Family-owned businesses across the Gulf are entering a period of generational transition that could hand women a much bigger role in ownership, investment and executive decision-making, according to a new 2026 GCC Board Gender Index. The index found women hold just 7 per cent of board seats at listed companies across the GCC, with the UAE leading the region at 15 per cent.
Abdullah Jefri, IFC division director for the Gulf, said women's leadership in family enterprises is no longer simply a matter of inclusion but one of competitiveness, continuity and legacy as these firms plan for the next generation. Haifa Al Kaylani of the Arab International Women's Forum said women bring greater attention to innovation, sustainability and talent development when they join family business leadership.
Raja Al Gurg, chairperson of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, pointed to the company's growing use of artificial intelligence across operations, saying the group prioritises AI applications that deliver measurable value through higher revenue, improved cash conversion, lower costs or greater efficiency.
The UAE has worked to widen the path for women in family business leadership since 2022, when it established the Gender Balance Centre for Excellence and Knowledge Exchange in partnership with the World Bank, part of a broader regional push to prepare family firms for leadership succession.