Emirati Journal of Business, Economics and Social Studies
The Emirati Journal of Business, Economics & Social Studies (EJBESS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by Emirates Scholar Center for Research & Studies (ESRC). EJBESS maintains rigorous standards through double-blind peer review (48-hour desk review → 3-4 week first decision), plagiarism screening, and full COPE/DOAJ compliance. All content published as open access under CC BY 4.0.
Cultural Factors in Multinational Business Negotiations: The Cultural Negotiation Compass (CNC) Framework and a Cultural Negotiation Distance Index (CNDI)
As commerce becomes increasingly transnational, the deals that underpin it are struck across cultural boundaries, and the cultural background of the negotiators shapes those deals as surely as price and product do. Yet the guidance available to managers on cultural factors in negotiation is scattered across separate literatures on cultural values, communication, and negotiation behavior, with no single framework that connects a specific cultural factor to the specific part of the negotiation it governs. This conceptual paper consolidates that evidence into a coherent, actionable structure. It advances the Cultural Negotiation Compass (CNC) Framework, which identifies five cultural factors—individualism–collectivism, power distance, communication context, uncertainty avoidance, and time orientation—and maps each to the negotiation domain it primarily governs: goals, power, information, process, and pace. To make cultural difference measurable, the paper introduces the Cultural Negotiation Distance Index (CNDI), a weighted composite of the distance between two parties across the five factors, and positions cultural intelligence (CQ) as the capability that buffers the friction that distance produces. An illustrative application across three negotiating archetypes shows how the framework and index expose the specific adaptations a deal requires. All quantitative values are illustrative simulations calibrated to patterns reported in the literature and are presented to demonstrate the instruments rather than to report empirical findings. The framework offers managers, negotiators, and educators—particularly those operating from the culturally diverse business hub of the United Arab Emirates—a structured basis for anticipating and bridging cultural difference at the negotiating table.
Copyright (c) 2026 Emirati Journal of Business, Economics, and Social Studies
Economic Policies and Their Influence on SMEs: The Policy-to-SME Transmission (PST) Framework and an SME Policy Enabling Index (SPEI)
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of most economies, accounting for the majority of firms and a large share of employment, yet their fortunes are unusually sensitive to the economic policies that governments set. Monetary, fiscal, regulatory, financial-sector, and trade policies each shape the environment in which SMEs are born, survive, and grow—but the channels through which they do so are analyzed in separate literatures, leaving policymakers without a single map from policy lever to SME outcome. This conceptual paper consolidates that evidence into a coherent structure. It advances the Policy-to-SME Transmission (PST) Framework, which identifies five economic-policy levers and the specific transmission channel through which each reaches SMEs—linking monetary and credit policy to the cost of finance, fiscal and tax policy to retained earnings and demand, regulatory policy to entry and compliance costs, financial-sector policy to access to external finance, and trade policy to market size. To make the enabling quality of a policy environment measurable, the paper introduces the SME Policy Enabling Index (SPEI), a transparent weighted composite of the five levers. An illustrative application across three policy-environment archetypes shows how the framework and index expose where reform would most improve SME outcomes. All quantitative values are illustrative simulations calibrated to patterns reported in the literature and are presented to demonstrate the instruments rather than to report empirical findings. The framework offers policymakers, development institutions, and researchers—particularly those advancing the United Arab Emirates’ SME and diversification agenda—a structured basis for designing policy that enables rather than constrains small firms.
Market Resilience Asymmetry Under Extreme Shocks: A Comparative Analysis of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and B3 Brazil, 2019–2025
This study sets out to examine market resilience asymmetry between the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) and B3 Brazil over the period spanning 2019-2025. Using annual return data for the TA-125 and Ibovespa indices obtained directly from official exchange statistics, this study seeks to examine if shock type, namely systemic global versus idiosyncratic country-specific, dictates market divergence direction and magnitude between these two major emerging markets. In the period between 2020-2025, TA-125 accumulated a local-currency return of +126.2%, compared to +39.3% for Ibovespa, where descriptive statistics indicated respective mean return standard deviation ratios of 0.694 and 0.383. The inter-market return correlation was computed as r ≈ 0.19 (n = 6, not significant). TASE's positive performance during this protracted period of armed conflict (2023-2025) constitutes an anomaly when applying conventional geopolitical risk models, explained by institutional investor mandate requirements, sectoral market responses, and adaptive market learning effects. The study's results have direct relevance for policymakers designing institutional investor portfolios, fund managers seeking optimal investment strategies in diversified emerging markets, and future generations of integrated geopolitical risk models accounting for country-specific structural moderators.
Exploring Emiratisation through the lens of sustainable leadership in financial institutions in the UAE
This study explores sustainable leadership in Abu Dhabi financial organisations to uncover challenges related to the Emiratisation of their workforce. Using grounded theory we investigate the relationships between Emirati employee turnover, psychological empowerment, and sustainable leadership. The data collected through interviews reveal that the observed high turnover of Emirati employees is due to inadequate engagement and empowerment: i) organisations have a reputation of being non-continuous learning platforms among Emiratis; ii) career growth and satisfaction are major reasons for the high Emirati turnover; iii) their inadequate engagement is a result of organisational and cultural gaps; and iv) leaders lack commitment to the Emiratisation agenda. This study recommends creating a sustainable approach to Emiratisation, reviewing pay and benefits for employees, evaluating leaders based on their ownership of the nationalisation agenda, and how they are fully integrating Emiratis into their organisations.
Social Media Influencers: A Global Perspective on Legal Accountability and Media Ethics
The rise of social media influence has reshaped the communication of information and the trust of consumers in the digital age. The opinion and endorsements of influencers shape and control the markets and behaviors of consumers as they become dominant communication vehicles. Their opinion and endorsement control the markets and behaviors of consumers. The rise of social media influences control and dominate the communication of information and the trust of consumers of the digital age. The rise negatively impacts the legal and ethical concerns of transparency, truthfulness, and the commercialization of oneself. This essay addresses the legal and ethical concerns of the influence of social media on the individual on a global scale focusing on the 2022 US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit against Kim Kardashian, who was fined for the unlawful promotion of the cryptocurrency EthereumMax due to a failure to disclose sponsorship. The case illustrates the advertising endorsement of a public figure, the financial power they possess, and the advertising gap legal control. This essay concerns mainly with the ethics of celebrity endorsement with changes in legal and financial power. The case illustrates the ethical concerns with celebrity endorsement and financial power. The case illustrates the new financial power of celebrity endorsement and the gap in legal control. The author, using ethical theories (deontological, ethical, and virtue theories) to analyze the cross border legal retrospective of the US, UK, EU and UAE, confronts the deficiency of aiding influence marketing with legal and ethical theories. This essay argues that the caution of the SEC vs. Kardashian as a new legal precedent is the basis for a globally coordinated ethical underdevelopment in law, digital trust, and media freedom in the digital economy This study concludes that social media marketing is an ethically sustainable practice due to the increasing need for social media influencers to adopt ethical literacy and transparency in their activities and the necessity for a sustained and formal global regulation.
Capital Structure as a Financial Constraint in the CSR–Performance Nexus: Evidence from Large UK Firms
This study re-examines the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and firm performance by introducing capital structure not merely as a moderator, but as a financial constraint that conditions the efficiency of CSR investments. While prior literature largely assumes that higher leverage uniformly amplifies or weakens CSR outcomes, this paper advances a more nuanced argument: CSR generates performance gains only when firms operate within an optimal financing range. Using panel data from FTSE 100 firms over 2019–2023 and fixed-effects estimation, the findings confirm a positive CSR–performance relationship. However, the interaction analysis reveals that capital structure significantly conditions this relationship, suggesting that excessive leverage constrains the strategic and reputational returns of CSR activities. By reframing capital structure as a constraint rather than a neutral moderator, this study contributes to CSR–finance literature and offers implications for sustainable corporate financing strategies in developed markets.
FROZEN ASSETS, FRACTURED TIES: THE LEBANESE DIASPORA AND THE BANKING CRISIS.
In October 2019, Lebanon's banking system collapsed, freezing and devaluing deposits held by millions, including a significant proportion of the Lebanese diaspora. While prior scholarship has documented the macroeconomic dimensions of the crisis, the subjective experience of diaspora members has remained largely unexplored. This study employed interpretive phenomenological analysis to explore how 25 members of the Lebanese diaspora, residing across six countries, lived through and made sense of the freezing and devaluation of their bank deposits. Four superordinate themes emerged: the destruction of institutional trust, the perception of systemic injustice and an accountability gap, forced financial and behavioural adaptation, and the deepening of involuntary diaspora alongside sustained psychological harm. The findings reveal that the crisis was not a single financial event but a compounding rupture that destroyed trust, confirmed injustice, restructured daily life, and permanently severed participants' connection to Lebanon as a place in which a future could be built.
CEO Departure Type and Subsequent Workforce Restructuring: An Exploratory Study of Tech-Sector S&P Firms, 2010–2024
This study examines whether the reason a chief executive officer departs a firm—involuntary dismissal, voluntary resignation, or retirement—is associated with subsequent workforce restructuring among technology-sector companies in the S&P 1500. The current research merges a CEO departure database (restricted to 2010–2019 departures) with a publicly listed firm layoff register for 2020–2024, yielding 1,354 firm observations of which 22 experienced a confirmed workforce reduction. A penalised maximum likelihood logistic estimator is applied to correct for rare-event bias at the 1.62% event rate. Three findings emerge. First, firms whose most recent CEO was involuntarily dismissed face approximately 2.7 times the layoff odds of firms whose CEO retired voluntarily (OR = 2.669, 95% CI [1.124, 6.339], p = 0.026). Second, voluntarily resigned CEOs’ former firms also face elevated layoff odds relative to retired CEOs (OR = 4.689, 95% CI [1.132, 19.431], p = 0.033), though this estimate rests on only two events. Third, departure year recency adds no significant incremental prediction within the 2010–2019 window (OR = 1.106, p = 0.233). An ordinary least squares robustness check confirms the dismissal result (b = 0.044, p = 0.048). The Kruskal–Wallis test on restructuring scale across departure types is significant (H = 6.76, p = 0.034). The study explicitly notes limitations: the layoff register covers primarily technology and digital-economy firms rather than the full S&P 1500, confirmed matches represent a technology-sector subsample, and the 22-event count constrains inferential precision. These findings are offered as exploratory associations suitable for replication with administrative layoff records providing comprehensive S&P 1500 coverage.
The Hybrid Budget and The Capsule Model A New Methodology for Financial Planning and Achieving Governmental Excellence and Leadership to Enhance Quality of Life
The research presents the hybrid budgeting methodology and the capsule model as a new methodology for financial planning. The research aims to enhance the performance of governments and achieve excellence and leadership. Governments face challenges when formulating financial plans, particularly those with long-term implications. Traditional methods often fail to provide sufficient clarity, do not guarantee flexibility in resource allocation and do not ensure efficiency in resource allocation. Therefore, strategic goals are not achieved effectively. Wherever possible, clearer and more flexible approaches should be adopted. The hybrid budget and the capsule model offer a comprehensive solution. It integrates the advantages of line-item budgets, program and performance budgets, planning and programming budgets, zero-based budgets, contractual budgets, and activity-based budgets. This integration helps allocate resources more efficiently. It also helps increase transparency and effectively achieves strategic goals. To implement the hybrid budget, the operational budget is prepared using the line-item and zero-based approaches, prepare project and developmental initiative budgets through the planning and programming approach, add a portfolio of partnership projects using the contracting approach, and prepare the revenue budget using the activity-based approach. All these steps follow the structure of the Quality-of-Life Capsules. The model also seeks a balance between daily tasks and the development of new projects and initiatives. Balance supports sustainability and entrepreneurship. The capsule model is presented as a comprehensive framework that includes multiple government objectives and programs. The framework helps achieve clear results that contribute to improving the quality of life. Despite the expected benefits, such as improved long-term planning and increased flexibility, the main challenge is the need for intensive training. The research presents a theoretical and practical framework that outlines the step-by-step implementation of the methodology in government institutions. It is found that the results indicate that the hybrid budget and the capsule model enhance financial efficiency, strengthen sustainability, and promote comprehensive development, thereby improving the quality of life. The research concludes by providing practical recommendations for adopting the methodology in governments that seek to improve financial and administrative performance, wherever possible.
Cryptocurrencies in Morocco between legal adaptation and economic impact
This Study Aims To Shed Light On Crypto Currencies, Which Have Become Increasingly Interested In Them Day By Day In Electronic Transactions, Which Made Various Countries Recognize Them As Being, Despite Their Hypotheticality, A Means That Has Taken A Large Place Within The Economies Of The Largest Countries, And Therefore Through This Study We Will Recall What They Are, Types, Characteristics, And Disadvantages, In Addition To Their Legal Adaptation And The Ruling On Dealing With Them By Various Countries In General, And Morocco In Particular, Without Forgetting The Impact Of The Latter On The Economy Of Country.
Copyright (c) 2023 Emirati Journal of Business, Economics, and Social Studies
THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AS A BASTION OF SAFETY: A Comparative Risk Analysis of Hostile Aerial Threats Versus Road Traffic Casualties
This paper presents a quantitative and comparative risk analysis examining the relative safety of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the context of two concurrent threat dimensions: hostile aerial attacks and routine road traffic incidents. Drawing on open-source defense data published by Al Khaleej and confirmed by UAE military authorities, and official road traffic statistics released by the UAE Ministry of Interior (MoI, 2024), this study demonstrates that the probability of civilian harm from hostile military projectiles—drones, cruise missiles, or ballistic missiles—is statistically negligible when compared to the demonstrably higher risk posed by daily road traffic. Over a one-week operational window, UAE air defense systems intercepted 1,397 total threats, yielding an overall interception rate of approximately 93.5%, with three (3) confirmed civilian casualties attributable to hostile action — a figure that, while deeply mourned, is extraordinary in the context of 1,397 projectiles launched. In the same temporal reference, road traffic data indicates approximately 7.4 fatalities and 123 injuries per week nationwide. This evidence-based analysis establishes a compelling statistical argument that the UAE remains an exceptionally safe destination for citizens, residents, tourists, and investors—a testament to its state-of-the-art integrated defense architecture and robust governance framework.
Copyright (c) 2026 Emirati Journal of Business, Economics, & Social Studies
Comparative Analysis of ARIMA, VAR, and Linear Regression Models for UAE GDP Forecasting
Forecasting GDP is crucial for economic planning and policymaking. This study compares the performance of three widely-used econometric models—ARIMA, VAR, and Linear Regression—using GDP data from the UAE. Employing a rolling forecast approach, we analyze the models’ accuracy over different time horizons. Results indicate ARIMA’s robust long-term forecasting capability, LR models perform better with short-term predictions, particularly when exogenous variable forecasts are accurate. These insights provide a valuable foundation for selecting forecasting models in the UAE’s evolving economy, suggesting ARIMA’s suitability for long-term outlooks and LR for short-term, scenario-based forecasts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Emirati Journal of Business, Economics, & Social Studies
54 years of the United Arab Emirates: An Advanced Econometric Analysis of Economic Diversification and Productivity Dynamics
This study presents a rigorous econometric examination of the relationship between economic diversification and total factor productivity (TFP) growth in the United Arab Emirates over the period 2000-2024. Employing an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach and Toda-Yamamoto causality framework, we establish robust evidence of a long-run cointegrating relationship between non-hydrocarbon GDP share and productivity dynamics. Our findings reveal that a one percentage point increase in non-oil sector contribution generates a 0.42% enhancement in TFP growth in the long run, with statistically significant transmission channels through capital deepening and human capital accumulation. The analysis incorporates structural break tests identifying 2008 and 2020 as critical junctures in the UAE’s diversification trajectory. Granger causality tests confirm bidirectional feedback between diversification and productivity, suggesting virtuous cycle dynamics. The estimated elasticity of substitution between hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon sectors (σ = 1.67) indicates strategic complementarity rather than displacement. These results support continued diversification while highlighting opportunities for enhanced policy coordination in innovation ecosystems and knowledge-intensive sectors.
Reimagining Third Sector Operations: A Critical Reflection on Developing a Business-Aligned Nonprofit Framework Focused on Dignity and Operational Effectiveness in the Arab World Context
This critical reflection examines the development of a framework for third sector or public-benefit organizations, aiming to improve traditional charitable models through Islamic principles and digital innovation. Drawing on an autoethnographic methodology, I reflect on the process of developing a comprehensive guide that reimagines nonprofit operations by prioritizing beneficiary dignity, maximizing technological integration, and fostering sustainable partnerships.This reflection reveals tensions between traditional charitable practices and contemporary social justice approaches, as well as their contributions to social development within communities, while highlighting how cultural authenticity shapes global best practices. Key insights include the transformative potential of dignity-preserving methodologies, the role of technology in enabling ethical practices, and the necessity of systemic change and functional integration between sectors—most notably the for-profit and nonprofit sectors—in order to achieve sustainable development in real-world community contexts and to support the growth and well-being of middle classes.This work contributes to the scholarly literature on culturally grounded nonprofit innovation rooted in Islamic foundations.
The Impact of Eliminating Government Bureaucracy on Enhancing Institutional Excellence: The United Arab Emirates as a Model
With the emergence of many changes in administrative concepts over the past two decades, the focus has shifted from traditional management to leadership and entrepreneurship. These changes have extended to include the quality of outputs and performance levels, eventually encompassing organizational structures in order to confront challenges, strengthen capabilities, and enhance institutional performance. Quality and institutional excellence experts identify several drivers and reasons that compel organizations to move toward institutional excellence, foremost among them rapid changes, unexpected developments, and natural disasters. Zero bureaucracy refers to the removal or significant reduction of routine administrative procedures and obstacles within institutions, with the aim of simplifying processes, improving efficiency, accelerating the completion of transactions, and facilitating access to services. This approach focuses on eliminating unnecessary complexities in administrative work, reducing red tape, and adopting flexible and fast administrative methods to meet the needs of employees and service recipients. “Zero bureaucracy” represents a step toward global leadership in institutional excellence and contributes to achieving a qualitative shift in the style of government administration. Institutional excellence is an important advantage in the business environment, as managers and employees view excellence as an effective entry point for creating competitive advantages that provide customers with high-quality products and services. Through human capital, organizations can achieve institutional differentiation by motivating employees and building high-level skills. These are the fundamental components for increasing innovation, improving performance, and supporting a culture of continuous improvement, as well as training, qualifying, and providing professional development opportunities. This reflects the importance of specific skills and their high level of proficiency. Institutional differentiation stems from the knowledge possessed by employees, as it constitutes the core of the work carried out by excellent organizations. This knowledge is unique to the organization and not shared by others, as it is the result of individual efforts by employees. Institutionally excellent organizations are characterized by several key attributes, most notably their acceptance of hard work, which is considered one of the most important sources of institutional excellence. Hard work provides organizations with opportunities for learning, rapid growth, and process improvement. It also requires competent leadership, as qualified leadership plays a prominent role in encouraging excellence and enduring challenges. Challenges reveal levels of organizational capability, contributing to the prevention of errors, the identification and management of crises, and the differentiation of organizational capacities. Excellent organizations possess sufficient experience in serving the community and have training programs that contribute to institutional excellence. They are also accurate in forecasting through selecting the best methods for task performance. An excellent organization is further characterized by its continuity in applying global best practices in performing its tasks, maintaining supportive and interactive relationships with its customers and stakeholders, and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of competitors. Such an environment works to develop programs that enhance learning resources and strengthen employee skills in various areas, including newly acquired skills that add to their professional value and enable them to cooperate more effectively with the business units in which they work.
Digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence to enhance financial transparency and ensure tax and insurance compliance: reducing the double whammy
The phenomenon of failing to transfer amounts deducted from employees’ salaries for taxes and social insurance, along with the non-payment of the employer’s share, represents a dual loophole that affects both the public treasury and workers’ rights in Egypt. This practice results in substantial financial losses estimated at between EGP 80 and 100 billion annually, weakening the state’s ability to finance public services and undermining the sustainability of social insurance funds. This study relies on the analysis of financial and tax data to estimate the losses resulting from tax and social insurance non-compliance, while examining its impact on employment and the macroeconomy. Through a review of previous studies, the research highlights the role of digital systems and artificial intelligence in combating this phenomenon and enhancing legal compliance. The study proposes innovative technological solutions, including: * Electronically linking payroll systems with financial institutions to ensure the automatic transfer of tax and social insurance contributions. * Activating smart digital oversight through artificial intelligence and data analytics to proactively detect violations. * Imposing immediate fines and stricter legal penalties on non-compliant companies, thereby helping to reduce the financial gap and improve transparency. The study aims to propose reform policies based on financial technology to enhance tax and social insurance compliance, which would positively contribute to the stability of the Egyptian economy and the protection of workers’ rights.
The Impact of New Digital Media on UAE FDI
The world of business has been dramatically reshaped by the rise of digital media, especially when it comes to foreign direct investment (FDI). The United Arab Emirates (UAE) really showcases this shift; its embrace of digital platforms has boosted connectivity and transparency, drawing in international investors. The UAE government sees attracting and keeping investment as key to economic recovery and growth, understanding that FDI creates jobs and boosts productivity. Now, while many Middle Eastern countries have worked to improve their investment environments, current global economic changes highlight how vital it is to keep strengthening these efforts, especially given the geopolitical tensions and market volatility that affect the region. This paper takes a look at how new digital media impacts FDI trends in the UAE, weighing both the opportunities and potential hurdles.
AI in a Dual Challenge: Creative Remedies for the Hunger and Climate Disasters
No doubt that Artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping the current era. At the same time, climate change is putting agriculture under immense stress—especially in vulnerable, low-resource areas. Rising temperatures, erratic weather, and recurring disasters like droughts and floods are threatening global food production. In this context, sustainable agriculture has become essential for reducing risks and protecting food systems. Nowadays, AI offers powerful solutions. It can forecast climate trends, monitor crop health, and optimize resource use. Through tools like machine learning and computer vision, AI enables smarter farming—helping farmers choose ideal planting windows, detect pests early, and adapt to shifting conditions, to achieve stronger resilience and higher amounts of yields. However, integrating AI into agriculture isn't without challenges. Many developing regions lack the digital infrastructure, finance, and high-quality data needed for effective AI use. While global investment in AI is rapidly growing—with projections reaching $1.39 trillion by 2029—the benefits are unevenly distributed. Added to the environmental concern about the cost of AI, such as high energy use and reliance on scarce materials. To ensure AI contributes to sustainable agriculture and climate action, its development must be guided by ethical principles that promote fairness, transparency, and environmental care. Within this context, this study aims to analyze the current state of the problem, establish sound foundations for its solution, propose several future scenarios, and present a comprehensive set of actionable recommendations for decision-makers.
The Economic Pathway of Intelligent Digital Transformation in Light of the Forecasts of the Fifth Industrial Revolution
Objective: This study examined the economic trajectory of smart digital transformation in the context of the Fifth Industrial Revolution, focusing on its economic and social implications and emerging business models. It also sought to assess successful international experiences and extract key lessons. Methodology: A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted, involving a review of literature on industrial revolutions and digital transformation, analysis of economic and digital indicators from international reports, and examination of applied models in pioneering countries. Results: The findings revealed that the Fifth Industrial Revolution promotes integration between humans and machines, emphasizing sustainability and the bioeconomy. Digital transformation was found to have a positive impact on productivity and economic growth, though challenges remain, including labor market restructuring and widening inequality. The study also identified the rise of new digital business models, such as the sharing economy and subscription economy, and showcased how some countries achieved successful digital transformation through comprehensive strategies. Conclusion: The study concluded with several recommendations: strengthening digital infrastructure, reforming education systems, and updating legislative frameworks. It further stressed the importance of private sector adaptation to these transformations through innovative business models.
The Influence of Website Quality on Customer Purchase Intention through the Mediating Role of E-satisfaction and Flow Experience
To attract customers and ensure a competitive advantage in the e-commerce environment, it is crucial to identify which website attributes encourage customers to purchase by offering them overall satisfaction and online customer experience. Although various website attributes have been widely analysed in the literature based on traditional marketing theories, limited studies have applied the holistic view to categorise these website attributes and online consumer experience in the context of flow state. Inspired by the DeLone and McLean IS model and flow theory, this study represents the first to analyse the effect of website quality as the unified perspective of information quality, system quality, and service quality on purchase intention via the mediation of flow experience and e-satisfaction in online travel agencies. This study conducted an online survey with 442 individuals from Turkey who used an online travel agency during the last 12 months. It confirms that telepresence and enjoyment were strongly influenced by system quality and service quality. Further, telepresence and e-satisfaction had a direct effect on purchase intention, while enjoyment did not impact. E-satisfaction was strongly influenced by information quality. Service quality and system quality positively influenced satisfaction but had less significant impact. In terms of the mediation variable, telepresence had mediating effects on the relationship between system quality and purchase intention. E-satisfaction mediated the impact of information, system, and service quality on purchase intention. However, enjoyment had no mediation role in this study. This research provides various unique contributions to the online consumer behaviour literature and e-retailers.
Blockchain Cryptocurrency New trusted third party or danger for its users
Purpose: This paper explores whether blockchain and cryptocurrencies serve as a new trusted intermediary or pose risks to users. By examining their fundamental characteristics, it assesses how these technologies impact trust in economic and financial systems. Method: A qualitative analysis is conducted, combining a literature review with case studies of blockchain applications across different industries. The study also draws on theoretical perspectives on trust and digital transformation to evaluate the implications of blockchain adoption. Results: Findings highlight blockchain’s potential to enhance trust through decentralization, transparency, and security. However, they also reveal significant risks, including regulatory challenges, cybersecurity threats, and the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies. The study emphasizes the dual nature of blockchain: as a tool for trust-building but also a source of uncertainty and disruption. Originality: While existing research often focuses on either the technological aspects of blockchain or its financial applications, this paper provides a comprehensive perspective by analyzing its role as a trust mechanism. By framing blockchain within the broader concept of trustnomics, the study offers insights into its long-term implications for business models, governance, and society.
AI-Integrated Agroponics for Arid Regions: A Circular Farming Model for Desert Food Security
Arid and desert regions face acute water scarcity, limited arable land, and a heavy reliance on food imports. This paper examines an advanced agroponic system (US Patent 12356905B2) that integrates aquaculture and hydroponics with AI-driven monitoring to enable sustainable crop production in such environments. The technology recirculates water and recycles nutrients from animal (fish) waste in a closed-loop, circular ecological model, providing a rich, natural nutrient solution for plants while purifying water for reuse. We describe the system’s design, including its sensor networks and machine-learning feedback controls, and detail its 5-year pilot operation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The pilot demonstrated high productivity and water efficiency, growing a wide variety of crops year-round with up to 80–90% less water than traditional farming methods. We analyse the large-scale benefits of desert agriculture, such as enabling local cultivation of vegetables, fruits, and even grains with minimal water, thereby bolstering food security and socioeconomic resilience. The system’s closed-loop design yields two products (fish protein and crops) while avoiding synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, aligning with organic farming principles and providing a pathway to organic certification. We compare the patented agroponic approach with conventional hydroponics and aquaponics, highlighting its advantages in nutrient diversity, environmental sustainability, and yield predictability under extreme climatic conditions. Finally, we discuss the potential to scale this technology across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Sub-Saharan Africa, and project its role in reducing import dependency, creating rural employment opportunities, and building climate-resilient agricultural systems in non-fertile, dry geographies.
The Nigerian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Understanding its Leverage and Exploits
Despite the potential in entrepreneurship to drive economic growth and job creation, there exist some systematic barriers that hinder startup development and scalability, resulting from limited interactions among the components of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This study examines the persistent challenges constraining Nigeria's entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nigeria. Through a rigorous desk review methodology analyzing secondary data from peer-reviewed journals (2019-2024), government reports (CBN, SMEDAN), and global databases (World Bank, NBS), this research proposed a tripartite framework identifying three interdependent ecosystem components: actors (entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers), factors (institutional frameworks, infrastructure, financing), and support systems (incubators, networks). This proposed novel tripartite framework is built on the existing literature by considering and harvesting all the scattered perspectives on the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The study reveals critical challenges including policy inconsistencies, infrastructural deficits costing businesses $29 billion annually, and financial exclusion affecting 80% of SMEs, alongside emerging opportunities in digital transformation and informal sector resilience. Key findings established that entrepreneurs employ adaptive strategies like fintech solutions and frugal innovation to navigate constraints, though these remain insufficient without structural reforms. The study concludes by recommending policy harmonization through centralized coordination, targeted infrastructure investment, hybrid financing models, ecosystem-aligned education reform, and decentralized support networks - providing stakeholders with a comprehensive framework for transforming Nigeria's entrepreneurial landscape into a catalyst for inclusive economic development.
Child Nutritional Intake Effects on Health Outcomes in Cameroon
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of nutritional intake on child health endowments in Cameroon and to verify the heterogeneity effect by household place of residence. The data was obtained from the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey, while the instrumental variable is used to estimate the result. The findings showed the existence of a positive and significant relationship between child nutritional intake and health outcomes and the result is more of rural phenomenon. The study suggest that policy makers should promote the consumption of balance diet among children of under five years old.
Knowledge Creation through the SECI Model: A Case-Based Perspective
The SECI model developrd by IKUJIRO NONAka is aknowledge model that describes how knowledge is created and shared within organizations. The model’s name is an acrony, for four stages of knowledge conversion
The Relation Between Economic Development and Equality Between Men and Women
This paper critically examines the complex relationship between economic development and gender equality, challenging the assumption that growth alone guarantees equity. Through comparative analysis and case studies, including Egypt’s Takaful and Karama programs, it argues for a shift from top-down economic models to locally grounded, inclusive development approaches that address structural gender disparities and contextual realities.
Electronic word of mouth quality and Customer Engagement: The mediating role of Emotional Contagion.
This paper investigates how electronic word of mouth quality and customer interaction drive emotional contagion among Egyptian buyers of electronic equipment. Data were acquired from 312 Egyptians who were represented by users of electronic gadgets and clients of social networking sites. To evaluate the hypotheses, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used. The findings revealed that consumer involvement and emotional contagion were highly influenced by perceived electronic word of mouth quality. Furthermore, the findings revealed that emotional contagion positively affected consumer involvement. Finally, the association between electronic word of mouth quality and consumer involvement was mediated by emotional contagion.
Saudi Arabia's Industrial Transformation Since 1976; Industrialization, Diversification and Global Influence, An Empirical Analysis and Forward-Looking recommendations
Over the last four decades, Saudi Arabia has undergone profound industrial transformation starting with the establishment of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) in 1976. This research critically examines the nation's industrialization process, analysing econometric data, historical context, and policy effectiveness. From 1974 to 2018, Saudi manufacturing GDP surged from SAR 32 billion to SAR 319.5 billion, with the share of non-oil manufacturing in total manufacturing rising from to , reflecting real diversification efforts. Current data show industrial sector growth of annually post-2015, a increase in industrial facilities since 2016, and manufacturing accounting for of GDP with aspirations to reach by 2030. Econometric models and predictive analysis underscore the crucial roles of capital accumulation, export sophistication, and labor market reforms. Despite remaining oil-reliant, Saudi Arabia's industrial policies, bolstered by Vision 2030, have positioned the Kingdom as a regional econsauditazion” policy, at same time who give transparent citizenship process to businessmen, talents, investors and leveraging technological adoption for sustainable diversification, who will create the “image” of a diversified country to world public and not more a “oil dependent” to global stakeholders.
The Impact of Multiple Production Lines on the Effectiveness of Quality Management Systems and Internal Controls in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical manufacturing is one of the most highly regulated industries globally due to its direct influence on patient safety and public health. To meet increasing market demand, many pharmaceutical firms operate multiple production lines, each potentially dedicated to a different product category—such as oral tablets, sterile injectables, or topical creams. While this strategy enhances productivity and flexibility, it introduces significant challenges in maintaining effective Quality Management Systems (QMS) and internal controls (Kechagias et al., 2021). The International Council for Harmonization (ICH Q10) emphasizes the importance of a robust pharmaceutical quality system that spans the product lifecycle. However, the complexity of coordinating several production lines can strain systems for batch release, deviation management, validation, and documentation (EMA, 2020). This study explores how such operational complexity affects the integrity and performance of QMS and internal control frameworks in pharmaceutical plants.
The impact of big data on customer experience
While today’s consumers are constantly informed through shopping sites, apps, and social media, they spontaneously share and exchange data on their interests and experiences. Thanks to the Internet, the volume of shared data in the past ten years has surpassed that of all previous human history. However, this ambition reflects a real need to adopt technologies that ensure reliable and intelligent inclusion of customer data. Companies integrating Big Data have become a critical focus in today’s landscape. Today, integrating Big Data appears to be a significant challenge for businesses. The main results of this study have provided insight into the necessary actions focused on key competencies and technical solutions. The interview analysis helped identify the most essential skills and technical solutions required to enhance customer experience through Big Data. Finally, given the rapid evolution of technology, companies must stay informed and continuously monitor technologies on the market to meet customer expectations and adapt to competitors.