Abstract: This paper includes a study of modern sustainable architectural techniques and elements that are originally found in vernacular and traditional architecture, particularly in the Arab region. Courtyards, Wind Catchers, and Mashrabiya, for example, are elements that have been developed in contemporary architecture using modern technology to create sustainable architecture designs. An analytical study of the topic will deal with some examples of the Islamic House in Fatimid Cairo city in Egypt, analyzing its elements and their relationship to the environment, in addition to the examples in southern Egypt (Nubba) of sustainable architecture systems, and traditional houses in Sana'a city, Yemen, using earth resources of mud bricks and other construction materials. In conclusion, a comparative study between traditional and contemporary techniques will be conducted to confirm that it is possible to achieve sustainable architecture through the use of low-technology in buildings in Arab regions.
Abstract: Men and women have different approaches towards investing, both in terms of strategies and risk attitudes. This study aims to focus mainly on investigating the financial risk behaviors of Arab women investors and to examine the financial risk tolerance levels of Arab women relative to Arab men investors. Using survey data on 547 Arab men and women investors, the results of Wilcoxon Signed-Rank (One-Sample) test Mann-Whitney U test reveal that Arab women are risk-averse investors and have lower financial risk tolerance levels relative to Arab men. Such findings can be explained by the fact of women's nature and lower investment literacy levels. Further, the current political uncertainty in the Arab region may be considered as another explanation of Arab women’s risk aversion behavior. The study's findings support the existing literature by validating the stereotype of “women are more risk-averse than men” in the Arab region. Overall, when it comes to investment and financial behaviors, women around the world behave similarly.
Abstract: Discrimination against women and girls impairs progress in all domains of development articulated either in the framework of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) or in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Paper aspires to create greater awareness among researchers and policy makers of the challenges posed by gender gaps and the opportunities created by reducing them within the Arab region. The study reveals how Arab countries are closing in on gender-oriented targets of the third and fifth MDGs. While some countries can claim remarkable achievements particularly in girls’ equality in education, there is still a long way to go to keep Arab’s commitments to current and future generations in other countries and subregions especially in the economic participation or in the political empowerment of women. No country has closed or even expected to close the economic participation gap or the political empowerment gap. This should provide the incentive to keep moving forward in the Post-2015 Agenda. Findings of the study prove that while Arab states have uneven achievements in reducing maternal mortality, Arab women remain at a disadvantage in the labour market. For Arab region especially LDCs, improving maternal health is part of the unmet agenda for the post-2015 period and still calls for intensified efforts and procedures. While antenatal care coverage is improving across the Arab region, progress is marginal in LDCs. To achieve proper realization of gender equality and empowerment of women in the Arab region in the post-2015 agenda, the study presents critical key challenges to be addressed. These challenges include: Negative cultural norms and stereotypes; violence against women and girls; early marriage and child labour; women’s limited control over their own bodies; limited ability of women to generate their own income and control assets and property; gender-based discrimination in law and in practice; women’s unequal participation in private and public decision making autonomy; and limitations in data. However, in all Arab states, gender equality must be integrated as a goal across all issues, particularly those that affect the future of a country.
Abstract: The connection between past travel experience and
tourists’ revisit behavioral intentions has not been widely explored
but the existing studies suggest a close relationship between them.
Destination image can equally be construed as having effects on the
attitudes of the tourists at the end of their actual visitation and the
satisfaction of a tourist with his or her travel experiences contributes
to a revisit intention towards a particular destination. With strong
marketing efforts, UAE is not only considered to be successful in
attracting foreign investors, but is becoming the most popular tourism
destination in the Arab region. UAE is seriously developing its
tourism image and taking serious initiatives to attract new or repeat
visitations from the international tourists. This study empirically
investigates the causal relationships between tourism destination
image, tourist satisfaction and revisit intention using UAE as a
contextual study setting. A very clear picture emerged which
provides a host country with potential implications for its tourism
industry practitioners, Department of Tourism and Commerce
Marketing and the travel agencies who act as the intermediaries
between the potential tourists and the hotel operators.
Abstract: This paper explores the issues that influence online retailing in Saudi Arabia. Retailers in Saudi Arabia have been reserved in their adoption of electronically delivered aspects of their business. Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia has the largest and fastest growth of ICT marketplaces in the Arab region, e-commerce activities are not progressing at the same speed. Only very few Saudi companies, mostly medium and large companies from the manufacturing sector, are involved in e-commerce implementation. Based on qualitative data collected by conducting interviews with 16 retailers and 16 potential customers in Saudi Arabia, several factors influencing online retailing diffusion in Saudi Arabia are identified. However, government support comes the highest and most influencing factor for online retailing growth as identified by both parties; retailers and potential customers in Saudi Arabia.
Abstract: The emergence of blended learning has been
influenced by the rapid changes in Higher Education within the last
few years. However, there is a lack of studies that look into the future
of blended learning in the Saudi context. The most likely explanation
is that blended learning is relatively new and, with respect to learning
in general, under-researched. This study addresses this gap and
explores the views of lecturers and students towards the future of
blended learning in Saudi Arabia. This study was informed by the
interpretive paradigm that appears to be most appropriate to
understand and interpret the perceptions of students and instructors
towards a new learning environment. While globally there has been
considerable research on the perceptions of e-learning and blended
learning with its different models, there is plenty of space for further
research specifically in the Arab region, and in Saudi Arabia where
blended learning is now being introduced.