Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic Models

This study examines three prominent leadership theories (transformational, transactional, and authentic theories) to understand how they are applied in the UAE education sector (private and public sectors) and align with national culture, educational policies, and educational/institutional practices...

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Main Author: Al Hammoudi, Amnah (author)
Other Authors: Hamada, Tarek (author)
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bspace.buid.ac.ae/handle/1234/3782
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author Al Hammoudi, Amnah
author2 Hamada, Tarek
author2_role author
author_facet Al Hammoudi, Amnah
Hamada, Tarek
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Al Hammoudi, Amnah
Hamada, Tarek
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2026-02-02T08:08:23Z
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 2616 6828
https://bspace.buid.ac.ae/handle/1234/3782
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv leadership theories
education
culture
values
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic Models
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Article
description This study examines three prominent leadership theories (transformational, transactional, and authentic theories) to understand how they are applied in the UAE education sector (private and public sectors) and align with national culture, educational policies, and educational/institutional practices. The UAE requires visionary educational leaders who integrate ethical standards with cultural sensitivity to advance national development agendas such as We the UAE 2031 across public and private schooling, as well as higher education. Using a qualitative theoretical approach and comparative document analysis, the study describes transformational leadership as visionary and motivational, transactional leadership as incentive-based and compliance-oriented, and authentic leadership as integrity-driven and self-aware. It evaluates the alignment of these leadership models with Emirati cultural values, educational policies, and institutional practices, drawing on academic literature, government reports, and peer-reviewed research. The conclusions suggest that transformational and authentic leadership approaches most effectively support the UAE’s educational goals for innovation, inclusion, and sustainable improvement, whereas transactional leadership is better suited to ensuring accountability and operational stability than to driving long-term change. The study proposes that educational leaders in the UAE should adopt blended, transformative and authentic leadership practices grounded in ethical clarity, transparency, and cultural understanding to guide school and university development and shape future-ready learning environments.
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network_name_str The British University in Dubai repository
oai_identifier_str oai:bspace.buid.ac.ae:1234/3782
publishDate 2025
publisher.none.fl_str_mv The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
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spelling Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic ModelsAl Hammoudi, AmnahHamada, Tarekleadership theorieseducationculturevaluesThis study examines three prominent leadership theories (transformational, transactional, and authentic theories) to understand how they are applied in the UAE education sector (private and public sectors) and align with national culture, educational policies, and educational/institutional practices. The UAE requires visionary educational leaders who integrate ethical standards with cultural sensitivity to advance national development agendas such as We the UAE 2031 across public and private schooling, as well as higher education. Using a qualitative theoretical approach and comparative document analysis, the study describes transformational leadership as visionary and motivational, transactional leadership as incentive-based and compliance-oriented, and authentic leadership as integrity-driven and self-aware. It evaluates the alignment of these leadership models with Emirati cultural values, educational policies, and institutional practices, drawing on academic literature, government reports, and peer-reviewed research. The conclusions suggest that transformational and authentic leadership approaches most effectively support the UAE’s educational goals for innovation, inclusion, and sustainable improvement, whereas transactional leadership is better suited to ensuring accountability and operational stability than to driving long-term change. The study proposes that educational leaders in the UAE should adopt blended, transformative and authentic leadership practices grounded in ethical clarity, transparency, and cultural understanding to guide school and university development and shape future-ready learning environments.The British University in Dubai (BUiD)2026-02-02T08:08:23Z2025Articleapplication/pdf2616 6828https://bspace.buid.ac.ae/handle/1234/3782enoai:bspace.buid.ac.ae:1234/37822026-02-02T08:08:24Z
spellingShingle Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic Models
Al Hammoudi, Amnah
leadership theories
education
culture
values
title Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic Models
title_full Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic Models
title_fullStr Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic Models
title_full_unstemmed Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic Models
title_short Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic Models
title_sort Educational Leadership in the UAE: A Comparative Analysis of Transformational, Transactional, and Authentic Models
topic leadership theories
education
culture
values
url https://bspace.buid.ac.ae/handle/1234/3782