The global consumer electronics industry has recently seen intense rivalry between a few major players. This research focuses on consumer behaviour, brand preferences and the relationship between socio-demographic factors and brand preferences in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A quantitative study of data collected through a web-based questionnaire concludes that quality and brand equity are the major determinants of a consumer's decision and identifies Sony and Apple as the preferred electronics and smart phone brands. Age, gender and income do not influence brand preference within the UAE market.

The physical distancing requirements designed to slow the contagion of COVID-19 instigated sweeping changes to the education sector. School closures in 193 countries brought significant disruption to education and to the lives of children, parents, and teachers. This study explored the experiences of school stakeholders during this period of crisis distance learning (DL). The perspectives of participants in six discrete focus groups of pupils, parents, and teachers at a private school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, were subject to thematic analysis. Researchers identified three key themes, including 'a need for stakeholder support', 'curriculum delivery implications', and 'educational outcomes of crisis distance learning'. Conclusions and recommendations will be of interest to researchers, teachers, school leaders, and teacher education providers.

Learning Outcomes By the end of this chapter on minors, internet-enabled devices and online shopping behaviour, readers will be able to Identify fundamental benefits and harm engendered when minors have unlimited access to internet-enabled devices Locate the main catalysts of benefit and harm to minors due to internet usage Show how a priori studies have created a rich and balanced narrative in the field of benefits and harm of the internet to minors Argue how the benefits outweigh the harm (or vice versa) impacting on minors in unlimited use of the internet Develop strategies to enhance the benefits and limit the harm caused by unlimited access to the internet

This paper aims to enhance the supervision-level of post-graduate dissertations in a Middle East Branch Campus of a Transnational Higher Education Institution (HEI). For a number of years, the proposal stage of the dissertation had been more or less ignored and final dissertation results had been adequate. Then in one academic year, a series of initiatives comprising; focused workshops, formative assessment, one to one guidance, best practice panels and proposal grading, were developed and implemented. This resulted in a sustained passing rate and a significant elevation of grade classifications awarded. The author suggests that the practices contained herein could benefit similar dissertation programs offered both in the Middle East region and worldwide.

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the challenges and opportunities faced by the contemporary marketer looking to the future of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach - Based on a review of the literature, futures studies and concepts originating from expert opinion, this paper explores futures studies, multiculturalism and international vs local branding in the context of the UAE.Findings - The main challenges of operating in this environment include the cultural diversity and sensitivity of its consumers and short-termism. Firms most likely to succeed in such a market are those which choose to honour and celebrate differences, thus promoting a form of common, multicultural identity among residents. A consideration of futures scenarios is essential for successful marketers in such a different and new market.Practical implications - The difficulties of marketing in such a diversified marketplace and service-scape as the UAE should be addressed. A culture of patience, tolerance and empathy needs to be established. With such a range of highly non-homogeneous consumers, commonalities need to be embraced through acknowledging and celebrating differences, and a culture of multicultural inclusion practised. By looking at what has happened in a very short space of time and extrapolating forwards, an impression of what is to come in the UAE, and to a certain extent other locations, is envisaged. The need for marketers to build strategic flexibility to adapt to changes in the social, political and cultural environment is highlighted.Social implications - It is intended that such collaborative efforts as those reported in the paper and the opinions generated therein will engender deeper understanding and progress for the future of the UAE and the region.Originality/value - The paper presents a novel and progressive approach to marketing to multicultural populations, bearing in mind a range of possible futures.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes of students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) towards non‐institutionally sanctioned student evaluation web sites, and to consider how educational institutions might respond to the demands of students for specific information.Design/methodology/approachThe study involved a self‐completed questionnaire administered to 118 undergraduate students at a single university in the UAE.FindingsEven though there exists no UAE‐based web site that carries student evaluations of faculty/teaching, 13 per cent of the survey participants had previously visited a site that held student ratings, 85 per cent said they would consider posting on one if it existed in the country, and just over a half of the students were in favour of such web sites being established in the UAE.Research limitations/implicationsDespite limitations, such as the sample size and convenience sampling strategy, it is clear that students appreciate information about course evaluations and that educational institutions should consider how students obtain this information.Practical implicationsThe advent of student evaluation web sites in the UAE could bring a set of challenges and opportunities to educational institutions, but, whether they are established or not, institutions might benefit from developing effective strategies for the dissemination of course evaluation and other student‐related data in the near future.Originality/valueStudent evaluation web sites, such as RateMyProfessors.com, are popular in the USA, Canada and the UK, but it was unknown how students in a relatively conservative country such as the UAE would react to such web sites. Educational institutions can use the findings of this study to develop suitable policies and strategies that address the issues discussed herein.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU;" lang="EN-AU"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Building upon the review of contemporary literature, this paper reports on studies in the field of the of&nbsp;web-based shopper market segmentation. It finds that unique groups of consumers perceive the internet differently;&nbsp;and that the key to successful&nbsp;web-based marketing strategy is clear segmentation and division. Using the findings of an empirical study comprising a set of focus groups and an electronic survey, criteria for segmenting web-based shoppers by; gender, age, education, life stage, ethnic type and previous internet usage are offered and described. These criteria will be of interest to marketing academics and professionals alike.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB"></span></p>

This paper examines the challenges and opportunities faced by the contemporary marketer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a new nation in the Middle East. This serendipitous multi-cultural marketing paper is part of a larger study of marketing in the UAE and region in general. Using a combination of literature review and expert opinion collected by a round table focus group, the study explores themes that include multi-culturalism; service quality, international and local branding. The work concludes that whilst there are challenges such as diversity, newness of the nation, turbulent environmental factors and national image; there is a strong sense of optimism and strength in UAE marketing that can ultimately teach the world much in the fields of emerging nations, growth, diversification, portfolio management and survival during challenging times.

This research details a community collaboration in Dubai, UAE between a car dealership that trades some of the world's most prestigious automobiles, a group of 62 final year undergraduate marketing students in agency groups of four and five and a leading international university. The car dealer is launching a new youth-centric model and has challenged 14 student marketing communication agencies to devise a promotional concept pitch to be used as the new car launch campaign. The results suggest a mutually advantageous outcome for all community members; whereby the car dealer has its campaign tailor-made by its ultimate consumer, the students acquire experience and fuller curriculum vitae from one of the most recognised global brands and the university enhances its standing with the wider stakeholder community.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the marketing developments since 1992 at the interface of information and communication technology (ICT) from a marketing channel and consumer perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe research method used was a review of contemporary literature in the field of ICT with particular emphasis on the internet in relation to web‐based purchasing behaviour. This paper examines the usage of the medium as an aide to shopping and selling since its inception and suggests future directions and areas for further investigation.FindingsThe findings chronicle the evolution of the internet from a mere tool to enable web‐based shopping to an entity that is able to think; and with the possibility of being able to express or channel emotions and social interaction among users.Research limitations/implicationsThis research, whilst purporting to be a conceptual theory building paper, based on thorough literature review, would by no means pretend to be comprehensive and aims to engender further scholarly discussion and empirical testingPractical implicationsIn what ever way the web‐based entrepreneur and small to medium‐sized enterprise view the internet, it is not a business‐facilitator to be ignored; and those that do not treat it with the urgency and seriousness that it deserves, do so at their peril.Originality/valueThe paper suggests a novel way of viewing what we have come to take for granted. It is hoped that the discussions will be of value to academics and practitioners alike.

This paper reviews contemporary literature and reports on studies in the field of the market segmentation of web- based shoppers. It suggests that discrete groups of consumers perceive the internet differently to each other; and that the key to successful web-based marketing strategy is clear segmentation and taxonomy. Based on findings of an empirical study comprising a series of focus groups and an email survey, ways of segmenting web-based shoppers by; gender, age, education, life stage, ethnic type and previous internet usage are suggested and detailed. These taxonomies should be of benefit marketing academics, administrators and practioners alike. (100 word abstract) This paper suggests ways of segmenting web-based shoppers by; gender, age, education, life stage, ethnic type and previous internet usage. These taxonomies should benefit marketing academics and practioners alike. (30 word abstract)