Gender and Corruption in the Gulf States

Abstract This article examines the relationship between gender and corruption in the Gulf states through a comparative political analysis grounded in women’s empowerment indicators and rentier governance structures. While a substantial body of literature associates women’s inclusion with lower levels of corruption, empirical findings remain contested and highly context-dependent, particularly outside democratic settings. Focusing on the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the study explores whether variations in women’s empowerment are associated with differences in perceived public-sector corruption. Corruption is measured using the Corruption Perceptions Index ( CPI 2024), while gender-related variables are operationalized through the Gender Inequality Index ( GII 2023), female labor force participation, and women’s parliamentary representation. Using Pearson and Spearman correlation tests, the analysis identifies moderate but statistically inconclusive associations. The findings suggest that women’s descriptive inclusion does not automatically translate into lower corruption perceptions within centralized rentier governance systems, where institutional structures, oversight capacity, and access to authority mediate the gender–corruption relationship. By situating gender and corruption within the political economy of the Gulf, the article contributes to Middle East scholarship through a context-sensitive interpretation of governance reform and institutional accountability.