In educational literature set in Western contexts, student performance is linked to positive family involvement and home environment; however, literature on the educational experience of college students in non-Western contexts, including the Gulf region, is scarce. Using both student and guardian surveys, this quantitative study investigates the effect of home environment and family involvement on the educational experience of students in a federally funded college in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as links between these factors and students’ academic achievement. Results indicated that academic performance was linked to specific family involvement behaviors—categorized as enablers—financial, logistical, and physical supports; influences—interaction intended to shape values, opinions, and attitudes; and engagements—direct and demonstrable interaction—and to specific home environment factors including parents’ marital statuses, gender, family size, presence of siblings in college or university, parents’ education levels, and mother’s working status. في الأدبيات التربوية المنصوص عليها في السياقات الغربية، يرتبط أداء الطلاب بالتدخل العائلي والبيئة

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, tribal familial affiliations form the basis of society with opinions and viewpoints of parents and other family elders heavily influencing the decisions of younger Emiratis. Social transitions caused by rapid and progressive economic development have affected each consecutive generation with a vastly different set of social circumstances than the preceding generation. This paper presents results of a study investigating the types and extent of family involvement in Emirati students' college education using an online bilingual survey with 1173 participants and telephone interview with 30 randomly selected guardians. Findings of the study indicate the presence of a generational gap in education and experience between Emirati students and family elders. The generational gap may lead to ineffective academic support and career preparation.