Personality of leaders in the context of transformational leadership in the UAE

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of the 'big five' personality dimensions of leaders, focusing on how and to what extent, they influence transformational leadership in the United Arab Emirates. Online-survey data were gathered from 202 leaders and middle-managers from government, private and non-profit organisations across the United Arab Emirate (UAE). The questionnaire comprised six sets of questions: five assessing the 'big five' personality dimensions; and one measuring transformational leadership. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were employed to analyse the leadership model. A positive relationship was found between transformational leadership and different personality traits: agreeableness, extroversion and openness. he results can be used to help leaders willing to rediscover themselves in the context of their defined roles and objectives. This is the first study of its kind to examine the relationship between the 'big five' personality factors and leadership in different organisational contexts in the UAE.