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Abstract
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the highest percentage increase in the numbers of new business start-ups of 54 countries who participated in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor [Report on Entrepreneurship in the UAE. (2009). Retrieved January 2012, from http://www.gemconsortium.org/docs/download/741] Report. Both in recognising the growing importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the UAE, and in seeking to embed business excellence, this paper explores the management approaches utilised in 50 joint national/expatriate-managed SMEs. The SMEs, are assessed and scored against the eight concepts of excellence which underpin the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model, in order to establish the focus and extent of existing management practices. With the current UAE Government policy on the issue of trade licences effectively enhancing entrepreneurial opportunities for Emirate nationals, this research has found a considerable variability of management approaches. The work has highlighted what appears in several instances as an inconsistency in business planning and direction within the UAE SME.