This study examined the effect of the gender and culture of the IELTS examiner on the performance of Arab examinees on the IELTS speaking test. It relied on Communication Accommodation Theory to account for the linguistic behaviour of the examinees in reaction to the gender and the culture of the IELTS examiner. Through interviewing 15 female and 15 male IELTS examinees in Al Ain, the UAE and conducting focus group interviews with 10 IELTS teachers, the study showed that the two independent variables, i.e. the gender and culture of the IELTS examiners had different impacts on the examinees’ performance on the IELTS speaking test. The results demonstrated that the gender of the IELTS examiner affected the performance of the Arab examinees in terms of preference. It also showed that the examiners’ culture influenced the answers provided by the examinees who may not have been aware of certain cultural aspects related to the questions asked in the IELTS speaking test and vice versa. With respect to communication accommodation, the IELTS examinees’ answers demonstrated a divergence tendency rather than a convergence one, reflecting a desire to establish social distance with the interlocutor, which may exhibit their strong feelings about their identity.

Purpose of the study: The study aimed to identify the role of qualitative social policies in achieving the highest international indicators in the degree of balance and social organization, by taking the UAE as a model in qualitative social policies; with expectations to eventually follow this model. Also, in light of current events, this model has a positive role in reducing the social chaos in many Arab and international countries. Methodology: The methodology of the qualitative analytical approach was used by returning to the statistical reports on indicators of the degree of integration and community organization in the United Arab Emirates United, the historical methodology of returning to documents, records and laws to identify the most prominent policies in the country. Main Findings: The study has concluded that social policy has a major role in achieving the highest degrees of integration and community organization. Applications of this study: The study also reached a set of recommendations, the most important of which were: the need to follow the qualitative social policies as in the model of the United Arab Emirates; and study the feasibility of applying those policies to societies that suffer from Anomie. Novelty/Originality of this study: No study has investigated the relationship between the social policies in the UAE and the international indicators of balance and social organization.

Despite the importance of vaccinations to combat COVID-19, some people are still wary. This study examines factors affecting attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Data were collected using an online survey to determine the factors that affect people’s attitudes reluctant to have the COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 958 respondents participated in this study. The main factors affecting people’s attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine in the UAE are medical concerns, religious concerns, misinformation about vaccines on social media, the rapid speed of vaccine development, and the risks of side effects associated with the vaccine. There was no difference in gender, but the older respondents (55 and above), those less educated, unemployed, and those who work in the private sector have more fears and hesitancy toward taking the vaccine.

The study seeks to understand and reflect upon the attitudes of the parents of ADHD diagnosed children concerning the most predominant challenges of distance learning during isolation in the Covid 19 pandemic. To achieve this goal, the researchers conducted a descriptive study using an electronic survey on a sample of 28 parents of citizens and residents in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi / United Arab Emirates. The attitudes of parents of students with special needs towards the most prominent challenges of distance learning indicated a high degree of concern on their part. The study recommends conducting in-depth studies that reveal the existence of statistically significant differences in the respondents' answers resulting from some demographic variables such as nationality (citizen, resident) and the educational attainment of parents.

The phenomenon of delayed marriage in society in general and in the UAE society, in particular, has become obvious. Attitudes and opinions regarding marriage have changed due to the intense evolvement of society, and the rise in education and economic levels. This study seeks to identify the factors leading to the delay of marriage among young men, from the perspective of a sample of 272 male students at Al Ain University. The descriptive analytical approach was adopted to analyze the data and identify the factors perceived as contributing to the delay of marriage. The study concludes that high dowry, in general, is one of the main factors for delaying the age of marriage among young males in Al Ain city.   Received: 25 September 2022 / Accepted: 5 February 2023 / Published: 5 March 2023