Old knowledge for new impacts: Equity theory and workforce nationalization

Workforce nationalization is a public policy priority in many Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the national/expatriate workforce imbalance is most notable. To date, attempts at private sector workforce nationalization in the United Arab Emirates (Emiratization) show poor results. The thoughtful application of existing management theory can assist in the analysis of issues affecting Emiratization and support the development of solutions. The current study applies the equity theory of Adams (1963) to the issue of Emiratization. This application offers an opportunity for new insights to support the development of practical solutions to the Emiratization challenge. Through a theoretical inquiry of equity issues, this study proposes recommendations for addressing perceived imbalances in equity relations to support Emiratization initiatives.