December 2025

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 20 dec 2025

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is now a globally acceptable concept with different regions and nations implementing it according to their socio-economic setup. In the middle-eastern countries, particularly in United Arab Emirates, with fast economic shift from traditional to modern, CSR practices of corporations is attracting the interest of academics and researchers. In one such research study, 'Corporate social responsibility in a non-western context: The case of the United Arab Emirates' (Authors: Osman Antwi-Boateng of United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain; Noura Eisa Saeed Al Harasi of United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain), published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 25 September 2025, explores the institutional and cultural dynamics that drive CSR practices in UAE, a non-western thriving economy, and examines the benefits and challenges associated with it. Moreover, the study tries to find out how CSR functions in a hybrid political economy and rentier contexts, which UAE provides an apt example. Researchers say, 'Rather than just identifying the benefits and challenges, the study also explores how CSR is shaped in environments where state-corporate relations are tightly coupled, and civil society influence is marginal. In doing so, the study enhances the applicability of dominant CSR theories such as stakeholder theory, in the context of the UAE's political economy.' KEY FINDINGS - Social Benefits (Utilizing stakeholder theory and thematic analysis approach): Improved stakeholder dialogue, value creation, and responsiveness to societal need; Economic Benefits: Job creation and enhanced corporate competitiveness; Challenges: Contradictory regulations, dependency culture, lack of embedded frameworks, and poor impact measurement. According to the researchers, 'The findings have several policy implications. First, the findings offer valuable guidance for cooperation among stakeholders in the UAE and other countries regarding embracing and implementing CSR initiatives. Second, the findings offer valuable lessons about CSR, which can guide companies in identifying the best CSR practices and avoiding bad practices to maximize outcomes from CSR initiatives. Third, the findings can guide public awareness campaigns regarding CSR to deepen the practice among companies. Finally, the findings indicate that the political economy of a country plays a vital role in the practice and benefits of CSR as government developmental priorities and regulations drives the CSR agendas of corporations and organizations.' Read on...

Nature: Corporate social responsibility in a non-western context: The case of the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Osman Antwi-Boateng, Noura Eisa Saeed Al Harasi

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