The Path to Development: Expatriate Faculty Retention in the UAE

Given the rapid development and large expatriate majority within the United Arab Emirates, the country is extremely reliant upon expatriate faculty to educate its people. Through the lens provided by Social Exchange Theory, this study examined the motivations of expatriate faculty to remain or leave their positions at institutions within the UAE. Survey data from 364 expatriate faculty was collected using a modified version of Matier's (1990) motivations tool. Findings showed that, overall, faculty members were quite content to remain. Issues related to the financial aspects and global citizenry in addition to well-adjusted families were the leading reasons to remain, while issues related to the internal workings of the institutions pushed people away. The paper points to areas of strengths and weaknesses for the UAE in its ongoing challenge to retain quality faculty and further educate its people. (Contains 1 table and 4 figures.)