Recent Developments in Corporate Governance Codes in the GCC Region

Abstract

This paper aims to examine recent developments in corporate governance codes in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and evaluate to what extent these changes are in line with the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2015 Edition. The paper employed an analytical comparative approach, the results show all GCC countries, except Bahrain, have recently updated their CG codes. Bahrain needs to update its current CG code in terms of the rights of both shareholders and stakeholders to be in line with international best practice. Efforts in the GCC region to enhance CG in listed companies should be continued and expanded to cover state-owned enterprises, sovereign wealth funds, and banks. The findings would be useful to the financial managers in the GCC in complying with the recent developments in corporate governance codes and in developing guidelines for appropriate disclosure to improve the reporting quality.