Women’s Entrepreneurship, Barriers and Culture: Insights from the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This article explores the interplay of gender, cultural factors, Islamic teachings and agency in explaining the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Adopting social constructionist and interpretative approaches, this article draws on in-depth interviews with 20 women entrepreneurs in the UAE to explore the interplay between macro socio-cultural values using Hofstede’s ( 2001 ) typology of cultural values and the barriers faced during their entrepreneurial careers. The findings suggest a considerable socio-cultural impact: one that starts with family support and extends to the huge spill-over effect on the business venture itself and on women’s access to capital and business networks. They also highlight the role that women’s agency, self-confidence and persistence are playing in fostering the appetite of local women for entrepreneurship and overcoming the toll of barriers. Overall, the findings suggest that the winds of change, although mild, are nevertheless blowing through the UAE and the Arab Middle East by extension. The significance of the impact of culture on women entrepreneurs in the UAE and Middle East should not be underestimated or ignored by policymakers seeking a better understanding of women’s entrepreneurship in the Arab world.

‘Strategic (dis)obedience’: Female entrepreneurs reflecting on and acting upon patriarchal practices

“…Women entrepreneurs are confronted with both the symbolic masculinized entrepreneurial identity and the prescriptions of womanhood (Díaz García & Welter, ; Hamilton, ; Warren, ). The case of women entrepreneurs in or from patriarchal–Islamic contexts shows the role of societal practices in regulating entrepreneurial identities and activities (Essers & Benschop, ; Essers, Doorewaard, & Benschop, ; Tlaiss, , ). Some studies state that in patriarchal and Islamic societies, women's roles are constrained (Hattab, ; Itani, Sidani, & Baalbaki, ; Naser, Mohammed, & Nuseibeh, ).…”

“…In any case, in these societies, as in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there is an overt assumption that entrepreneurship is still considered a male activity (Erogul & McCrohan, ; Zeidan & Bahrami, ). Accordingly, women face lack of family support, limited access to funding and informal networks, and are confined to motherhood responsibilities (Tlaiss, ).…”

“…In any case, in these societies, as in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there is an overt assumption that entrepreneurship is still considered a male activity (Erogul & McCrohan, 2008;Zeidan & Bahrami, 2011). Accordingly, women face lack of family support, limited access to funding and informal networks, and are confined to motherhood responsibilities (Tlaiss, 2014). Naguib and Jamali (2015) contend that men's 'interpretations of some religious precepts … reinforce the patriarchal' society (p. 153), making the patriarchal family, and its tribal traditions, the most important institution of society (Mostafa, 2005).…”

Becoming an Entrepreneur: a Diversity of Factors, Types and Pathways

“…We thus see it as a sociocultural phenomenon, which is affected by structural and contextual variables that help explain entrepreneurs' individual initiatives (Thornton et al, 2011;Tlaiss, 2014;Urbano et al, 2011). The literature on entrepreneurship often suggests that gender is a fundamental issue in research on this topic (Brush, 2008;Garcia and Welter, 2011;Kobeissi, 2010).…”

“…The research on this topic suggests a clear link between educational levels and entrepreneurial activity. A larger number of years of study means a higher probability that an individual will choose to be self-employed and will be successful in terms of growth, profits and remuneration of the new business (Block et al, 2013;Nabi and Holden, 2008;Tlaiss, 2014). In fact, the relationship between entrepreneurship and qualifications has been analysed, above all, with regard to higher education (Rasmussen, 2011;Taatila, 2010;), in line with the concerns expressed in public policies, particularly at the European level.…”