This study attempts to examine the impact of electronic human resource management (E-HRM) systems on achieving a sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) in the tourism and hospitality industry by incorporating sustainable innovation (SI) and organizational agility (OA) as mediators. To survive, tourist and hospitality organizations must embrace digital transformation by using E-HRM practices such as digital recruiting, online training, and performance management tools. Organizations may improve their HR departments’ efficiency, effectiveness, and decision making, enhancing the overall organizational performance and preserving a sustainable competitive edge. Middle and first-line management of the five-star hotels and travel agencies in category A operating in Egypt were investigated. A PLS-SEM analysis was performed on 313 valid responses, gathered using WarpPLS 7.0. The findings revealed that E-HRM is positively associated with SCA, SI, and OA. Furthermore, there were positive associations between SI and OA and SCA. SI and OA were also shown to be mediators in the relationship between E-HRM and SCA. The study adds to the existing literature on how E-HRM impacts SI, OA, and SCA. The relationship between these components in hotels and travel agencies has not been the subject of any empirical research. The current study has addressed gaps by empirically analyzing these relationships in the context of Egyptian hotels and travel agencies. It integrates E-HRM, innovation, organizational agility, and competitive advantage within the context of sustainability in tourism and hospitality.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the factors influencing Qatari youth’s attitude toward luxury brands and intentions to purchase luxury brands. The appetite for luxury spending in the Gulf region and specifically in Qatar is accelerating even with the fall in oil prices and faltering economic growth. Design/methodology/approach: Both qualitative research in the form of in-depth interviews and quantitative research in the form of survey were utilized in this study. Initially, eight in-depth interviews were conducted with luxury store owners and/or salespersons to identify the most important factors influencing attitude toward luxury brands. Furthermore, 330 Qatari respondents between the ages from 16 to 25 years were interviewed via a mall-interception method at two different malls with high-end/ luxury stores in Doha. Structural equation modeling using AMOS was run to analyze the hypothesized relationships between variables and test the model fit. Findings: The findings indicated the overall fitness of the model. More specifically, the results indicated that fashion involvement, brand consciousness, social comparison and experiential needs have a significant impact on attitude toward luxury brands and consequently on their purchasing intentions. Research limitations/implications: This study has several limitations. A more comprehensive framework can be proposed including more variables that may also influence the attitude of youth toward purchasing luxury, for example, brand prominence, vanity and functional value. Comparative studies across demographics (e.g. male vs female and adult vs young luxury buyers) as well as across different cultures and countries can also provide interesting insights related to luxury purchasing behavior among youth. Developing a typology for Qatari luxury consumers can also be very insightful, specifically for supporting brand owners in fine-tuning their marketing and targeting strategies. Finally, other moderating variables like influence of social media or peer influence can also be considered in future studies. Originality/value: The study sheds light on a significantly important and emerging phenomenon; the increasing consumption of luxury in the gulf region and specifically in Qatar in an attempt to understand the main drivers to their attitude toward luxury brands in general.

This study measures to what extent compliance with Shari’ah moderates the relationship between different sales promotion tools—namely, price discount, product demonstration and sampling, buy one get one free (bonus pack), sweepstakes/lucky draws, scratch and win offers, and free samples—and three consumer behavioral responses (product trial, stockpiling, and spending more) for buying convenience products from supermarkets in Egypt. A total of 381 selected Muslim consumers/shoppers were surveyed via face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Overall correlation analysis between the six proposed sales promotion tools and consumers’ response behavior in general demonstrated a significant relationship. However, some specific tools did not indicate a significant relationship with specific response behaviors. Furthermore, correlation analysis initially indicated that there is a positive significant relationship between all sales promotion tools and compliance with Shari’ah, with the exception of sweepstakes and scratch and win offers, which demonstrated a significant negative relationship. Furthermore, after running linear stepwise regression, the model was fit (62%), indicating the moderating role of compliance with Shari’ah in the relationship between specific sales promotion tools—namely, sweepstakes/games and scratch and win offers—and Muslim consumers’ behavioral responses. Generally speaking, marketers should consider Shari’ah and ethical principles in Islam before creatively crafting promotional tools to attract Muslim consumers, and new tools could be developed with an Islamic orientation to attract Muslim consumers.

This case sheds light on an experience of a Brazilian couple who came from Brazil to Qatar to attend the opening ceremony and some of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches. Media and social media were full of negative news about Arab world, Qatar, Arabs, and Muslims. In addition, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was subject to vilification like no other FIFA World cup host before. Even though, they were initially hesitant about traveling to Qatar, they decided to explore this part of the world and spend a week in Qatar driven by their love of football. The case tells the experience and adventure of the couples in Qatar and how they realized how wrong their perceptions of Arabs and Muslims, in general, and Qatar, in specific, had been and how their perceptions gradually changed from negative to positive. Pedro and Ana understood the importance of not relying solely on portrayals of other countries in the media and instead actively engaging with people from diverse backgrounds to form their own opinions. They became advocates for cultural exchange and understanding within their community, sharing their experiences in Qatar with friends, family, and neighbors. The case shows different initiatives and strategies taken by the Qatari government to deliver an unforgettable experience for visitors, fans, and players while also displaying the country’s hospitality and culture. Primary data was collected via an in-depth interviews with the Brazilian couple. Furthermore, evidence about general shift of perceptions from negative to positive has also been drawn from Twitter focusing on high engagement and impression tweets before, during, and after the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Arab countries are pursuing ambitious development agendas, modernizing while preserving cultural identities. Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) play vital roles across social, economic, and environmental sectors, yet research on capacity building remains limited. Guided by PRISMA-ScR, this bilingual review (English and Arabic) retrieved 219 records (2012–2023), of which only 20 met the inclusion criteria. A small-scale bibliometric analysis identified key concepts involving institutional development, the NPO watchdog function, and Islamic social finance. This review contributes to global capacity-building theories by unveiling region-specific factors, such as localized volunteering and religious endowments, that both enrich and challenge conventional NPO models. While highlighting pressing gaps for empirical and conceptual work, it offers actionable insights for policymakers and nonprofit leaders seeking to strengthen Arab NPO interventions. Ultimately, it reframes capacity-building dialogues, revealing how Arab NPOs can advance broader development agendas. The data sets generated and/or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author on request.