An Impact Assessment Study of Selective United Arab Emirates (UAE) Business Affected Due to Economic Sanctions on Iran in Bilateral Trading

Abstract

This research study was undertaken to address a lack of knowledge specifically regarding bilateral trading between Iran and the UAE. Hence the purpose of the study was to develop a better understanding of bilateral trade and evaluating of the effects of economic sanctions on selective UAE businesses. The research problem can be stated as being dual – academically under researched hence lack of knowledge existing precisely of bilateral trading between UAE businesses and Iran, plagued by economic sanctions while practically the under-preparedness and unpreparedness of most UAE businesses to deal with economic sanctioned countries, especially Iran. Hence, the need to research the effects during various stages of the economic sanctions. The research aim being to assess the impact of selective UAE businesses bilaterally trading being affected due to economic sanctions on Iran. The research objectives aided the conduct of the study through intensive literature review, appropriate research methodology and methods for findings with detailed discussion. The research methodology and methods adopted is based on a philosophical research paradigm of pragmatism. An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Research Design was used where the data collection method for qualitative was in-depth 20 individual interviews with key informants adopting an interview guide for consistency. For quantitative data collection was the survey method where the instrument was online questionnaire achieving 42 usable responses. The findings were a multiple of assessing qualitatively and quantitatively the impact on selective UAE businesses that were mostly
adversely affected while some were benefited in bilateral trading with Iran that had and has several phases of pre/during/post sanctions. There were minimal limitations while conducting the study in terms limited literature and quantitative sample size (challenging times COVID 19 access to interviewees). However, these limitations have not affected the quality of the study. The contribution of the study has been academically in terms of new knowledge specifically in deeper understanding of bilateral trade between selective UAE businesses and economic sanctioned Iran while the practical contribution has been to strategically prepare bilateral trading businesses to face economic sanctions on countries which the businesses bilaterally trade in. There were several recommendations, mainly for bilateral trading businesses of strategizing to encounter the three stages of pre-, during-, and post-sanctions by being aware and getting prepared to counter any adverse effects. The recommendations have been made based on the findings for better application in practice with suggestions for future research to take the study forward and build upon it academically, theoretically, practically and professionally.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Aberystwyth University
Supervisor	Lyndon Murphy (Supervisor)