Gulf Council Research Articles

Disclosure of Human Capital Practices

The objective is to assess the disclosure practices of human capital in the banking sector of the Gulf Council Countries. This study aims to assess the level and quality of human capital disclosure and to investigate the consistency among countries. The study investigates the human disclosure practice of eight banks from each the six gulf countries with a total of 48 banks out of the 56 national banks over five years. The paper develops the variables of the disclosure index based on long discussion with professional and researchers. The disclosure index is computed for each variable for all banks under the sample. Compensation comes as the most disclosed variable with an average score of 2.87 Whereas knowledge is the least disclosed variable with an average score of 0.75. The Bahrain banks score the first level of disclosure with a disclosure score of 391, followed by UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Why the Good White People Should Not Ask Me If I’m Staying Safe

All safety is an illusion – James BaldwinSafe from what?Are we safe from the news on our screens, or the lightness of our skins? I’m brown, you are white: two good hearts, but. Two non-Black people asking each other if we’re staying safe. There’s something seriously wrong with why we choose not to address the not-us part of the equation. Who is us? Who is not-us?I’m a brown woman: a woman of color, PoC, a woman, (being a woman is always bad). A GCC (Gulf Council Countries) national, AShAB (assigned Shia at birth), an other, bullied for something I never understood.

The Qualitative Characteristics of Accounting Information, Earnings Quality, and Islamic Banking Performance: Evidence from the Gulf Banking Sector

The study aims to operationalize financial reporting quality in terms of the qualitative characteristics (QCs) as stated by the Accounting and Auditing Organization of Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) standards, as well as to investigate their association with earnings quality (EQ) and banking performance. The study uses secondary data extracted from DataStream to operationalize and measure the financial reporting quality in the annual reports of 25 out of the 27 Islamic banks in the Gulf Council Countries (GCC) for a 5-year period (2014–2018), meaning 125 annual reports were used. The study applies a manual content analysis to the annual reports to score all the items of QCs and operationalizes 25 measurement items that represent the six QCs. All items use 5-point Likert-type scales to compute the sub-score and the overall index through the Neural Network System. The findings of the model paths show a significant positive relationship between EQ and most of the QCs. The first hypothesis is partially accepted as there is a positive relationship between EQ and relevancy, reliability, prudence and general quality; however, there is no significant relationship between EQ and understandability and there is a significant negative relationship between EQ and comparability. Moreover, the study finds a significant positive relationship between EQ and ROA on one hand and EQ and ROE on the other hand (p-value = 0.00), meaning the second hypothesis is supported.

Cinacalcet use in pediatric chronic kidney disease. A survey study.

Objectives:To evaluate the practice and attitude of pediatrics nephrologists about cinacalcet use in children.Methods:An electronic structured questionnaire was answered by pediatric nephrologists practicing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Gulf Council countries (GCC).Results:A total of 42 pediatric nephrologists responded, of them, 42% used cinacalcet for young children ≤5 years of age and 79% used for children. There were wide variations in the method of administration (examples: crushed, divided, whole tablets), monitoring, doses and response definition, and follow-up. No serious complications after starting cinacalcet was observed in 50%, while 40% reported various complications, mainly hypocalcemia (70%). Cinacalcet was stopped without achieving the target parathyroid hormone in more than half (55%) of children because of intractable adverse effects (40%), poor response (30%), non-adherence (25%), or high cost (5%).Conclusion:Cinacalcet is used by the majority of pediatric nephrologists in KSA and GCC. A standard clinical guideline is needed to be followed by all users.

Innovative Preventive and Resilience Approaches Against Aedes-linked Vector-borne Arboviral Diseases Threat and Epidemics Burden in Gulf Council Countries.

Facing the local and imported borderless Aedes-linked vector-borne viral diseases threat and epidemics burden, the Health Committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including the Saudi Arabian government, announced that all Gulf countries are still free from the threat of a Zika virus epidemic. This article provides a vision of integrated eco-friendly and sustainable behavioral communication change (BCC), biological control preparedness and resilience approaches, and innovations implementation in Saudi Arabia and GCC for the purpose of controlling the threat of Aedes-linked vector-borne viral diseases. Implementing innovative Aedes-linked arboviral preventive and resilient control measures is pivotal in improving community-based surveillance-response systems, BCC multidisciplinary and empowerment methods, and in enhancing community social mobilization and risk communication strategies. Moreover, boosting social, cultural and ecological preparedness, and prompt management approaches are necessary against the threat of local and global zoonotic epidemics and pandemics. Nurturing evidence and proven tick or mosquito vector populations' reduction, planned urbanization, climate change and waste management systems, and implementing data sharing and tailored mitigation solutions are crucial against the persisting Aedes competence and the public health threat of dengue, MERS-CoV, and influenza outbreaks. Sustained investment and ample financial allocation are needed to improve Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj and Umrah mass gathering) including point of entry screening and treatment, community-based education and awareness campaigns, and increasing mosquito vector viral pathogens surveillance interventions. Increasing evidence-based population participation and resilient emergency community preparedness and rapid response programs integration are critical to reduce mosquito breeding sites, dengue, and other arboviral infections.

The impact of the organizational cultures on the job performance in the GCC companies

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue the link between organizational cultures on the job performance in the Gulf Council countries companies. The main goal of the paper is to examine empirically the determinants of organizational cultures (structure, strategy, leadership, and high-performance work), and their impacts on job performance. The relevance of the decision of this scientific problem is that organizational cultures are a relevant problem for the companies in the Gulf Council countries. The Investigation of the topic of organizational cultures and the job performance in the paper is carried out in the following logical sequence: The methodological tool of this contribution tries to measure the effect of organizational cultures, structure, strategy, leadership, and high-performance work on job performance. The main purpose of the research is focused on the empirical approach justified by the use of the structural equations. The paper presents the results of an empirical analysis which showed that the effect of organizational cultures, structure, strategy, leadership, and high-performance work exerts positive relationships on job performance. The results found suggest that structure and strategy as indicators of organizational cultures, job performance with a high-performance work practice. The results showed a positive impact between the variables and implied that organizational cultures in the Gulf Council countries companies have a positive and significant relationship with job performance. The results confirm the existence of positive relationship as significant between structure, strategy and job performance in the Gulf Council countries companies. The research empirically confirms and theoretically proves that organizational cultures are significant relationships with job performance. The results of the research can be useful for the Gulf Council countries companies to promote the organizational cultures for good job performance. Keywords: organizational cultures, strategy, leadership, high-performance work, job performance.

Patient-Related Determinants of Glycaemic Control in People with Type 2 Diabetes in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this systematic review is to assess patient-related factors affecting glycaemic control among people with type 2 diabetes in the Arabian Gulf Council countries. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched from their date of inception to May 2016. Two researchers independently identified eligible studies and assessed the risk of bias. A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. One study was population based, six recruited participants from multiple centres, and the remaining were single centred. The majority of the studies were of low to moderate quality. Factors associated with poor glycaemic control include longer duration of diabetes, low level of education, poor compliance to diet and medication, poor attitude towards the disease, poor self-management behaviour, anxiety, depression, renal impairment, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. Healthcare providers should be aware of these factors and provide appropriate education and care especially for those who have poor glycaemic control. Innovative educational programs should be implemented in the healthcare systems to improve patient compliance and practices. A variation in the results of the included studies was observed, and some potentially important risk factors such as dietary habits, physical activity, family support, and cognitive function were not adequately addressed. Further research is needed in this area.

A directional semi-oriented radial DEA measure: an application on financial stability and the efficiency of banks

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a widely used non-parametric technique for measuring the relative efficiencies of decision-making units with multiple inputs and multiple outputs. The main caveat of traditional DEA models is that they are applicable to positive inputs and outputs, while negative data are commonly present in most real applications. To accommodate variables that can take both negative and positive values, Emrouznejad et al. (Eur J Oper Res 200(1):297–304, 2010a) introduced the Semi-Oriented Radial Measure (SORM) model, which was later modified by Kazemi Matin et al. (Measurement 54:152–158, 2014). The present study proposes a new version of the modified SORM model, using directional distance function and choosing a relevant direction to efficiently deal with variables with both positive and negative values. Our Directional SORM (DSORM) model is superior to its predecessors from both computational and target settings perspectives while it allows for the dual formulation of linear programming. To illustrate our proposed model, we employ two widely used selections of inputs and outputs to estimate the efficiency scores for a sample of banks operating in Persian Gulf Council Countries (GCC) over the period of 2002–2011. The estimated efficiency scores are then used to study the impact of financial system stability on technical efficiency of individual banks.

Perceptions and Predictions of Service Quality-Customer Satisfaction of Conventional and Islamic Banks in the GCC Region

Abstract Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate differences in the perceived relationship of service quality (SERVQUAL)-customer satisfaction between conventional and Islamic banks in the Gulf Council of Arab Countries (GCC) region which appears to be lacking such an investigation. Design/methodology/approach – The authors solicited survey responses from bank clients in all six countries of the region. They used data reliability tests followed by factor analysis to shortlist individual items of SERVQUAL to few manageable constructs. Nonparametric ranking tests were used to identify the importance constructs affecting customer satisfaction. A nonparametric multiple linear regression was employed to model causal effects. Findings - The results indicate that the two types of banks were associated with different SERVQUAL drivers as perceived by banks customers. Determinants, of overall satisfaction for the two types, also proved to be different. Research limitations/implications – Despite the important contribution of the paper to a region lacking a SERVQUAL comparative study on conventional versus Islamic banking, a similar investigation, with additional variables and more responses, at the global level would provide a better understanding of the subject. Practical implications – As firm value is associated with customer satisfaction, banks managers should, whether conventional or Islamic, pay attention to the details of each construct proved to be a predictor of customer satisfaction. Originality/value – The value of this research is in the wider geographical region comprising the highest number of Islamic banks and conventional in operation. It is also one of the few studies employing nonparametric multiple linear regression to model causal relationship in this area of research. Keywords: SERVQUAL, customer satisfaction, Islamic banking, GCC, nonparametric regression.

Wind-powered desalination for strategic water storage: Techno-economic assessment of concept

Storing desalinated water within a strategic aquifer storage and recovery system has been identified as a potential cost-effective solution for the Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) countries. In this study, we investigated a wind-driven reverse osmosis (RO) scheme to create fresh water for ASR. The ongoing Liwa ASR project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) served as a case-study to assess the economic feasibility of the concept. As the RO plant is not destined to meet a real-time demand, its water production rate was allowed to vary, following a fluctuating wind power supply, thus avoiding the need for costly power storage. New generation wind turbines specifically designed to operate at low wind speed were investigated, which are better suited for the GCC. Sites were identified using Geographic Information System and the recently developed Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the UAE, followed by technical and cost analyses. Findings showed that the wind-driven RO scheme can be competitive with the current thermal desalination in the UAE. However, the avoidance of shut-down of a variable load RO plant hampers the effective use of the fluctuating wind power, resulting in increased plant capital costs due to plant over-sizing. Several scenarios were investigated in this regard.

Control mechanisms employed between headquarters and subsidiaries in Multinational Enterprises (MNEs)

PurposeThis study aims to investigated the control mechanisms of headquarters exercised over their subsidiaries and is conducted with the help of primary data.Design/methodology/approachThe headquarters–subsidiary model used in this study has four components of control in it: personal centralised control (PCC), bureaucratic formalised control (BFC), output control (OUT) and informal control (INFO). These controls (as an agency mechanism) provide a solid platform on which other mechanisms can be built. Using a data collected from 147 multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the influence of each of these factors on this selection is empirically tested with the help of primary data.FindingsThe study found that Anglo-Saxon countries heavily use impersonal types of control mechanisms, specifically bureaucratic formalised control and output control. Compared to the USA, the level of control in Oriental subsidiaries is less; or, put differently, the latter enjoy a greater degree of autonomy than US subsidiaries. The complementarities of these control mechanisms may be linked to earlier studies that show that successful organisations combine tight control with more open, informal and flexible information and communication exchanges. A focus that bends too much towards formal control or too much towards informal control may threaten a company’s existence. This research provides an empirical explanation on this premise.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology adopted for this study can be extended for similar studies in the Middle East or in Gulf Council Cooperation countries.Practical implicationsThe study show that MNEs from different countries often have different dominant control mechanisms and organisational models. This is partly due to different industry distributions, but it is also related to cultural/societal differences between countries. These differences should be considered when searching for a partner in cross-national mergers and acquisitions. Failure to do so could hinder the successful operation of a merger that seems to be perfect from a financial and competitive point of view.Originality/valueThe study explored variations in the extent of control mechanisms, according to country of origin and organisational characteristics, in a challenging country of domicile. This empirical work not only replicates earlier studies, retesting propositions encountered in the existing literature, but also sheds new light on the challenges of doing business in the Gulf region, and the consequences of the large scale usage of expatriates.

“One More Dirham”: Migration, Emotional Politics and Religion in the Home Films of Kerala

<p>This article explores the Islamic home-film movement in Kerala, India, a video film movement by amateur filmmakers of the Muslim Community. These films circulate in VCD and DVD format in retail outlets in both Kerala and the Gulf Council Countries (GCC). These films are important for their supporting group, Jamaat-e-islami, one of the most powerful Islamist groups in the South Asian countries of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as they try to gain hegemony among Kerala’s Sunni Muslims through an alternative Islamic public culture. Home-films now circulate beyond their original audience of Muslim women in Kerala, among Keralite migrants in the Arab Gulf, who organize public screenings in social gatherings and labour camps. Indeed, the large-scale migration of labor to the GCC has led to a re-imagination of the moral geography of Kerala Muslim households to account for changing gender norms and family structures. The films, concerned with social reform among the Muslim Community of Kerala, also refract the experience of migration to the GCC, particularly in narrating an emotional landscape characterized by precarious conditions of labour, racialised hierarchy and the kafala (the specific employment system in many GCCs, that is a combination of a contract and patronage) through specific tropes of precarity and philosophy of risk in these films.</p>

Web Development in the GCC from an HCI and a Globalization/Customization Perspective

Objectives: This research aims to evaluate the Websites of companies in the (Gulf Council Cooperation Countries). Methods: A total of 129 websites from companies in these countries (except Oman) were evaluated against guidelines related to HCI and informational features and to globalization and personalization issues. Findings: The results are not positive when assessing the interest to implement the features related to the aforementioned issues features. Applications/ Improvements: A lot more training and awareness is necessary to ensure website quality and to be successful in following their companies’ strategies and offer their potential digital customers a convenient and productive navigation experience.

Teaching Java Programming on Smartphone-pedagogy and Innovation; Proposal of its Ontology Oriented Implementation

The growth of mobile technologies was evolutionary in the progression of technology, it opened a revolution in computing in a quicker time frame. The easy availability and extreme mobility with rich set of applications made smartphones an inevitable tool for students. This is the high time for academic domain to go for innovative teaching practices with the inclusion of mobile technologies to bridge the gap between academia and industry in a considerable manner. This paper is aimed to introduce an innovative approach of learning computer programming on smartphone platform. The proposed approach intends to introduce a new pedagogy of teaching programming on a platform by developing applications instead of teaching a programming language for creating applications. The main premise of this practice is the introduction of a tailored module to teach Java programming language while developing apps for a leading mobile platform-Android. The proposed module can be an appropriate alternative for the module ‘Introduction to programming’ of computer science curriculum across the globe. Pilot implementation has been done in one of the premier higher education centres of Gulf Council Country (GCC). An ontology based implementation of the proposed module ensures its consistency in delivery and the future work will focus more in this direction.

Corporate Governance and Sustainability Practices in Islamic Financial Institutions: The Role of Country of Origin

Abstract This study examines the role of country of origin on the relationship between corporate governance and sustainability practices in Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs). Different from conventional financial institutions, the IFIs has a group of Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB) to act as the governance decision maker and a gate keeper to the institutions in ensuring that IFIs will comply with the Shariah laws. Thus, the corporate governance dimension in this study includes the size of SSB in addition to the size of board members, the number of independent directors, and the aspects of environmental, social, and profit in the IFIs’ mission and/or vision. A total sample of 82 IFIs in Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) and Non-GCC countries were examined. The study found that the board size, directors’ independence, and the aspects of environmental, social and profit in the mission and/or vision have positive relationship for IFIs in GCC countries. However, the size of SSB is found to have insignificant relationship with the sustainability practices of IFIs. The country of origin is found to have a moderating role on the relationships between all of the corporate governance dimensions with sustainability practices except for the size of SSB and sustainability practices relationship. This implies that the size of SSB of IFIs in GCC countries does not have a great influence towards sustainability practices as compared to the size of SSB in non-GCC countries.

Continuity of care challenges in GCC countries: H. pylori eradication as example in a UAE Tertiary Care Center

Background: Helicobacter pylori infections are extremely prevalent worldwide. H. pylori infection is a factor in the genesis of gastric or duodenal ulcers, gastric cancer, and rarely gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid-tissue lymphoma (MALT). Outcomes of infected patients are variable from one population to another. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries are made of six monarchies: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. They have many cultural and economic similarities including the health-care sector. Data about H. pylori infection prevalence in these countries are limited. This particular infection is common in this part of the world as in other developing countries with resistant H. pylori strains documented. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate continuity of patient care practice in Gulf Countries by studying a specific example at a regional Tertiary Care Center. Materials and Methods: A descriptive retrospective pilot study, conducted in a tertiary care center in the United Arab Emirates from 2013 to 2014, reviewing electronic medical records for patients tested and followed for Helicobacter pylori infection. Three tests were performed to establish diagnosis: Urea Breath Test, H. pylori stool antigen testing, or gastric biopsy with histopathological examination. Patients tested positive for H. pylori positive were provided first appointment to initiate treatment according to two established regimens. They were further followed, with repeat testing, in order to establish if they achieved H. pylori eradication. Result: A total of 480 patients were tested for possible H. pylori infection, 168 of them tested positive for this infection (100%). However only 107 patients (64%) showed up for a first follow-up appointment to check testing result and start therapy whereas more than one-third: 61 patients (36%) missed this appointment. After starting therapy for H. pylori eradication, only 48 patients (29%) kept their second follow-up appointment needed to confirm their H. pylori status post-treatment. Another 35% (59 patients) missed this appointment. Therefore of the initial 480 investigated individuals only 10% completed the process as indicated. Conclusion: The total rate of missed follow-up appointment exceeded two-thirds (71%) of patients infected with H. pylori in an UAE tertiary care center. This result reflects obvious discontinuity of care. In addition, this practice is likely prevalent in other medical fields within the Gulf Council Cooperation Countries which have similar cultural and educational settings. Many identifiable causes contributing to the degradation of care continuum are discussed.

A Pilot Study of the Challenges Associated with eLearning Developments in Saudi Universities

The ongoing developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) lead IT professionals of the academic environments worldwide to adjust the eLearning Management Systems of their universities' domains in this reality by adopting the new ideas and recommendations. As a direct consequence, the influence on teaching and learning environments is more than emphatic and the challenges revealing the all the more increasing need in utilizing modern learning applications, procedures, and policies more apparent than ever before. Nevertheless, their institutions remain teaching organizations with their core processes focused on the need for education and training of their student bodies often increasing in size, especially in the emerging economies and developing countries. The Middle East and especially the Gulf Council Countries' (GCC) higher education systems are no exception. Saudi Arabia in particular can be considered a special case in the GCC due to its numerous and rather crowded higher education institutions. In this research, a number of diverse types of administrative, technical, and general challenges and issues related to eLearning are covered in order to examine the current situation of eLearning progress in Saudi universities, investigate the obstacles preventing high rates of eLearning development, and discover what kind of learning procedures people of Saudi prefer to accommodate their educational preferences. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for the purpose of data collection. The data were gathered from students of these educational institutions in Saudi Arabia and from other individuals from all walks of life and of various employment statuses. This pilot research study suggested that the main reason behind the slow progress of eLearning in Saudi Arabia is the result of problems in the local telecommunications and other infrastructure, as noted by the survey participants, and far less the outcome of weaknesses of the established procedures and facilities available from the local eLearning institutions.

The Diabetic Foot Research in Arabs’ Countries

Objective: To review all the studies on diabetic foot disorders (DFDs) that were published on the PubMed? site aiming to identify the contributions of the different Arabs’ countries in the world scientific literature on this topic. Methods: The PubMed? site was searched using different key words for searching all the abstracts on Diabetes mellitus (DM) and DFDs published from Arabs’ League countries (n = 22). For this review, the 22 countries were classified into 3 groups: Group 1 (G1): Gulf Council Countries (GCC) countries (n = 6), Group 2 (G2): African Arabs’ countries (n = 10), Group 3 (G3): Asian and/or Eastern Mediterranean Arabs’ countries (n = 6). All the abstracts on DM coming from all of the 22 Arabs’ countries were initially reviewed to locate the ones related to DFDs’ management. All of the articles related to DFDs were reviewed by the senior author. A publication index was created to allow a comparison between the productivity of various countries and correlate that to the population number. Results: By April 2012, a total of 906 articles were published on DM, out of them 115 (11.6%) were related to DFDs. The largest number of DM/DFDs research came from G1 countries (n = 437/51) followed by G2 (n = 307/38) and finally G3 (n = 162/26). The percentages of the studies related to DFDs were therefore: 11.6%, 12.3% and 20.6% respectively. Saudi Arabia was the top on the list of all studied countries with 31 studies related to DFDs out of the 187 on DM (16.5%). Conclusion: More research on DFDs is needed in most of the Arabs’ countries particularly those in the GCC region which reported very high prevalence rates and are expected to hold these rates for the coming decades. Also, special attention is needed for those low-income Arabs’ countries that had no contributions in DFDs’ research.

Les réformes de l'enseignement supérieur au Bahrein : vers un développement économique durable

Bahrain has been experiencing along with other Gulf Council Cooperation countries a rapid development of its tertiary sector of education. The 2000's were marked by a boom in education with the opening of twelve private universities in this country of roughly 1 million inhabitants. Some institutions were locally based, while others worked in affiliation with foreign based universities. It is in sharp contrast with the 1990's, when only three public universities served as centers of higher education. The reasons behind this large-scale expansion of higher education include the growth of local and expatriate population, the planned transition from oil industry to a knowledge-based economy as well as the growing role of women in the workforce. All of these factors need to be addressed in order to assure a stable social and economic development, and education is the backbone of both. This paper examines the recent initiatives undertaken in Bahrain to monitor and ensure the quality of education of cross-border educational institutions as well as that of local education providers.

Factors affecting cost and schedule in Qatar's residential compounds projects

Cost and schedule deviation from the estimated baseline are common in construction projects and have a negative effect on construction activity, which is a substantial portion of the GDP in most countries. Previous research studies examined the causes of deviation in several countries including some Gulf Council Countries (GCC) like Kuwait and the UAE, but none were done on the considerable Qatari market, that is set to boom further with the upcoming preparations for hosting Qatar FIFA 2020 World Cup. Therefore, this study identified and ranked, using the relative importance index (RII) method, the significant factors influencing cost and schedule deviation in Qatari residential compound projects. A detailed questionnaire was developed on a Likert scale addressing these factors and was used to solicit the viewpoints of Grade A contractors. The collected project sample had a total capital investment of approximately $1.25 billion and the projects were executed within a five year period (2000–2005). The study indicated that over 85% of the projects experienced cost and/or schedule deviation. Most importantly, the study revealed that most contractors viewed material delays as the most prominent issue influencing construction projects predictability in Qatar. Other top ten factors included design changes, labour shortages, deficient estimates and cash flow planning.