arbiter
JournalsAccount

From east to west: work-life balance strategies of Dubai’s women entrepreneurs

Rizwan Tahir

Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration2026https://doi.org/10.1108/apjba-09-2024-0524article
AJG 1ABDC B
Weight
0.50

Abstract

Purpose This study examines how women entrepreneurs from Eastern and Western backgrounds in Dubai navigate work-life balance (WLB) challenges within the city's distinctive multicultural setting. It examines the impact of cultural dimensions on WLB strategies and delves into the intricate relationship between gender expectations, cultural norms, and entrepreneurial demands in shaping their experiences. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study, grounded in an interpretive-constructivist and phenomenological approach, involved semi-structured interviews with 50 women entrepreneurs (25 Eastern and 25 Western) in Dubai, aged 32–60. Recruited via the UAE Entrepreneurship Association, data were analyzed using open coding per Strauss and Corbin (1997), revealing four main and fifteen secondary themes. Findings Eastern women entrepreneurs achieve WLB through collectivist values, emotional intelligence, and relational integration, while Western counterparts emphasize individualism, structure and efficiency. Despite differing cultural orientations, both adopt hybrid strategies that merge personal values with Dubai's dynamic business environment, reflecting adaptive approaches to WLB across cultural and organizational contexts. Originality/value This study advances WLB research by examining how culture, gender, and entrepreneurship intersect in Dubai's multicultural hub. Extending Border Theory and Hofstede's dimensions, it reveals how women entrepreneurs transform cultural collisions into strategic advantages, developing adaptive strategies that foster work-life harmony within a dynamic global context.

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/apjba-09-2024-0524

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{rizwan2026,
  title        = {{From east to west: work-life balance strategies of Dubai’s women entrepreneurs}},
  author       = {Rizwan Tahir},
  journal      = {Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/apjba-09-2024-0524},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

From east to west: work-life balance strategies of Dubai’s women entrepreneurs

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.