Corporate Governance in Arab Countries

Diploma Thesis from the year 2009 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: Sehr Gut, University of Vienna, language: English, abstract: English:

In today¿s business world corporate governance has become one of the

most discussed and most important matters. Corporate governance

criteria have been put right in the middle of investment decisions -

especially in emerging markets. In addition to that, a series of events like

business scandals, financial crises or business failures in the last 20 years

has made corporate governance a key point in the business community in

emerging markets, developing countries and economies in transition.

There exists no general definition for the term corporate governance.

Basically it can be viewed as a set of principles and rules by which a

company is directed and controlled. Many countries have developed good

corporate governance principles to improve the relationship between the

shareholders of a company and the management. Factors like financial

disclosure, more rights for shareholders and independent boards are

crucial for investors who are looking for a stable growth of companies.

Countries in the MENA region have put the implementation of such sound

corporate governance codes in the middle of their agenda. Their aim is to

create better economies and consequently a more attractive investment

climate for possible investors in the future.

This thesis tries to give the reader an insight into today¿s state of

corporate governance in the Middle East and North Africa countries. The

discussion is based on a survey which has been undertaken by the

Hawkamah Institute for corporate governance in Dubai which focuses on

the establishment of good corporate governance codes in this region.