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Omar Reda, Chairman of the Egyptian Exchange, announced that the institution is working toward increasing women’s representation on corporate boards to 30 percent by 2030, emphasizing that diversity is not only a social objective but also a competitive and economic advantage.
He explained that greater gender diversity contributes to stronger governance, better decision-making, and a more resilient economy.
His remarks came during the launch event for the eighth edition of the “Annual Monitoring Report on Women Representation on Boards 2025,” hosted by The American University in Cairo. The report is issued by the Women on Boards Observatory at the university in cooperation with the Egyptian Exchange and several partner institutions.
The event gathered senior government officials, financial regulators, international organizations, business leaders, and academics to discuss the future of female leadership in Egypt’s corporate sector.
The 2025 edition of the report is considered an important national milestone that reinforces Egypt’s role as a regional leader in evidence-based discussions surrounding women’s representation and institutional reform.
The report provides detailed analysis and performance indicators that support national institutions such as the Central Bank of Egypt, the Financial Regulatory Authority, and the Egyptian Exchange in developing leadership initiatives and cross-sector partnerships aligned with Egypt Vision 2030.
According to the report, women currently hold approximately 22.3 percent of board seats in companies listed on the Egyptian Exchange. The number of women serving on boards has risen to 451, while more than 60 percent of listed companies now include at least two women on their boards.
Omar Reda noted that what was once considered exceptional has now become increasingly common within Egypt’s corporate governance culture. He added that the percentage of companies with three or more women on their boards increased by 10 percent compared to last year.
Despite this progress, he stressed the need to accelerate efforts toward greater inclusion. Around 20 percent of companies still have only one woman on their board, while women currently occupy only 7.6 percent of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director positions.
The report also revealed that women’s representation reached 27.1 percent in the small and medium-sized enterprises market, while companies listed on the EGX30 index recorded female board representation of 17.7 percent.
The Chairman of the Egyptian Exchange reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting women throughout their professional journeys, stating that sustainable economic growth and thriving financial markets cannot be achieved without empowering women.
The Women on Boards Observatory was established to strengthen intellectual diversity within workplaces and highlight its positive impact on institutional performance. The initiative also plays a key role in monitoring progress related to women’s representation across the sectors covered by the report.
The event additionally featured high-level panel discussions exploring ways to remove barriers preventing qualified women from reaching senior executive positions, alongside expanding training programs designed to prepare more women for leadership and board roles in the coming years.
