Tech News
GCC BOARD GENDER INDEX 2026 HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED PROGRESS AS WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION REACHES 7% ACROSS GCC BOARDS


Heriot-Watt University and Aurora50 have today released the ‘GCC Board Gender Index Report 2026‘, marking the third edition of this comprehensive study of women’s representation on the boards of publicly listed companies in the GCC.
For the third consecutive year, the report remains the only index of its kind to provide a unified view of board composition across all GCC local stock exchanges. The findings continue to highlight steady, incremental progress towards more inclusive corporate leadership across the region.
Key findings from this report are as follows:
- As of January 2026, women hold 7% of board positions across the GCC, up from 6.9% in 2025, reflecting a 1.4% year-on-year increase. While growth remains gradual, the data points to sustained momentum in advancing gender diversity in boardrooms.
- The index now covers 759 publicly listed companies across the GCC. Over the past year, the total number of board seats has increased from 5,668 to 5,755, representing a 1.5% rise.
- A total of 341 women now hold 403 board positions, up from 334 women and 390 seats in 2025. This reflects growth in both the number of women directors (2.1%) and board positions held (3.3%) across the GCC. Some women hold more than one directorship, indicating a broader increase in representation and participation at the board level.
- Country-level data shows that the UAE continues to lead the region for the third year running, with women holding 15% of board seats across its three stock exchanges, compared to 14.7% in 2025. Bahrain retains second position, with women occupying 10.5% of board seats, followed by Oman at 7%.
Country-wise, the percentage of board positions held by women at publicly listed companies across the GCC is as follows:
UAE: 15.0% (191 of 1,274 seats)
Bahrain: 10.5% (36 of 342 seats)
Oman: 7.0% (51 of 731 seats)
Kuwait: 5.6% (52 of 927 seats)
Qatar: 3.2% (15 of 467 seats)
Saudi Arabia: 2.9% (58 of 2,014 seats)
This year’s report also introduces sector-level analysis across 12 industries in all six GCC countries. Notably, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are the only countries in the region where women hold board positions across every sector. The financial sector accounts for the highest number of female board seats, followed by the industrial sector.
The top three sectors in the UAE by number of board seats held by women are Financial services, with 86 of 564 positions; the Industrial sector, with 35 of 214; and Consumer Staples, with 15 of 94.
Commenting on the launch of the GCC Board Gender Index 2026, Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairperson of diversity and inclusion agency Aurora50, said, “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.”
Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, Professor Dame Heather McGregor, said, “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.’
The GCC Board Gender Index, supported by Board Intelligence, AlixPartners and Grant Thornton, includes detailed data on board directors. Each company and director is uniquely identified to ensure accuracy and avoid duplication, particularly when companies are listed on multiple exchanges or directors serve on multiple boards. This approach enables the report to serve as a single, authoritative source of data for researchers, policymakers and industry stakeholders, while also elevating the visibility of women currently serving on boards and recognising the region’s ongoing progress.
Tech News
TALLY SOLUTIONS OPENS NOMINATIONS FOR THE 6TH EDITION OF TALLY MSME HONOURS, CELEBRATING INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURS

Tally Solutions, a leading international technology provider of business management software, has announced the launch of the sixth edition of its flagship annual initiative, Tally MSME Honours. With an aim to recognize and celebrate emerging entrepreneurs, the initiative builds on the momentum of five successful years and continues to champion the future of the UAE’s MSME ecosystem by spotlighting innovation, resilience, and meaningful impact.
Over the last five editions, Tally MSME Honours has received more than 70,000 nominations globally, with over 20% of entries from women-led ventures, making it one of the biggest global platforms to celebrate MSMEs. This year, Tally expects 20,000 nominations across categories. The honours will also bring forth MSME success stories from across India, Africa, Bangladesh, and Nepal, in addition to the Middle East. The entries can be submitted by interested businesses or people who know such businesses via this link.
As part of this year’s edition, participants can submit video entries, ensuring representation from different emirates across the UAE. To further strengthen the evaluation process, Tally is also deploying an AI-led shortlisting framework that will help validate and assess entries more comprehensively by analyzing publicly available business information, ensuring deserving businesses receive due recognition for their impact and growth.
Speaking about the initiative, Vikas Panchal, General Manager – MENA, Tally Solutions, said, “MSME Honours is not just an award platform; it is a celebration of the resilience, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit that drives small businesses forward every day. Across the UAE and the wider MENA region, we continue to witness inspiring MSMEs building innovative businesses, creating employment, and contributing meaningfully to economic growth. This becomes even more relevant as the UAE continues to place strong focus on strengthening its SME ecosystem as a key pillar of the country’s long-term economic vision. Through MSME Honours, we aim to spotlight these stories of determination and impact, while encouraging more entrepreneurs to share and celebrate their journeys.”
With a strong focus on enabling long-term growth and visibility, Tally MSME Honours extends beyond recognition to create a platform that continuously supports entrepreneurial journeys. Over the years, past winners have become part of a growing network of business leaders and changemakers, gaining opportunities to participate in industry discussions, ecosystem forums, and business-led conversations. These engagements help entrepreneurs showcase their journeys, build meaningful collaborations, exchange insights, and further strengthen their impact within the broader MSME ecosystem.
Tally MSME Honours 2026 will feature the following award categories:
- Business Maestro: Established businesses that have mastered the art of thriving and sustaining success.
- Wonder Woman: Outstanding women-led businesses making a remarkable impact.
- NewGen Icon: A new generation of business owners innovating and paving the way for exponential growth.
- Tech Transformer: Businesses leveraging new technology to drive efficiency and scale.
- E-preneur Icon: Purpose-driven businesses contributing meaningfully to society and the environment
The entries will be judged by an esteemed panel comprising experts from the field of technology, the MSME domain, and the media.
Tech News
BELKIN’S LILYPAD IPAD CASE TURNS THE FAMILY IPAD INTO A FUN, FRIENDLY SIDEKICK INSPIRED BY DISNEY AND PIXAR’S “TOY STORY 5”

Belkin, a global leader in consumer electronics for over 40 years, today announced a real-world special edition iPad case inspired by Lilypad, the high-tech frog-shaped smart tablet character from Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” in theaters June 18.
Designed to transform an iPad into a fun character companion, the Lilypad iPad Case blends protection with subtle character-inspired features, turning tablet use into an imaginative, playful experience connected to the world of “Toy Story 5.”
“Lilypad represents a modern take on how kids interact with technology,” said Steve Malony, CEO of Belkin. “With this collaboration, we wanted to create an accessory that captures the character’s personality while still delivering the quality, durability, protection, and thoughtful design families expect from Belkin.”
Turning an iPad into Lilypad
Designed, for families and Disney collectors, the Lilypad iPad Case combines durable EVA foam construction with character-inspired details like a built-in carry handle and foldable kickstand, allowing users to comfortably hold, carry, and use their device for watching, drawing, or learning on the go.
Key features include:
- Official Lilypad Character Design – Inspired by Lilypad from Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” the case gives iPad (10th and 11th generation) expressive eye details and a character-inspired design.
- Kid-Proof Protection – Durable EVA foam construction helps absorb bumps and drops during everyday play.
- Soft, Grippy Edges – Easy for small hands to hold securely, helping reduce slips and accidental drops.
- Built-In Carry Handle – Integrated handle provides easy portability, designed to keep up with everyday use.
- Built-In Kickstand – Foldable kickstand supports hands-free viewing for drawing, watching, or playing.
- Exclusive Digital Wallpapers – Each case includes a QR code to download complimentary Lilypad-themed wallpapers for home and lock screens, making the iPad feel even more like the character.
- Safe & Parent-Approved Materials – Made with non-toxic materials and wipe-clean surfaces for easy maintenance.
Tech News
VERTIV EXPANDS LIQUID COOLING PORTFOLIO IN EMEA TO ACCELERATE AI‑READY DATA CENTER DEPLOYMENTS
Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, today announced the expansion of its end-to-end thermal chain with the availability of the Vertiv™ CoolChip CDU 2300 and Vertiv™ CoolChip Fluid Network Row Manifolds in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). These liquid cooling technologies support the growing demands of AI and high-density, next-generation compute to help customers deploy high-density infrastructure faster and operate more efficiently.
The Vertiv CoolChip family is a core building block of the Vertiv thermal chain, an end-to-end portfolio including direct-to-chip cooling, immersion cooling, rear-door heat exchangers, coolant distribution, heat rejection, intelligent controls, and lifecycle services into a single, cohesive thermal management system.
The newly announced solutions will be on display at Datacloud Global Congress in Cannes (June 1–4), where Vertiv will participate as a Patron Sponsor and showcase its latest technologies at booth n. 123.
“The rapid growth of AI workloads is driving a fundamental shift in how data centers are designed, cooled, powered and operated,” said Paul Ryan, president for EMEA at Vertiv. “At Datacloud Global Congress, we’re showing how Vertiv is expanding its end‑to‑end portfolio, combining high-density power solutions, liquid cooling, heat rejection, intelligent controls, and lifecycle services, to help customers deploy AI-ready infrastructure faster and operate more efficiently over time.”
As a critical link in the Vertiv™ thermal chain, the Vertiv CoolChip CDU 2300 is a liquid-to-liquid coolant distribution unit delivering 2.3 MW of cooling capacity in a compact footprint, offering one of the highest capacity-to-footprint ratios available in the market. Its smaller cabinet supports flexible placement, including in‑row or in adjacent mechanical areas, helping operators reduce floor space requirements and the number of CDUs needed in large‑scale, high‑density deployments.
Vertiv™ CoolChip CDU systems span from 100 kW to 2.3 MW and support direct‑to‑chip liquid cooling as well as rear‑door heat exchangers. The integrated Vertiv™ CoolChip CDU controller allows temperature and flow to adapt to workload demands, while features such as redundancy, unit‑to‑unit communication, and remote monitoring help enhance system availability and simplify operations. This controller-level intelligence enables the CDU to operate in coordination with other elements of the thermal chain, enabling consistent thermal performance across the entire infrastructure.
Complementing the CDU within the thermal chain architecture, the new Vertiv™ CoolChip Fluid Network Row Manifolds provide the physical connectivity layer between coolant distribution units, server-level cooling hardware, and heat rejection systems. Each manifold assembly is flushed, passivated, pressure-tested, and sealed to deliver superior cleanliness, corrosion resistance, and leak-free performance. The configurable design provides full system compatibility across direct-to-chip cooling, immersion cooling, and rear-door heat exchangers while simplifying coolant routing. It also enables fast deployment for new builds or retrofits, helping operators scale liquid-cooling infrastructure in weeks rather than months.
Vertiv complements its portfolio with Vertiv™ Liquid Cooling Services, covering design support, installation, and ongoing maintenance. This lifecycle approach is designed to help customers maximize efficiency, maintain system availability, and support consistent performance as liquid cooling becomes an integral part of modern data center operations.
Vertiv experts will be available throughout Datacloud Global Congress at booth #123 to discuss Vertiv’s end‑to‑end portfolio of power, cooling, and converged infrastructure solutions designed to support high‑density, AI‑ready data centers. Explore insights and resources at Vertiv.com/AI.
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