Strategies to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UAE

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the playing field and overall operations for organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the world at large. In this chapter, the authors explore the biggest human resource (HR)-related challenges that firms in the UAE have faced as a result of COVID-19. The chapter outlines the skills and competencies required by professionals to overcome the challenges they have experienced. This groundbreaking chapter also undertakes an analysis of the extent to which COVID-19 and the lockdown have influenced the ability of human resource departments to achieve their key strategic objectives. It has been found that skills are among the most important competencies that professionals must possess today to keep pace with recent developments and in order to navigate the “new normal.” The chapter concludes with a review of the competitive survival strategies that UAE organizations are applying in order to remain sustainable during and post COVID-19.

Leaders’ behavioral approach in the digital era: task vs relationship

“…Like other countries across the globe, the UAE focused on using technological solutions as a strategic approach during the pandemic time (AlMarar et al ., 2021; Butt, 2021; Koppalakrishnan and Muuka, 2022). The virtual environment in UAE organizations has made flexible-work possible for the organizations and the employees (Alketbi et al ., 2022; Hamouche, 2021).…”

“…During the pandemic, the ICT infrastructure offered an opportunity to the UAE companies and technology developers, to develop and implement new technologies for task performance improvement (Goher et al ., 2021; Sundarakani and Onyia, 2021), however, the human aspect in these new work conditions must not be overlooked (Koppalakrishnan and Muuka, 2022; Leo et al ., 2021). The digital transformation strategies involving organizational members need to be well-understood before they can be generalized and adopted across the industries (García-Peñalvo, 2021; Schneider and Kokshagina, 2021).…”

“…Apart from this, the digital platform has also benefited the operational aspects of the firms and increased customer engagement, which has improved their experience and loyalty towards the brands (Rao et al, 2022). Like other countries across the globe, the UAE focused on using technological solutions as a strategic approach during the pandemic time (AlMarar et al, 2021;Butt, 2021;Koppalakrishnan and Muuka, 2022). The virtual environment in UAE organizations has made flexible-work possible for the organizations and the employees (Alketbi et al, 2022;Hamouche, 2021).…”

“…In the UAE, the government intervention to mitigate the virus' effect prompted an increase in innovative processes and procedures in various sectors by the leaders to steer their people through unfamiliar situations and manage, to continue being productive despite working from home (for the first time). UAE organizations adopted various digital technologies to manage remote workforce during the COVID-19 period and after (Butt, 2021; Koppalakrishnan and Muuka, 2022). While new forms of technologies are being developed to increase efficiency in responding to the challenges presented by COVID-19, digital transformation, which has been experienced globally over the years, has now become an imperative factor in how companies operate in this country as well (Pradeep and Khaleeli, 2020).…”