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Nizar Sarieddine defends his doctoral thesis entitled "The Causes and Effects of Digital Transformation: The Case of The United Arab Emirates (UAE)" Back

Monday, 2/2/2026   
Nizar Sarieddinne
The School of Economics, Management and Political Science of the University of Minho (EEG) is proud to announce that Nizar Sarieddine has submitted his doctoral thesis entitled "The Causes and Effects of Digital Transformation: The Case of The United Arab Emirates (UAE)".

In the author's own words:
"This doctoral thesis explores the complex relationship between digital government transformation and citizens' trust in government, along with their satisfaction with service provision in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the UAE ranks 11th in the OECD 2024 report, signifying its global leadership in digital government development, there is a notable scarcity of empirical studies that delve into the dynamics between digital initiatives and citizen perceptions. This research addresses this gap by formulating a comprehensive conceptual framework that illustrates the intricate interplay among digital transformation efforts, citizen trust, and satisfaction, all within the UAE’s distinct socio-cultural and technological landscape.

Adopting a novel dual-perspective approach, the study analyzes these relationships from both citizen and policymaker viewpoints. It integrates insights from the Public Administration literature, focusing on ICT-enabled government transformation, citizen trust, and service satisfaction. The research examines how digital transformation influences citizens' trust and satisfaction, examining the underlying causes and effects of these relationships. It investigates the interplay between technology, performance, accountability, transparency, and citizen perceptions, positioning digital transformation as a critical mediator.

Through rigorous empirical analysis, the study reveals significant relationships among these constructs, including a bidirectional influence between trust and satisfaction. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of citizen perceptions and their impact on the success of digital government initiatives. This research not only offers valuable insights for policymakers but also lays a foundation for future studies in the rapidly evolving realm of digital governance."

The doctoral thesis was supervised by Professor António Tavares, Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the School of Economics, Management and Political Science at the University of Minho.

EEG congratulates Nizar Sarieddine on his defence and wishes him every success in his professional and personal life!
Gabinete de Comunicação
Escola de Economia, Gestão e Ciência Política
Universidade do Minho
Telefone: 253 604 541
Email: gci@eeg.uminho.pt
Nizar Sarieddinne
Jury Nizar Sarieddinne