Cross-cultural training: a crucial approach to improve the success of expatriate assignment in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Expatriate training and development is progressively turning into a crucial human resource development issue for the multinational corporations (MNCs). The motivation for this study is to explore the impact of cross- cultural training (CCT) on the adjustment challenges of Western expatriate managers in the UAE. The findings indicate that the expatriate managers, who were provided with CCT, adjusted more rapidly in their international assignment in the UAE than the expatriates who were not provided with any CCT. This research has nevertheless demonstrated that not only are MNCs in the UAE failing to provide adequate CCT and support for their expatriates, but they are also providing inadequate CCT and support to the expatriate’s accompanying family members. The present study contributes to the discussion about whether MNCs routinely provide their expatriate managers with sufficient CCT. Furthermore, this study has substantial implications for managers and proposes areas for future research in this field.