The Role of Corporate Boards in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from Bahrain

The study aims to investigate empirically the role of corporate boards in achieving sustainable development goals (SDG) in Bahrain by examining how SDG disclosures are influenced by the characteristics and activities of the board of directors and the presence of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) committee. The study sample included Bahrain’s listed companies for the year 2022. The data were collected from firms’ annual reports and a checklist was used to map the SDGs with sustainability disclosures based on global reporting initiatives (GRI) framework. Multiple regression was used to analyze the data. The study findings revealed that only three board characteristics have a positive significant relationship in achieving SDGs which are boards’ independence, female board representation, and board members’ educational background. Research on the SDGs in Bahrain has not been thoroughly investigated. A thorough examination is required to understand the specific cultural and economic attributes of Bahrain and how corporate boards contribute to the achievement of Bahrain’s 2030 economic vision. Therefore, this study adds to the existing body of knowledge by addressing the research gap and providing insights into how certain attributes of corporate boards can contribute to the achievement of SDGs. Furthermore, the study results provide policymakers and stakeholders with an enhanced understanding of firms’ corporate governance, sustainability practices, and sustainability regulations.