Article: The role of social network governance in shaping advertising and business practices in the UAE Journal: International Journal of Economics and Business Research (IJEBR) 2026 Vol.30 No.4 pp.1 - 17 Abstract: The current research examines the outcomes of self-regulation in the social media industry, government directives on social network sites, and extensive laws for general economic utility on the advertising and trade of different business entities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study also examines how social media power mediates the relationships between government regulation, industry self-regulation, and complete rules for commerce, marketing, and public utility in different business communities in the UAE. Both SmartPLS and questionnaires were employed in this study to examine the data collected from the respondents. The data were collected through questionnaires distributed to business entities operating in the UAE, with 757 valid responses obtained from corporate representatives across multiple industries. The findings show a clear correlation between the advertising and trade of various business entities in the UAE and self-regulation of the industry, government directives, and inclusive regulations for public utilities. The findings also showed that social media power mediates relationships between government regulation, industry self-regulation, comprehensive general economy utility rules, and advertising and trade operations of diverse commercial operations in the United Arab Emirates. This study assists regulators in formulating rules on the influence, power, and regulation of social media. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: The role of social network governance in shaping advertising and business practices in the UAE

Authors: Ahmad Aljumah; Mohammed T. Nuseir; Ghaleb A. El Refae

Addresses: College of Communication and Media, Al Ain University, UAE ' College of Business, Al Ain University, UAE ' College of Business, Al Ain University, UAE

Abstract: The current research examines the outcomes of self-regulation in the social media industry, government directives on social network sites, and extensive laws for general economic utility on the advertising and trade of different business entities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study also examines how social media power mediates the relationships between government regulation, industry self-regulation, and complete rules for commerce, marketing, and public utility in different business communities in the UAE. Both SmartPLS and questionnaires were employed in this study to examine the data collected from the respondents. The data were collected through questionnaires distributed to business entities operating in the UAE, with 757 valid responses obtained from corporate representatives across multiple industries. The findings show a clear correlation between the advertising and trade of various business entities in the UAE and self-regulation of the industry, government directives, and inclusive regulations for public utilities. The findings also showed that social media power mediates relationships between government regulation, industry self-regulation, comprehensive general economy utility rules, and advertising and trade operations of diverse commercial operations in the United Arab Emirates. This study assists regulators in formulating rules on the influence, power, and regulation of social media.

Keywords: industry self-regulation; networks links; marketing and commerce; government regulation; social media power; detailed regulations for public utility; UAE.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2026.153695

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2026 Vol.30 No.4, pp.1 - 17

Received: 04 Jun 2025
Accepted: 31 Dec 2025
Published online: 21 May 2026 *

Title: The role of social network governance in shaping advertising and business practices in the UAE

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