The Impact of Ethical Leadership on Employee Green Behaviors: A Study of Academic Institutions in the UAE

Abdelaziz Abdalla Alowais () and Abubakr Suliman
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Abdelaziz Abdalla Alowais: Faculty of Business and Law, Department of Business Management, The British University in Dubai, Dubai 345015, United Arab Emirates
Abubakr Suliman: Faculty of Business and Law, Department of Business Management, The British University in Dubai, Dubai 345015, United Arab Emirates

Administrative Sciences, 2025, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-29

Abstract: This study explores the role of ethical leadership in fostering employee green behaviors (EGBs) within higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UAE. While environmental initiatives are increasingly being integrated into university operations, there has been limited empirical research examining how leadership styles influence pro-environmental behaviors among academic staff. Using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, our study surveyed 105 HEI employees and conducted in-depth interviews with 6 of the participants. The quantitative findings reveal a moderate but significant positive correlation between ethical leadership (EL) and EGB (ρ = 0.314, p < 0.001). The reliability scores for both EL (α = 0.888) and EGB (α = 0.754) confirmed the internal consistency of the measurement items used. The qualitative insights support the theoretical foundation drawn from Social Learning, Value–Belief–Norm, and Environmental Stewardship Theories. Employees reported modeling their green behaviors on observable leadership actions aligning with their shared moral values. A key distinction emerged between authentic and performative green behaviors, with employees responding more positively to leaders who modeled consistency and sincerity. This study concludes that ethical leadership significantly influences the environmental culture in HEIs by embedding sustainability into daily practices and institutional values. This research addresses a regional and theoretical gap, contextualizing ethical leadership in the Middle Eastern academic setting and offering practical implications for leadership development, policy alignment, and sustainable cultural transformation.

Keywords: ethical leadership; employee green behavior; higher education; sustainability; UAE; environmental culture; leadership ethics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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