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Purpose: Knowledge management is a common practice in organizations, with empirical evidence suggesting that organizations value the breadth of their knowledge capabilities. This study investigated transformational leadership styles and their influence on knowledge management practices and organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative survey was conducted, and data from 270 managers of Islamic banks in the United Arab Emirates were analyzed. Findings: Transformational leadership (TL) considerably affects organizational performance and knowledge management capabilities (KMC). Originality/value: This study offers critical insights into adopting knowledge management practices and discusses the theoretical and managerial implications of its findings. Furthermore, it elucidates the crucial impact of transformational leadership on organizational performance and KMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to adopt the dynamic capabilities view to investigate the relationship between managerial ties (i.e. business and political ties), dynamic capabilities and innovation climate on ambidextrous innovation (i.e. balanced and combined ambidextrous innovation), in the renewable and sustainable energy context. It also examines the mediating effects of dynamic capabilities between managerial ties and ambidextrous innovation (i.e. balanced and combined ambidextrous innovation), and moderating effects between dynamic capabilities and ambidextrous innovation relationships. Design/methodology/approach: Multilevel analyses conducted using AMOS 26 on 288 employees working in 47 UAE energy firms. Findings: Results found that business ties influences balanced and combined ambidextrous innovation indirectly, whereas political ties only impact combined ambidextrous innovation indirectly through dynamic capabilities. Dynamic capabilities insignificantly mediated managerial ties–ambidextrous innovation and political ties–balanced ambidextrous innovation relationships, with stronger indirect effect on combined than on the balanced dimension. Findings also indicate that innovation climate is the crucial moderator between dynamic compatibilities and ambidextrous innovation, as well as balanced and combined ambidextrous innovation, with stronger effect on balanced dimension than the combined. Originality/value: This study addresses recent calls by highlighting the role of dynamic capabilities, an important yet underexplored organizational capabilities in the innovation and ambidexterity literature. Also, this study advances insight into how balanced and combined exploration–exploitation innovation and dynamic capabilities are connected and enhances the understanding into how organizational factors stimulate dynamic capabilities leading to superior innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study aims to investigate the manner in which Human Resource Practices (HRP), leadership, and intellectual capital contribute to organisational agility within the healthcare sector, and to assess how this agility influences overall organisational performance. Design/methodology/approach: This research was undertaken within healthcare organisations situated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study sample comprised of 275 participants, and the distribution of the sample across various classifications closely mirrored that of the larger population. To assess the formulated hypotheses, the research utilized Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) software. Findings: Results confirmed the proposed framework and uncovered the significance of HRP, leadership and intellectual capital on organisational agility and organisational performance in a dynamic environment like hospitals. Originality/value: This study demonstrates originality by investigating hospital responsiveness within a highly dynamic context necessitating agility from both managerial and non-technical perspectives. Additionally, it explores the impact of HRP, leadership, and intellectual capital on organisational agility, along with its repercussions for overall organisational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to explore how visionary leadership influences innovative work behavior (IWB) with the mediating effect of knowledge sharing (KS), employee creativity and moderating role of work centrality in the relationship between employee creativity and IWB in the organization. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was administered to 304 respondents who were employees in different organizations in the United Arab Emirates. The data were analyzed through structural equation modeling using SmartPLS4. Findings: The results show that visionary leadership is significantly associated with KS and employee creativity. Moreover, employee creativity has a notable impact on IWB, and the connection between employee creativity and IWB remains unaffected by work centrality. Originality/value: This study offers a novel perspective by investigating the interrelationship between visionary leadership, KS, employee creativity, work centrality and IWB. A distinctive feature of this study lies in its focus on the mediation and moderation effects within this framework, with emphasis on a relatively new leadership style, visionary leadership. By exploring the mediating role of KS between visionary leadership and employee creativity, as well as the mediating role of employee creativity between KS and IWB, this study offers one of the first to highlight the underlying mechanisms that drive IWB. Furthermore, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is one of the first to introduce work centrality as a moderator in the relationship between employee creativity and IWB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a scale measuring artificial intelligence capabilities by using the resource-based theory. It seeks to examine the impact of these capabilities on the organizational-level resources of dynamic capabilities and organizational creativity, ultimately influencing the overall performance of government organizations. Design/methodology/approach: The calibration of artificial intelligence capabilities scale was conducted using a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis tools. A set of 26 initial items was formed in the qualitative study. In the quantitative study, self-reported data obtained from 344 public managers was used for the purposes of refining and validating the scale. Hypothesis testing is carried out to examine the relationship between theoretical constructs for the purpose of nomological testing. Findings: Results provide empirical evidence that the presence of artificial intelligence capabilities positively and significantly impacts dynamic capabilities, organizational creativity and performance. Dynamic capabilities also found to partially mediate artificial intelligence capabilities relationship with organizational creativity and performance, and organizational creativity partially mediates dynamic capabilities – organizational creativity link. Practical implications: The application of artificial intelligence holds promise for improving decision-making and problem-solving processes, thereby increasing the perceived value of public service. This can be achieved through the implementation of regulatory frameworks that serve as a blueprint for enhancing value and performance. Originality/value: There are a limited number of studies on artificial intelligence capabilities conducted in the government sector, and these studies often present conflicting and inconclusive findings. Moreover, these studies indicate literature has not adequately explored the significance of organizational-level complementarity resources in facilitating the development of unique capabilities within government organizations. This paper presents a framework that can be used by government organizations to assess their artificial intelligence capabilities-organizational performance relation, drawing on the resource-based theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mobility of African students beyond national territories has become common worldwide. However, the underlying reasons motivating students to leave their countries of origin in pursuit of higher education in other developing nations and why these factors are important have not been fully explored. This study attempts to explore why and how African students travel to the United Arab Emirates for higher education. A push-pull factor theory of the international student's choice of destination is developed to identify factors influencing the choices made by these students. The analytic hierarchy process is used to examine the relative importance of these factors. The findings of this quantitative study indicate that learning environment and geographic proximity are the two most important factors for African students, while other factors have a moderate impact. The findings contribute to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the needs and choices of existing and potential students from this continent, with a view to applying a segmentation approach to attract these students.

Previous studies on the destination choices of international students have mainly focused on the mobility of students from non-English-speaking countries to English-speaking countries, with limited attention being paid to the investigation of the factors that determine the flow of international students in emerging education hubs in the Middle East. As a piece of country-specific research, this study attempts to explore why and how international students travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for higher education. The study uses, as its theoretical framework, the push-pull factor theory in determining the destination choice of international students, while the analytic hierarchy process method is employed to examine the relative importance of these factors in influencing the choices of the students. Given the highly competitive nature of transnational higher education markets, this study is of particular importance for educational authorities and higher education institutions in the UAE to gain a better understanding of the complex factors involved in students' decision-making, which will enable them to determine recruitment and marketing strategies for attracting international students. The findings contribute to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the higher education market in the UAE.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of individual dynamic capabilities (DC) constructs and whether they had comparable effects on a company's competitiveness in market turbulence (MT). This study used quantitative methods to determine how the DC elements, sensing, learning, integrating and coordinating, influenced competitiveness, with the moderating role of MT during a real-time crisis. Design/methodology/approach: Survey data was gathered from 426 tourism small and medium-sized enterprises (TSMEs) in the United Arab Emirates and analyzed quantitatively. Findings: The study found that not all DC constructs were equally important in promoting competitiveness. TSMEs' survival depended more on sensing and integrating capabilities than learning and coordinating capabilities, and on how these capabilities were used by managers or owners of TSMEs. The study found no moderation effect of MT. Research limitations/implications: The generalizability of the results was hindered by the study's focus on TSMEs in a single geographic location. The reasons for lack of proper mobilization of DCs constructs were not explored, but the data on the relative efficacy of DC constructs during a crisis significantly contributed to the literature. Originality/value: This study emphasized ways that companies could improve firm competitiveness during a crisis by deploying DCs to optimize operations. The implications for research, practical aspects and limitations are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Motivations for study abroad in tourism and hospitality were examined as to the influence of a variety of personal criteria in the individual decision process of adult learners to select a host country and host institution of study. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach: Push-pull factors (Mazzarol and Soutar, 2002) formed the basic framework of inquiry. Quantitative analysis was done through primary data collection using hard copy surveys. Qualitative inquiry involved interviews with open-ended questions. Findings: Country attractions of the host location was the highest ranked decision criteria, followed by considerations of the educational institution. Research limitations/implications: Prestige and reputation of the education provider is of high value. However, greater decision influence was seen in respondents' selection of host country for the attributes of safe and pleasant living conditions, as well as on going career opportunities locally. Sampling was cross-sectional and limited to one industry and one country. Although these are natural control variables, generalizability may be limited, and requires further study. Originality/value: Policymakers should be mindful of the match between the educational program and the site selection. Prestige of the school may not overcome a suboptimal location decision.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effect of a high commitment work system (HCWS) on employee well-being and the mediating role of organizational support and work–life balance. Design/methodology/approach: Using structural equation modeling (SEM) for analysis, a quantitative approach was adopted to collect data from the 235 employees from the public sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Findings: Results show that HCWSs have a significant influence on organizational support and employee work–life balance. Therefore, there is a significant positive effect on employee well-being. The consequence of HCWS on well-being is not mediated by organizational support. Organization and work–life balance do not support the idea of reducing the negative effects of high-commitment work systems on well-being. There is a significant influence of work–life balance on employee behaviors to have well-being. Originality/value: Managers can devise a strategy to involve the employees to join participating in decision-making. The research advances knowledge of how HCWS improves employee well-being and emphasizes the significance of organizational support in the environment of public organizations. Organizations are expecting to develop new strategies that help employees engage with their environment and increase their confidence. In this perspective, the present study has identified a crucial key factor of HCWS affecting of organization support and employee work–life balance, which can help propelling employees well-being. The research expands the knowledge of the organizational and cultural elements that influence employee behavior and performance in this setting by evaluating the effects of HCWS on employee well-being in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the mediating effect of transformational leadership (TL) and work engagement (WE) on health-care clinic nurses' performance and the crucial role of these variables in the work environment (WEV). Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 353 nurses working across various health-care clinics in the United Arab Emirates. This study used descriptive correlational statistics from the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, the Pearson correlation coefficient, confirmatory factor analysis for model validity, Cronbach's alpha for reliability and path analysis to determine the results. Findings: The relationship between TL and job performance among nurses in health-care clinics was strongly influenced by WE. In addition, a moderate WEV increased the positive influence of TL on job accomplishment. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences between the participants' demographics characteristics and the main variables of the study. Practical implications: Health-care management can support and enhance nurses' job performance through TL, create a more structured WEV and support WE. Originality/value: This study involves a specific investigation into WE as a mediator, WEV as a moderator and the effect of TL on nurses' job performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To cope with the existing pandemic situation and to be organizationally responsive, firms need to be strategically flexible, where they need to develop dynamic capabilities (DCs) by continuously reconfiguring their resource base. To address such challenges, firms heavily rely on information and communication technologies (ICT) because of advancement in disruptive technologies. This study aims to explore techniques used by higher education institutional (HEI) leaders to successfully address challenges posed by global disruption, i.e. COVID-19 with the help of advanced ICT software such as Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach was adopted to explore strategic factors such as strategic flexibility (SF) and DC that disclose shortcomings in the current extant literature. A total of 15 interviews were conducted with heads of departments of HEIs in the United Arab Emirates. Data were analyzed using NVivo software. Findings: The findings suggested three dimensions of SF (resources, operational and collaborative) and four dimensions of DC (strategic planning, innovative, adaptability and technological) for firms to adopt to be strategically flexible, where DC serves as building blocks of SF. Originality/value: This research provides a framework as an avenue for future researchers and practitioners on how to strategically manage their resources and be strategically flexible in turbulent environment such as pandemics. Theory-based investigations on strategic capabilities and DC from resource-based perspective are still under-researched, emphasizing the need for theoretically based research on strategic responsiveness, especially during the times of environmental complexities such as COVID-19 pandemics. This research enriches strategic management research by exploring the important antecedents of organizational responsiveness, including SF and DC together with the support of human factor, i.e. leadership qualities of HEIs managers. This study, to the best of the authors' knowledge, is among the first to systematically explore main dimensions of DC and SF based on the resource-based theory of strategic management in the Middle Eastern context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate factors that influence e-government adoption among public sector departments with the view to determine how such factors may be used to better facilitate e-government adoption across United Arab Emirates (UAE) public sectors. The use of e-government is advocated for the central government in the UAE. Design/methodology/approach: Using random sampling, a total of 172 participants from ten departments and organisations in Dubai and Sharjah completed the online survey for this pilot study. Findings: The authors found that performance expectancy and facilitating conditions have positive effects on e-government adoption. Furthermore, this study revealed the factors that encourage more e-government adoption between government organisations in the UAE. This study reveals three facilitating conditions may encourage e-government adoption in UAE public sector organisations when short- and long-term performances have positive effects on e-government usage. Practical implications: This study provides middle managers clarity on factors that would influence government-to-government (G2G) uptake in more government organisations across the country. For uniformity and consistency, middle managers are now better informed as a result of this study to determine how best to use the six factors to motivate subordinates for more effective G2G. Originality/value: The scope and results of this study is a contribution to e-government studies because it identifies the factors that positively influence G2G adoption. This scope exceeds the studies by Chan et al. (2021) and Habib et al. (2020) which focuses on the use of e-government for citizens or the public. This study focuses on the use of e-government within the government and between government departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine internal market orientation (IMO), potential building capabilities and value realizing capabilities, i.e. dynamic capabilities (DC) as an antecedent of resource recombination in higher education institutions of the United Arab Emirates. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected from 349 faculty members and analyzed using the covariance-based structural equation modeling technique. Findings: Results did not support a direct relationship between IMO and resource recombination. However, results did provide support for IMO's significant impact on potential building and value realizing capabilities. The impact of potential building capabilities on resource recombination was partially supported, whereas the impact of value realizing capabilities on resource recombination was fully supported. Practical implications: This study provides guidelines for the higher education managers, especially for the strategic management of its resources. The study also provides a basis for improving internal market policies to remain abreast of DC to succeed in the market. Most significantly, the findings of the study offer guidance toward effective resource planning and innovative management practices. Originality/value: This study identifies the essential resources and capabilities framework that guides firms to modify their capabilities in the face of changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examines the factors affecting organisations' agility and competitive capability in public and private sectors. Drawn from the literature on supply chain agility (SC agility), the factors of supply chain speed, visibility, flexibility, innovation and leadership are tested for further understanding. Design/methodology/approach: Through purposive sampling, a sample of 261 responses was collected using a structured questionnaire. The participants were identified as supply chain practitioners from different industries of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Data were analysed using partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Findings: Firms can improve the agility of their supply chains by developing strong supply chain leadership and flexibility, increasing the speed and visibility of the supply chain, and through innovation in supply chain operations. Additionally, competitive capabilities can also be enhanced through SC agility. Originality/value: This study explores organisations' agility and competitive capability in public and private sectors of the UAE. The findings offer numerous practical insights into the UAE's business context and will help firms gain better competitive advantages through agile supply chain operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to provide insights on the importance of reconfiguring new and existing enterprise resources in a heterogeneous manner. This will lead to improved efficiencies, strategies and resource usage as such leading to more synergetic and innovative outcomes. This study highlights the importance of dynamic capabilities (DC) during the process of resources recombination (RR). It suggests that DC can be a source of competitive advantage, but the effect is contingent on the RR capabilities of enterprises. Design/methodology/approach: Data were obtained from 349 faculty members of higher education institutions (HEIs) from seven states in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS was employed as a statistical tool to analyze the structural model. Findings: The findings confirm the proposed role of DC in the realization of RR, in integrating and reconfiguring internal and external organizational skills and resources for efficiency and performance, since DC helps RR to reconfigure the resource base by extending, creating, and modifying innovative RRs. Practical implications: The study has important implications for resource managers and policymakers of HEIs. By prioritizing DC, firms can develop novel products and services as a result of a heterogenous mix of new RR. Additionally, since firms have limited resources in ever-changing, complex environmental conditions, this study provides explicit directions on how enterprises can strategically manage their resources in an innovative manner to attain a sustainable competitive advantage. Originality/value: Insights from the DC and RR perspective in HEI sectors, particularly in the Middle East region, are scarce. This is the first empirical study to delve in this area and exemplify the relationship between these significant constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid advancements in technology, the evolution and demand for electronic/electric devices have drastically increased. The exponential increase in the use of technology to fulfill the needs of the fast‐paced information era has led to electronic and electrical devices being discarded or disposed of at a faster rate than in the past. This phenomenon has resulted in e‐waste becoming the fastest‐growing form of solid waste. E‐waste is classified as hazardous waste and can be harmful to the environment and health if not disposed of responsibly. Therefore, alternatives, such as exporting, landfilling, and recycling (from different economic, social, technical, and environmental criteria), are of interest to minimize the disposal of this toxic waste form into landfill sites. The analytic hierarchy process approach was deployed to evaluate and prioritize alternatives for e‐waste processing systems in the United Arab Emirates context. The obtained results indicate that recycling has the highest priority among the studied alternatives in the e‐waste processing system. The low economic and environmental awareness of stakeholders with regard to e‐waste shows that e‐waste management system initiatives must be expedited to adhere to e‐waste best practices implemented nationally and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how the demographic profiles of residents (gender, level of education, nationality, length of residency, and age) moderate the relationship between residents' perceptions of the impact of tourism and their support for tourism development. The aim of the study was to gain knowledge on the understudied emerging countries, the underexplored geographical area of Middle East and North Africa, and most specifically on the UAE which is the most competitive destination among them. This study is the first to use the novel Bayesian SEM multigroup approach to overcome the major issue of the non-normal distributions of data. The data are derived from 631 residents of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The results indicate that residents' perceptions influence residents' support for tourism development. Additionally, the multigroup analysis reveals that gender, education, and nationality influence the perceptions of residents while length of residency and age do not have a significant effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable research has been conducted on social media, yet the determinants of their adoption by organizations, especially small and medium‐size enterprises (SMEs), remain unclear. Previous studies have concentrated largely on the use of social media by individuals or in large organizations. Based on data from 144 SMEs in the United Arab Emirates, this analysis features a conceptual model that encompasses various technological, organizational, and environmental factors that may influence the adoption of social media. The results show that in terms of technological context, compatibility and observability are significant in an SME's decision to adopt social media. Additionally, organizational context, the level of top management support, and the overall environmental context also have an impact on SMEs leaders' use of social media in business. Though limited in scope, this study serves as a starting point for future research on social media adoption in the Middle East region, as well as in other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning outcomes: After reading the case study, the students will be able to analyze the impact of post-pandemic "new normal" customer behavioral change on a start-up aggregator operating virtually. Recognize the need for the service marketing strategy to prepare a service provider/aggregator to sustain a dynamic and volatile consumer environment. Understand the importance of competitors' analysis as a primary step of service marketing strategy in influencing "new normal" consumer behavior. Examine the utility of customer engagement through website blogs, social media posts, videos and continuously updated information on the mobile application in influencing the "new normal" customer behavior, from skinner operant conditioning behavior and Rusbolt's investment model perspectives. Case overview/synopsis: Rafeeg is a mobile application-based home maintenance service providing company, conceived and founded in 2017 by Khamis Alsheryani – who, as an Emirati entrepreneur, has a prior record of accomplishing successful mobile applications and business ventures since 2004. The unique selling proposition of Rafeeg in the Abu Dhabi market is its functioning as the home maintenance services aggregator bringing its suppliers and consumers under-one-roof alongside maintaining ensuring high quality, punctuality and security at competitive prices. Rafeeg has collaborated with approximately 1,000 licensed suppliers using nearly 5,000 technicians and maintenance workers with a customer base of about 70,000 households. Although it is formally situated in Al Salam St, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the company communicates with its consumers virtually. However, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UAE in March 2020, Rafeeg witnessed a considerable decrease in service requests. Consumers' psychological fear of the pandemics spread into their houses through the technicians and maintenance workers and the degree of hygienic practices the latter follows before their service provision acted as the major reason behind the fall in requests. Despite Alsheryani's assurance on the provision of only those suppliers who are verified of their hygienic practices, negative COVID-19 test reports and their availability to the consumers as proof and regular temperature checks of the technicians, the consumer apprehensions remained stagnant and the loss of new service requests, as well as revenue, continued. The pandemic's spread and consequent lockdown of services in the UAE affected Rafeeg's business operations gravely, as projected by its sudden drop-in service requests – from 53,638 average monthly customer requests in January and February to approximately 10,000 in March and April. The sudden drop of 81% in new requests drove Alsheryani to develop a service marketing strategy in May to boost consumer behavior, encouraging them to resume their requests without further apprehensions. However, with the continuous rise in the pandemic and vaccines still under trial and research, Alsheryani contemplates the viability of the new marketing strategy. Alsheryani took measures in supplier training programs, excommunicating with suppliers who fail to comply with his strict safety regulations, developing the app with clearly stated, uniform, safety procedures and bearing the additional safety-related costs small suppliers provide quality work as part of the strategy. Despite so, will there be an increase in new requests? Will the bearing of additional costs on the suppliers' behalf jeopardize its competitive advantage in UAE? Should he consider an alternate business model to adapt to the new normal environment? Complexity academic level: This case is written for undergraduate students majoring in consumer behavior, consumer engagement approaches, digital marketing approaches using websites, mobile applications, social media communities and service marketing strategies. Students, through this case, can relate the importance of virtual space in engaging consumers and the importance of the latter in addressing the dynamicity of consumer behavior, especially affected by sudden environmental change, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The case study also subtly highlights the importance of collaboration with suppliers in an aggregator business model to capture the essence of changing consumer behavior. This case study is appropriate for students having previous knowledge of Rusbolt's investment model and skinner's operant behavioral model of consumer behavior and their application in service marketing. Besides, students must be aware of the online business model and aggregator businesses in the service industry of the UAE. The case study purports to motivate critical analytical thinking among students and build their understanding of the importance of consumer behavior for business sustenance. Supplementary materials: Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code: CCS 8: Marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been numerous studies on the adoption of social media among individuals as well as organizations. Nevertheless, most of these studies were conducted in developed economies and focused on large organizations. This study, therefore, fills the gap by looking at the adoption of social media among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Middle East region; specifically, in the UAE. In addition, this study analyzes the adoption phenomena through word of mouth, viral marketing and social presence theory using in-depth semi-structured personal interviews with entrepreneurs of SMEs. Another significant contribution rendered by this study is its examination of social media adoption in terms of the business performance of firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to investigate residents’ perceptions of tourism’s impact on their support for tourism development in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires from Abu Dhabi residents (n = 407), who represented 30 nationalities residing in the emirate. Based on social exchange theory, structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses.Findings Results suggest that Abu Dhabi residents perceive the impacts of tourism positively and are more sensitive to the environmental and economic influences of tourism than the social and cultural influences.Research limitations/implications This study was limited to Abu Dhabi residents; findings cannot be generalized to other emirates in the UAE, or other countries.Originality/value This study adds value to extant tourism literature by investigating residents’ perceptions of the influence of tourism in one of the richest cities worldwide, which aspires to be one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the Middle East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to gather information about the determinants and characteristics of the owners/managers of small- and medium-sized hotels (SMSHs) and identify various issues in starting up and operating businesses in the United Arab Emirates. The results of this study reveal that the majority of the owners/managers of SMSHs in the United Arab Emirates are male, young and middle age, and relatively new to the tourism industry. The motivations for the business ventures of the entrepreneurs include wanting to be financially independent, become one’s own boss, involvement in family business and the opportunities of the hotel business. Among the key business challenges highlighted by the owners/managers of SMSHs are stiff competition in the hotel industry, increased operating costs, reduced demand, and lack of skilled employees. Several key strategies have been employed to face these challenges. These include offering competitive pricing, improving the marketing and channels of promotion, enhancing the quality of service and providing superior customer service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to gather information about the determinants and characteristics of the owners/managers of small- and medium-sized hotels (SMSHs) and identify various challenges in starting up and operating businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The paper also highlights key actions taken by the owners/managers of SMSHs to manage their business in the competitive business environment. To avoid any bias associated with a specific method, a multi-method research approach has been used for data collection. The results reveal that the majority of the owners/managers of SMSHs in the UAE are male, young and middle-aged with secondary- and higher-education levels, and relatively new to the tourism industry. With the characteristics of self-confidence, perseverance and independence, the motivations for the business ventures of the owners/managers include wanting to be financially independent, become one's own boss, involvement in family business and the opportunities of the hotel business. Among the key business challenges highlighted by the owners/managers of SMSHs are stiff competition in the hotel industry, increased operating costs, reduced demand and lack of skilled employees. Several key strategies have been employed to face these challenges. These include offering competitive pricing, improving the marketing and channels of promotion, enhancing the quality of service and providing superior customer service. At the same time, the owners/managers of SMSHs also felt that the government and policy-makers should play a more proactive role in promoting the tourism sector. This research provides a useful insight into the activities in the hotel tourism business sector and the challenges they encounter while operating in the UAE economy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this article is to evaluate the entrepreneurship module offered in hospitality and tourism programs by institutions of higher learning in the United Arab Emirates. Some of the challenges faced by hospitality and tourism students and entrepreneurship educators are highlighted. The results show that hospitality and tourism students do not consider the entrepreneurship module to be an important subject within their program. This poses a number of challenges for institutions in terms of seeking to appropriately integrate entrepreneurship education within a program of study toward the entrepreneurial inclination of hospitality and tourism students. The article highlights the growing need to create an entrepreneurial culture that will encourage and foster greater initiative and entrepreneurial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]