No abstract

This article focuses on the use and significance of social media in the Arab region, particularly among Arab journalists within the context of the events known as ‘the Arab Spring’. Besides describing the social media tools preferred by the public and by Arab media professionals, the article assesses the relative use and trust of new versus old media tools. The article also explores the relationship between the use of social media in the Arab region and the political and social uprisings in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Syria. The main research question is: what is the relation between social media and Arab discourse in these countries? The article uses a multi-method approach, combining survey data with qualitative data from interviews. Surveys were distributed to 1000 people across the UAE, and 789 surveys were received back. The interviews were drawn from Arab media experts from various media organizations in the relatively understudied UAE. The research concludes that, although social media cannot be said to have been the sole cause for social change, certain social media outlets have indeed complemented old media and served as a catalyst for the uprisings that have swept several Arab states in the Middle East.

The use of social media received a lot of 'buzz' due to the Arab Spring because of the events that unfurled in the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, among other places. However, although not as dramatic as overthrowing a current regime, the use of social media has been revolutionary in most areas of the Middle East, especially the most conservative societies that have been relatively closed to information that flowed without constraint. Saudi Arabia, for example, now has the largest growing Twitter community of all the nations in the Arabian Gulf. Known for its tight rein on public discourse and the flow of information, even elements of the current regime are opening doors to a new public discourse in large part due to the influence of social media. This project will explore the social media phenomenon that has had such an impact on the relatively closed societies of the Arab world, specifically on how it has changed the nature of public. The researcher used content analysis of four Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) journalist accounts and surveyed online research publications related to the subject from two different library databases that included hundreds of peer-reviewed academic journals. Also, the researcher conducted online keyword searches for information about research publications on the subject. The article concluded that the use of Twitter is shifting the Arab people discourse and opinion in the kingdom because those opinions are being heard instead of censored. Social media is having a major impact on the conservative Saudi, Qatar and UAE societies.

This paper evaluates the feminization of Public Relations (P.R.) and how that may shape the role of P.R. in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). One goal is to highlight the implications for the unique females’ functions between male managers and female P.R. practitioners. Research questions include: What are the common challenges and gender issues in public relations in the UAE? Do P.R. managers encourage the recruitment of female workers and leaders in the P.R. field? Therefore, the findings of the research are based on qualitative primary data derived from semi-structured in-depth interviews with the P.R. managers and P.R. female practitioners. The paper concludes that UAE public relations staff members continue to execute their main roles. Therefore, male and female workers differed significantly in their views about gender fairness in work locations, roles, status, ranks and tasks, responsibilities, and work-life balance.

This study focuses on the needs and priorities of local women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A face-to-face questionnaire was conducted with 981 local women in the Abu Dhabi region, focusing on women’s knowledge and perceptions of the services provided by the Government of Abu Dhabi. The research has implications for the following areas: education, health services, the labor market, housing, and social security. The sample includes a diverse population of local women of different ages, educational backgrounds, and professions. The aim of the research is to investigate the needs and determine the level of satisfaction of employment, education, health care, and rights among UAE women. This study finds that the government provides high-quality services for adult-continuing education and vocational training and women are keenly aware that nationals of both genders should be given equal employment opportunities in the public sector and that if the government wants to encourage women to work while still keeping Emirati fertility rates high, it must enact more flexible and favorable labor laws to ensure protection of workers’ rights.