Title: Cultural distance or cultural similarity? A study of academic expatriates in the UAE

Authors: Roberta Fenech; Priya Baguant; Ihab Abdelwahed

Addresses: Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah Women's Campus, Sharjah University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates ' Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah Women's Campus, Sharjah University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates ' Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah Women's Campus, Sharjah University City, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between cultural distance and, the cultural competence and adjustment of academic expatriates in the UAE. The cultural distance paradox has been investigated amongst the general population of expatriates but not amongst academic expatriates. The two hypotheses under study are: H1: There is a positive relationship between cultural distance and expatriate social adjustment; H2: There is a positive relationship between cultural distance and expatriate cultural competence. The theoretical framework of this study is the theory of selective perception and dissonance and the theory of change. Qualitative data was collected from 103 academic expatriates. The main findings in this study are in support of the cultural distance paradox. Additionally, expatriates from different cultures to that of the host country culture do better in cultural competence and adjustment than expatriates from cultures that are similar to the host country culture.

Keywords: cultural distance paradox; cultural competence; adjustment; academic expatriate; United Arab Emirates.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2022.119563

International Journal of Business Performance Management, 2022 Vol.23 No.1/2, pp.76 - 89

Received: 25 May 2020
Accepted: 15 Oct 2020
Published online: 09 Dec 2021 *

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