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News of Bahrain reported that members of the Shura Council and Council of Representatives highlighted the legislative and rights-based gains achieved by Bahraini women over the past 25 years as the Kingdom observes the Silver Jubilee of the Supreme Council for Women. The legislators described the anniversary, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as an important milestone in national efforts to empower women and position them as partners in development and decision-making. They praised the work of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of the King and president of the Supreme Council for Women, in advancing these achievements and expanding women’s contributions to Bahrain’s prosperity.
A series of laws and amendments introduced during this period strengthened women’s rights while promoting equal opportunities and broader participation in political life, the legislators told the newspaper. Developments also encompassed legislation on family and child protection together with labour-market regulations that safeguard the rights of working women. Government policies have supported measures enabling women to balance professional and family responsibilities, according to the same assessment.
Bahraini women have increased their presence across the Kingdom’s legislative and executive branches, taking on prominent roles in ministerial, judicial, diplomatic and leadership positions, News of Bahrain stated. Bahrain News Agency figures show that women occupied eight seats in the Council of Representatives in 2023, representing 20 percent of membership, while ten women served in the Shura Council for a 25 percent share. The agency data further places women at 40 percent of the Capital Trustees Board and notes that a Bahraini woman assumed the presidency of the Council of Representatives in 2018.
The Supreme Council for Women has driven these advances since its establishment in 2001, with the Bahrain News Agency reporting that women accounted for 66 percent of Bahraini doctors and 83 percent of nurses as of 2024. Female academics comprised 55 percent of the higher-education workforce in 2023, while Bahraini women made up 37 percent of engineers in the public sector the following year, the agency assessment found. Such representation reflects the institutional framework built to integrate women’s participation into national development priorities.
The National Plan for the Advancement of Bahraini Women 2025-2026, launched by the Supreme Council for Women, focuses on family stability, economic participation, decision-making roles and quality of life, according to Bahrain News Agency announcements. The plan seeks to close remaining gaps and carry forward priorities from earlier strategies while sustaining the gains recorded over the past quarter century. Officials have indicated that future efforts will emphasise leadership development and the long-term impact of these reforms across Bahraini society.
Legislators from both chambers have underscored the role of collaborative work between executive and legislative authorities alongside the Supreme Council for Women in achieving these outcomes, News of Bahrain reported. The newspaper noted that the anniversary coincides with broader national celebrations, including the designation of 2026 as the Year of Isa the Great. This alignment has prompted renewed focus on embedding women’s advancement within the reform project that has guided Bahrain’s progress since the early 2000s.
