A groundbreaking study reveals that corporate boards across the Middle East demonstrate remarkable alignment with national development agendas while simultaneously struggling to shift from retrospective review to forward-looking strategic planning. The inaugural Middle East Board Value Index, conducted by Board Intelligence, surveyed 100 board directors throughout the GCC region, uncovering significant insights about corporate governance trends.
The research indicates that an overwhelming 97% of regional boards maintain substantial alignment with transformational national frameworks including UAE Vision 2050 and Saudi Vision 2030, with 60% characterizing this alignment as ‘extremely effective’ and 37% as ‘moderately aligned.’ This represents a strong commitment to incorporating national priorities into corporate strategic frameworks.
However, the study exposes a critical strategic gap in temporal orientation among boardrooms. Merely 38% of boards prioritize future-focused discussions, while 41% acknowledge spending more time reviewing past performance than planning ahead. A mere 21% achieve equilibrium between retrospective analysis and prospective planning, potentially limiting their ability to anticipate market disruptions and generate long-term value.
Despite these temporal challenges, board confidence remains notably high. Nearly half (48%) of directors perceive their boards as essential to performance and value creation, while 94% report efficient operational processes. The primary obstacles identified include suboptimal information quality (41%) and inflexible decision-making frameworks (38%), both of which constrain organizational agility in rapidly evolving market conditions.
The research further highlights boards’ strategic positioning within regional transformation initiatives. While 98% describe themselves as aligned with integration and diversification agendas, only 48% claim active leadership in these efforts. Sovereign engagement emerges as a particular strength, with 61% of directors expressing high confidence in managing regulatory relationships and state stakeholder dynamics.
Risk management capabilities present a varied picture: 60% of boards feel very confident addressing cybersecurity threats, and 58% believe they can anticipate geopolitical shifts. Nevertheless, the prevailing reactive rather than anticipatory posture suggests room for improvement in foresight capabilities and information quality enhancement.
Pippa Begg, CEO of Board Intelligence, commented: ‘Middle Eastern boards are entering a new era of strategic confidence. The contemporary challenge involves leveraging this confidence through enhanced future orientation. In an environment characterized by rapid transformation, the most valuable boards will be those capable of converting insight into foresight and governance into sustainable growth.’
As the region accelerates its economic diversification and digital transformation initiatives, these findings present a clear imperative for corporate governance evolution—from alignment with national visions to anticipation of future challenges and opportunities.