A comparative assessment of firms' creative climate across selected Gulf countries (Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia)

We have examined the internal climates of firms in three Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries - Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia - using Ekvall et al.'s (1983) validated instrument called creative climate questionnaires (CCQ). We found that there were significant differences in the levels of creativity and innovativeness across the firms in the three countries. Also, Qatari and Omani firms have enjoyed internal climates that could be considered as 'innovative' whilst Saudi firms have experienced internal climates that could be considered as 'non-innovative'. With the exception of the challenge dimension, Saudi firms need to work on nine of the 10 CCQ dimensions, if they are to enhance their level of creativity and innovativeness. Interestingly, only in the conflict dimension did we find that all the firms in the three countries need to work on in order to enhance their creativity and innovativeness. Some practical implications of the finding are suggested.