BAHRAIN has solidified its position as a regional leader in corporate governance, ranking second in the GCC for female representation in the boardroom, according to the GCC Board Gender Index Report 2026.
The third edition of the report, a joint study by Heriot-Watt University and Aurora50, reveals that women now hold 10.5 per cent of board seats in Bahraini listed companies, a significant jump from 8.5pc in 2025.
This performance places the kingdom ahead of Oman (7pc), Kuwait (5.6pc), Qatar (3.2pc), and Saudi Arabia (2.9pc), trailing only the UAE, which leads the region at 15pc.
The 2026 index, which tracks 39 public companies in Bahrain, shows that while progress is being made across the board, certain sectors are outperforming the national average.
The materials sector currently boasts the highest percentage of female representation in the kingdom at 30pc, followed closely by the industrial sector at 21.7pc.
In Bahrain’s critical Financial sector, 18 women now hold board positions across 20 companies, representing 9.7pc of the total seats in that industry.
Despite this strength, opportunities for further growth remain in the consumer staples (5.7pc) and communications (4pc) sectors, which currently sit below the national benchmark.
Across the wider GCC, the report highlights steady, incremental progress, with the total percentage of board positions held by women rising to 7pc in 2026.
A total of 341 women now occupy 403 board seats across the region, reflecting growth in both the number of individual directors and the total positions held.
The study, supported by AlixPartners, Board Intelligence, and Grant Thornton, emphasises that diversity is shifting from a compliance requirement to a strategic necessity.
Shaikha Shamma bint Sultan Al Nahyan, chairperson of Aurora50, noted that the data provides an authoritative and transparent benchmark for the region.
She emphasised that women in board positions bring broader perspectives and stronger governance at a time when the world demands resilient business leaders.
Professor Dame Heather McGregor, provost and vice-principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, added that while the UAE continues to demonstrate what is possible with sustained focus, there remains a clear opportunity to accelerate progress more broadly across the region.
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
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