Latest news with #HeatherMcGregor
Gulf Insider
30-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
UAE Tops Gcc Ranking for Female Representation
The UAE is leading the GCC in terms of representation of women on the boards of public companies, according to a new report released by Heriot-Watt University. The report reveals that all GCC countries have seen year-on-year growth in the representation of women on public company boards, with the UAE topping the list. In the UAE women represent 14.8 per cent, 185 out of 1,248 board seats, compared to 10.8 per cent in 2024, marking a 37 per cent increase. The report, launched in collaboration with Aurora50, is the second edition of the 'GCC Board Gender Index' and reveals a doubling of women's representation on boards since 2024. As of January 2025, the per centage stood at 6.8 per cent, compared to 5.2 per cent the previous year — or 379 out of 5,535 board seats across 729 public companies in the region. According to the report UAE: 14.8 per cent (185 out of 1,248 board seats) Bahrain: 8.5 per cent (30 out of 353 seats) Oman: 6.6 per cent (56 of 849 seats) Kuwait: 5.5 per cent (52 of 946 seats) Saudi Arabia: 2.9 per cent (53 of 1,809 seats) Qatar: 2.8 per cent (13 of 459 seats) The report, published annually each April, serves as a regional benchmark and analytical tool to track trends, challenges, and opportunities in achieving gender balance on boards, amid growing commitments to inclusive governance practices among public companies in the GCC. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Director of Aurora50, said: 'When Aurora50 launched in 2020 with a vision to achieve gender balance on boards, just 3.5 per cent of board seats in the UAE were held by women. 'As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, it is encouraging to see this number rise more than fourfold to 14.8 per cent — and close to 7 per cent region-wide — highlighting the impact of our collective efforts. 'Tracking this progress through the Board Gender Index is vital to building and sustaining a strong pipeline of female talent at all levels. Our second report with Heriot-Watt University Dubai supports the drive for gender balance not only in the UAE but across the entire GCC. 'In line with the vision of the UAE leadership, Aurora50 remains committed to paving clear pathways for women to reach board positions, ensuring diverse and inclusive representation across our institutions. This remarkable transformation in just five years affirms the UAE's global leadership in gender balance.' Professor Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, said: 'Since moving to the UAE in 2022, I've continued my research into gender balance on public company boards, with a focus on the GCC. As Heriot-Watt marks 20 years in Dubai this year, we are proud to continue our partnership with Aurora50 on this important initiative. 'The UAE's notable progress represents a crucial step towards achieving gender parity on boards. Through our collaboration with Aurora50, I remain committed to tracking this evolution and providing credible data to support continued advancement.' Also read: UAE to Launch Dirham-backed Stablecoin
Hi Dubai
29-04-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
UAE Leads GCC in Boosting Women's Representation on Public Company Boards
The United Arab Emirates has emerged as the regional frontrunner in advancing boardroom gender diversity, with women now holding 14.8 percent of board seats in public companies — a 37 percent jump from 2024, according to the latest GCC Board Gender Index by Heriot-Watt University in partnership with Aurora50. Released in April 2025, the report highlights a significant shift across the Gulf, with all six GCC countries recording year-on-year growth in female representation on boards. The region-wide average now stands at 6.8 percent, up from 5.2 percent in 2024 — effectively doubling since Aurora50 launched its initiative in 2020, when women held just 3.5 percent of board roles in the UAE. The UAE tops the index with 185 of 1,248 board seats occupied by women, followed by Bahrain at 8.5 percent, Oman at 6.6 percent, Kuwait at 5.5 percent, Saudi Arabia at 2.9 percent, and Qatar at 2.8 percent. H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Director of Aurora50, called the progress 'a remarkable transformation,' noting the fourfold increase in the UAE and emphasizing the importance of data-driven efforts to build a sustainable talent pipeline. Professor Heather McGregor, Provost of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the UAE's role in driving change and the need for consistent tracking to support continued progress. The annual report, part of a multi-year research initiative running through 2027, aims to provide actionable insights and a searchable database to help advance diversity and inclusion across the region's boardrooms. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Al Etihad
29-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE tops GCC in women's board representation: Heriot-Watt Report
29 Apr 2025 15:27 DUBAI (WAM)A new report released by Heriot-Watt University has confirmed that all GCC countries have seen year-on-year growth in the representation of women on public company boards, with the UAE topping the list at 14.8 percent. The UAE accounts for 185 out of 1,248 board seats, compared to 10.8 percent in 2024, marking a 37 percent report, launched in collaboration with Aurora50, is the second edition of the GCC Board Gender Index, and reveals a doubling of women's representation on boards since 2024. As of January 2025, the percentage stood at 6.8 percent, compared to 5.2 percent the previous year — or 379 out of 5,535 board seats across 729 public companies in the to the report, Bahrain ranked second with 8.5 percent (30 out of 353 seats), followed by Oman at 6.6 percent (56 of 849 seats), Kuwait at 5.5 percent (52 of 946 seats), Saudi Arabia at 2.9 percent (53 of 1,809 seats), and Qatar at 2.8 percent (13 of 459 seats).The report, published annually each April, serves as a regional benchmark and analytical tool to track trends, challenges, and opportunities in achieving gender balance on boards, amid growing commitments to inclusive governance practices among public companies in the on the launch of the report, Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Director of Aurora50, said, 'When Aurora50 launched in 2020 with a vision to achieve gender balance on boards, just 3.5 percent of board seats in the UAE were held by women. As we celebrate our fifth anniversary, it is encouraging to see this number rise more than fourfold to 14.8 percent — and close to 7 percent region-wide — highlighting the impact of our collective efforts.'She added, 'Tracking this progress through the Board Gender Index is vital to building and sustaining a strong pipeline of female talent at all levels. Our second report with Heriot-Watt University Dubai supports the drive for gender balance not only in the UAE but across the entire GCC. In line with the vision of the UAE leadership, Aurora50 remains committed to paving clear pathways for women to reach board positions, ensuring diverse and inclusive representation across our institutions. This remarkable transformation in just five years affirms the UAE's global leadership in gender balance.'Professor Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, said, 'Since moving to the UAE in 2022, I've continued my research into gender balance on public company boards, with a focus on the GCC. As Heriot-Watt marks 20 years in Dubai this year, we are proud to continue our partnership with Aurora50 on this important initiative.'She added, 'The UAE's notable progress represents a crucial step towards achieving gender parity on boards. Through our collaboration with Aurora50, I remain committed to tracking this evolution and providing credible data to support continued advancement.' The GCC Board Gender Index Report 2025 can be accessed on the Heriot-Watt University Dubai website, and will be updated annually until 2027, as part of a joint research project with Aurora50, aimed at creating a searchable database and advancing diversity and equality efforts across the region through consistent data publication and analysis.
Emirates 24/7
18-02-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
Expo City Dubai and Heriot-Watt University collaborate to create UAE Robotarium
Expo City Dubai and Heriot-Watt University are working together to establish the UAE Robotarium – an advanced research and development (R&D) facility focused on robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), housed at Expo City, that will drive technological progress and boost the UAE's position as a global innovation leader. Bringing together innovators from across the public and private sectors, this proposed world-class research centre will incubate robotics and AI startups, develop and commercialise innovative technologies and showcase the application and benefits of automation across various aspects of urban life. Under the partnership, Expo City Dubai will sponsor a cohort of PhD candidates within Heriot-Watt University's Centre for Doctoral Training, ensuring a steady influx of talent to develop original Intellectual Property (IP), developing crucial tech skills and forming the backbone of this pioneering initiative. Najeeb Mohamed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Expo City Dubai Authority, said: 'We are delighted to collaborate again with Heriot-Watt University to establish the UAE's first Robotarium, cementing Expo City Dubai's position as an incubator for innovation, a testbed for solutions and a platform for groundbreaking ideas. This world-class research centre will attract the best talent to drive transformative solutions that benefit communities and improve the quality of urban living, fully supporting Dubai's Economic Agenda (D33) and the UAE's position as a hub for global innovation.' Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai: 'This pioneering project exemplifies collaboration between academia, industry and government, and we look forward to working with Expo City Dubai to drive AI and robotics research. Heriot-Watt University has been a leading British higher education institution for 20 years in the UAE and we continue to enhance our commitment to academic excellence and research. We are proud to contribute and support the UAE's bold vision and propel the country's leadership in automation and advanced technologies.' The UAE Robotarium will advance the nation's knowledge-based economy and promote global competitiveness in AI and robotics, contributing to the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031, the UAE Innovation Strategy and the UAE Industrial Strategy known as Operation 300bn. The agreement was signed by Najeeb Mohamed Al-Ali and Professor Dame Heather McGregor in the presence of His Excellency Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Richard Lochhead, Scotland's Minister for Business; and Edward Hobart, British Ambassador to the UAE. As a blueprint for sustainable urban living, Expo City Dubai is a hub for human-centric solutions that benefit both people and the planet, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology to address today's most pressing urban challenges. The partnership extends Dubai's relationship with the esteemed Heriot-Watt University, which participated in Expo 2020 Dubai and has operated its UAE campus since 2005, and builds on recent international collaborations, including an agreement with Korean business and technology organisations to foster innovation and entrepreneurship at the city. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Gulf Business
11-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Heriot-Watt University Dubai secures UAE accreditation for undergrad, postgrad programmes
Image: Supplied Heriot-Watt University Dubai announced on Thursday that all its current undergraduate and postgraduate programmes have received Initial Programme Accreditation from the UAE's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research ( The accreditation marks a milestone for the university, which has been a key player in the UAE's higher education sector for two decades. 'Over the past eighteen months, we have worked with the CAA on the federal accreditation of our current undergraduate and postgraduate programmes,' said Professor Dame Heather McGregor, provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai. 'The granting of Initial Programme Accreditation for all 71 programmes is a significant milestone. This achievement reflects our commitment to academic excellence, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. It has been a complex yet rewarding process, made possible by the dedication of our faculty, staff, and colleagues across our global network.' Supporting Heriot-Watt University Dubai students' education journey 'With this accreditation, our graduates can seamlessly pursue further degrees at CAA-accredited universities. It also enhances their opportunities to work in government and government-related sectors across the GCC and the MENA region. We are grateful to the CAA for their collaborative approach in supporting our efforts,' she added. The CAA serves as the UAE federal government's quality assurance agency for higher education, ensuring that licensed institutions and their programmes adhere to internationally recognised academic quality standards. This programme accreditation follows the university's Heriot-Watt University Dubai was the first British university to establish a campus in Dubai's Academic City, initially offering three programmes with a student population of 120. Today, the university has over 5,000 students and is recognized as one of the top UK universities in Dubai for business and industry collaboration. It continues to equip students with the skills and experience necessary to excel in their respective fields both regionally and internationally.
