Bahrain Targets Women's Leadership : SCW unveils 2025–2026 national roadmap
Bahraini women are set to enter a new chapter of national development, focusing on assuming top leadership roles under a newly approved national plan by the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) for 2025 and 2026.
New roadmap
Titled 'Bahraini Women: Empowerment, Progress and Striving for Leadership', the plan was endorsed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the SCW. It identifies four priority areas: family stability, decision-making, economic participation, and quality of life. Each area includes initiatives grouped under five axes: policy, budgeting, awareness and training, auditing, and evaluation.
The two-year strategy builds on nearly two decades of institutional efforts to support women and aims to shift the focus from empowerment to leadership in both public and private spheres.
From progress to power
Unlike previous national strategies that concentrated on inclusion, the new plan signals a transition towards top-level leadership. It promotes women's access to senior roles across sectors, especially in fields such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and digital transformation.
According to the SCW, Bahraini women now constitute 60 percent of the government workforce, with half of them in executive roles. In the private sector, women make up 36 percent of the total workforce and hold 36 percent of executive positions. The number of virtual commercial records owned by women reached 1,220 by 2024, representing 54 percent.
Institutional partnership
The plan introduces an implementation framework that engages government, private, and civil society sectors. This cooperative structure ensures shared national responsibility for advancing women, with clear roles and coordinated action.
Among its goals are increased female participation on corporate boards, greater involvement in civil society leadership, and supportive family policies that allow women to balance personal and professional commitments.
Forward strategy
To improve quality of life, the plan outlines initiatives related to health, safety, and environmental awareness. It also includes programs to expand women's sports and improve support services in workplaces.
By aligning with Bahrain's Vision 2030 and upcoming Vision 2050, the SCW aims to position Bahraini women as key contributors to sustainable development and economic growth.
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