Entrepreneurial finance and crowdfunding in the Middle East

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwan Abdeldayem ◽  
Saeed Aldulaimi
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Entrepreneurial Finance ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
East Region ◽  
Pilot Sample ◽  
Micro Structures ◽  
Published Research ◽  
Middle East Region

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze crowdfunding (CF) as new entrepreneurial finance (EF) tool and to predict the success of CF projects in the Middle East region. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted in seven Middle Eastern countries (i.e. Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and UAE) in addition to serval CF platforms that are commonly used by crowd funders in this region (such as Kickstarter, GoFundMe, Beehive and Zoomal) with total members (195,193). A pilot sample of 20 units was used to validate and verify the research instrument of the study. The research sample consists of 1,910 respondents from the seven countries included in the study. The study emphasizes the partners, micro-structures, administrative conditions and CF advancement in the Middle East. Findings The findings reveal that CF’s presence positively impacts fundraising success and that CF platforms are an effective financial technology (Fintech) tool for financing entrepreneurs in the Middle East. The study shows that the success of CF projects in the Middle East can be anticipated by estimating and breaking down enormous information of web-based and social media movement, human resources of funders and online venture introduction. The authors conclude with recommendations for future EF and CF research. Originality/value This study aims to analyze the CF and EF principles in the Middle East region as the CF experience and practice in this part of the world tend to be unexplored in terms of research. Presently a very few numbers published research on CF exists. Moreover, to the best of the knowledge, there is no single study investigating CF as an alternative financing source in the Middle East. In particular, the study.

Determinants of Web-based disclosure in the Middle East

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henda Abdi ◽  
Henda Kacem ◽  
Mohamed Ali Brahim Omri
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Company Size ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
East Region ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Middle East Region

Purpose This paper aims to examine the factors influencing the extent of information disclosed on the companies’ websites in the Middle East region. Design/methodology/approach This study uses multiple regression models to examine the impact of some companies’ characteristics (company size, leverage, profitability, size of the audit firm, ownership concentration) on the extent of online disclosure. The study was conducted on 170 listed companies in seven countries (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey). The website content was analyzed during the period from September 2015 to December 2015. Findings The results reveal that the most important factors influencing the level of Web-based disclosure are company size, leverage and the size of the audit firm. Practical implications The results of the study will help regulators to formulate policies about Web-based disclosure as they offer insights into the characteristics of those companies which do and do not meet investors’ demands for online information. Thereby, the regulators might expect that the Middle East companies engage in the online reporting to be larger, have higher debt levels and audited by a big-four audit firm. Originality/value This study, added to the existing literature by analyzing seven countries in the Middle East region, allows having a clearer idea on the online disclosure in this region as a whole, which has not been examined before. In this paper, to assess the information’s disclosure on the website, the study has been interested in all of the information presented on the websites: financial and non-financial information.

Middle East Dilemma: Pakistan’s Role as Mediator for Conflict Resolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18
Author(s):  
Zikriya ◽  
Naushad Khan ◽  
Asif Salim
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Middle East ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
East Region ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Middle East Region

The development of International relations together with forces like globalization and technology has brought the world closer to each other. Friendly ties and relations with states create massive challenges during times of conflict. The focus of the paper is on the crisis evolving in the Middle East region and the role of Pakistan in solving those crisis considering relations with its closest allies, political and financial circumstances, and its foreign policy principles. A qualitative research approach with desk analysis technique has been applied to analyse the role of Pakistan as a mediator for the conflict resolution among Middle Eastern countries. The research highlights how the disputes created great problems for Pakistan but it is still striving to resolve conflicts among Middle Eastern countries because maintaining peace and prosperity in the Muslim world has always been a top priority of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

scholarly journals Balancing deterrence: Iran-Israel relations in a turbulent Middle East

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Maher
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
National Security ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Main Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
East Region ◽  
Regional Dynamics ◽  
Central Argument ◽  
The Arab Spring ◽  
Middle East Region

Purpose This paper aims to examine the regional dynamics that further consolidated Israel’s national security in the Middle East in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, reflecting upon the nuclear challenge between Iran and Israel and Iran's expanding activities in the region. Design/methodology/approach To prove the central argument, the study uses a conceptual framework that centers on deterrence as the main approach used by states to consolidate their influence in the Middle East region. Findings Iran's nuclear progress and influence in the region has strengthened Israel’s security and fostered an unprecedented open rapprochement led by USA efforts with the Gulf regimes. Originality/value The paper draws particular attention to the Iran–Israel nuclear competency, and the Israeli preferred policy options regarding Iranian activities in the region amid turbulent Middle East. In addition, the paper offers insight to the regional dynamics that further consolidated Israel’s national security in the region while maintaining a status of Arab vulnerability and backwardness.

Evaluation of water shortage crisis in the Middle East and possible remedies

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omid Bozorg-Haddad ◽  
Babak Zolghadr-Asli ◽  
Parisa Sarzaeim ◽  
Mahyar Aboutalebi ◽  
Xuefeng Chu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
East Region ◽  
Middle East Region ◽  
Regional Water

Abstract Water resources in the Middle East region are becoming scarce, while millions of people already do not have access to adequate water for drinking and sanitary purposes. Water resources depletion has become a significant problem in this region that is likely to worsen. Current research by remote sensing analysis indicates a descending trend of water storage in the Middle East region, where agriculture plays a crucial role in socio-economic life. This study introduces an approach quantifying water depletion in the Middle Eastern countries, which are being challenged in the management of their water resources. Furthermore, this paper presents results of a survey assessing the status of water use and supply in Middle Eastern countries and outlines some potential remedies. Specifically, Iran's water use is evaluated and compared with its neighbors'. The water equivalent anomaly (WEA) and total water storage (TWS) depletion are two indexes of water scarcity calculated for Middle Eastern countries surveyed herein. Our analysis reveals that Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran are countries with very negative water scarcity indexes. These estimates prove that international cooperation is needed to manage available regional water resources and reverse depletion of natural water sources. It is demonstrated herein that virtual water trade can help remediate regional water shortage in Middle Eastern countries.

scholarly journals Accumulation of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates Belonging to Lineage 2, Global Clone 1, from Outbreaks in 2012–2013 at a Tehran Burns Hospital

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoumeh Douraghi ◽  
Johanna J. Kenyon ◽  
Parisa Aris ◽  
Mahla Asadian ◽  
Sedighe Ghourchian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
East Region ◽  
Lineage 2 ◽  
Middle East Region

ABSTRACT The worldwide distribution of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has become a global concern, particularly in countries where antibiotic prescription is not tightly regulated. However, knowledge of the genomic aspects of CRAB from many parts of the world is still limited. Here, 50 carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates recovered at a single hospital in Tehran, Iran, during several outbreaks in 2012 and 2013 were found to be resistant to multiple antibiotics. They were examined using PCR mapping and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). All Iranian strains belonged to sequence type 328 in the Institut Pasteur MLST scheme (ST328IP), a single-locus variant of ST81IP, and all Iranian strains contained two carbapenem resistance genes, oxa23 and oxa24. The oxa23 gene is in the transposon Tn2006 in AbaR4, which interrupts the chromosomal comM gene. Phylogenetic analysis using whole-genome sequence (WGS) data for 9 isolates showed that they belonged to the same clade, designated the ST81/ST328 clade, within lineage 2 of global clone 1 (GC1). However, there were two groups that included either KL13 or KL18 at the K locus (KL) for capsular polysaccharide synthesis and either a tet39 or an aadB resistance gene, respectively. The genetic context of the resistance genes was determined, and the oxa24 (OXA-72 variant) and tet39 (tetracycline resistance) genes were each in a pdif module in different plasmids. The aadB gene cassette (which encodes gentamicin, kanamycin, and tobramycin resistance) was harbored by pRAY*, and the aphA6 gene (which encodes amikacin resistance) and sul2 gene (which encodes sulfamethoxazole resistance) were each harbored by a different plasmid. The sequences obtained here will underpin future studies of GC1 CRAB strains from the Middle East region. IMPORTANCE Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains are among the most critical antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing hospital-acquired infections and treatment failures. The global spread of two clones has been responsible for the bulk of the resistance, in particular, carbapenem resistance. However, there is a substantial gap in our knowledge of which clones and which specific lineages within each clone are circulating in many parts of the world, including Africa and the Middle East region. This is the first genomic analysis of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains from Iran. All the isolates, from a single hospital, belonged to lineage 2 of global clone 1 (GC1) but fell into two groups distinguished by genes in the locus for capsule biosynthesis. The analysis suggests a potential origin of multiply antibiotic-resistant lineage 2 in the Middle East region and highlights the ongoing evolution of carbapenem-resistant GC1 A. baumannii strains. It will enhance future studies on the local and global GC1 population structure.

The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Middle Eastern and North African History

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
World War I ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
World Politics ◽  
African History ◽  
North African ◽  
The North ◽  
East Region ◽  
Historical Developments ◽  
Middle East Region

It is in moments of great upheaval that societies may best be studied. Today, The North Africa and the Middle East region (MENA) finds itself in the most alarming state since World War I. The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Middle East and North African History is a timely intervention to interrogate the region’s internal dynamics and take stock of its place in world politics. It illuminates afresh dominant historical currents as well as counter-currents that previous accounts have not given their due attention or have failed to notice. Broadly chronological, this volume combines thematic and country-based, multi-disciplinary analysis in order to reconsider half a century of scholarship and to critically examine the defining processes and structures of historical developments from Morocco to Iran and from Turkey to Yemen over the past two centuries.

An empirical analysis of stock market interdependence and volatility spillover in the stock markets of Africa and Middle East region

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 314-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajaya Kumar Panda ◽  
Swagatika Nanda ◽  
Rashmi Ranjan Paital
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Stock Market ◽  
Stock Markets ◽  
Volatility Spillover ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Content Type ◽  
East Region ◽  
Long Run ◽  
International Investors ◽  
Middle East Region

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the short-term and long-term interdependence among the stock markets of Africa and Middle East region. It also attempts to analyze the pattern of volatility spillover among the regional stock markets. Design/methodology/approach The study has used Granger causality test, variance decomposition test of vector auto-regression (VAR) model, vector error correction model (VECM), multivariate generalized conditional heteroskedasticity (MGARCH-BEKK) models and Johansen and Juselius multivariate cointegration techniques. Findings The study finds that the interlinkages of the stock markets are not uniform across all the countries of the region. The stock market of Israel, South Africa and Jordan are found to be highly connected stock market of the region followed by Egypt and Botswana. The study also finds significant spillover of lagged standardized volatility across the stock markets of the region. But the magnitude of the response of volatility spillover and its persistence is very minimum. However, the stock markets are found to be co-integrated and expected to share long-run equilibrium relationships among each other. Research limitations/implications The study has the scope to be extended to capture the time-varying integration of market returns with transmission of monetary policy and exchange rate changes within the region. The results obtained from this study may assist the firm managers and international investors to understand the key drivers of market connectedness. Originality/value Empirically investigating the pattern of stock market connectedness in Africa and Middle East region with advanced methodology over a long study period is the originality of this study.

scholarly journals Studying Middle Eastern Societies: Imperatives and Modalities of Thinking Comparatively

2001 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-158
Author(s):  
Asef Bayat
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Comparative Research ◽  
Theoretical Orientation ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Global Studies ◽  
East Region ◽  
Limited Experience ◽  
The Status ◽  
Middle East Studies ◽  
Middle East Region

Current debates about the status of middle east studies are informed by an assumption that separates ‘area studies’ from ‘global studies,’ and ‘area specialization’ from disciplinary or theoretical orientation. Arguing against such separation, I propose that a resort to comparative perspectives may help bridge the divide. To this end, I discuss imperatives and modalities of thinking comparatively in the context of the Middle East, and their implications for bringing other areas into comparative inquiries. Focusing on illustrations from Middle East social studies, I attempt to think through my own, albeit limited, experience of comparative research within the Middle East region.

Organizational learning, resilience and psychological empowerment as antecedents of work engagement during COVID-19

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lama Blaique ◽  
Hussein Nabil Ismail ◽  
Hazem Aldabbas
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Psychological Empowerment ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
East Region ◽  
Middle East Region ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the relationship between organizational learning (OL) and work engagement (WE) in the Middle East region amid the COVID-19 pandemic and to test the mediating role of employee resilience (ER) and psychological empowerment (PE) on this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe sample size was 208 respondents working in the Middle East area during COVID-19. Hypotheses were tested using regression analysis with bootstrapping.FindingsThe findings indicate a significant positive impact of OL on WE. Moreover, both constructs – ER and WE – were identified as mediators for this relationship.Practical implicationsPractical implications within this study call for organizations to focus on promoting a learning culture in order to adapt and respond effectively to unprecedented external challenges.Originality/valueThe current study extends previous research and strengthens the antecedents of WE, namely, OL, ER and PE in the Middle East region while controlling for COVID-19 perceptions.

The use of discretionary loan loss provisions by Islamic banks and conventional banks in the Middle East region

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakim Ben Othman ◽  
Hounaida Mersni
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Loan Loss ◽  
Accounting Earnings ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Loan Loss Provisions ◽  
East Region ◽  
Conventional Banks ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Middle East Region

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study earnings management practices of Islamic banks and conventional banks in the Middle East region. First, the authors examine factors that may influence Islamic banks managers' use of discretion in reporting loan loss provisions (LLP). Second, the authors investigate differences that may exist between Islamic banks and non-Islamic banks in terms of discretionary loan loss provisions (DLLP) used to manipulate accounting earnings. Design/methodology/approach – This empirical study uses an unbalanced panel data of 21 Islamic banks, 18 conventional banks with Islamic windows and 33 conventional banks, from seven Middle East countries during a period that ranges from 2000 to 2008. The authors use a two-stage approach in order to examine factors that may influence the use of discretion by Islamic banks' managers. Findings – The empirical results reveal that Islamic banks use DLLP for both earnings and capital management. External financing is also found to be a determinant of DLLP. Additional findings show no significant differences among Islamic banks, conventional banks with Islamic windows and conventional banks in using DLLP. These three groups of banks behave similarly in terms of discretion based on DLLP. Practical implications – The findings are potentially useful for regulators, auditors and investors. This study provides regulators with insights to strengthen their financial regulations in order to improve accounting quality. In addition, it helps auditors when considering the provisioning policies adopted by banks in order to detect specific manipulations of accounting earnings. The results may also help investors to focus on the impact of managerial discretion on accounting earnings for evaluation purposes. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature on Islamic banking. On the one hand, it extends prior research by examining the discretionary component of LLP, instead of being restricted to total LLP. On the other hand, it compares the use of discretion among three groups of banks: full Islamic banks, conventional banks with Islamic windows and full conventional banks.

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