274) of board seats across its three stock exchanges, up from 14.7% in 2025.
“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,” H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairperson of Aurora50, said. “Women in board positions bring broader perspectives, stronger governance, and significant organizational growth – at a time when the world demands resilient, adaptive business leaders, my hope is that the value of diversity will continue to be recognized and leveraged.”
Bahrain followed at 10.5% (36 of 342 seats), while Oman recorded 7% (51 of 731 seats).
Kuwait posted 5.6% (52 of 927 seats), while Qatar recorded 3.2% (15 of 467 seats) and Saudi Arabia 2.9% (58 of 2,014 seats).
The 2026 report also introduced sector-level analysis across 12 industries in all six GCC countries and found that the UAE and Saudi Arabia were the only two countries where women held board positions across every sector.
The financial sector recorded the highest number of female board seats across the GCC, followed by the industrial sector, the report said.
In the UAE, the report identified financial services as the top sector for women’s board participation, with 86 of 564 seats held by women. The industrial sector followed with 35 of 214, while consumer staples recorded 15 of 94.
Women now hold 7% of board positions across the GCC, up slightly from 6.9% in 2025, according to the GCC Board Gender Index Report 2026.
The report found that as of January 2026, women occupy 403 board seats across the GCC, held by 341 individuals. This compares with 390 seats held by 334 women in 2025, reflecting a 2.1% rise in the number of women directors and a 3.3% increase in the number of board positions held.
Released by Heriot-Watt University Dubai, a British university in the UAE, and Aurora50, a diversity and inclusion agency, the report tracked 759 publicly listed companies across the GCC. It reported a 1.5% rise in total board seats to 5,755 from 5,668 the previous year.
Entrepreneur Middle East Staff
Entrepreneur Staff
