American Journal of Information Systems, 2017, Vol. 5, No. 1, 21-26
Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajis/5/1/3
©Science and Education Publishing
DOI:10.12691/ajis-5-1-3
Consumer Perspectives Relative to Interpreting
e-Commerce Acceptance in UAE
Richmond Adebiaye
1,*
, Theophilus D. Owusu
2
1
Information Systems, College of Business and Technology, Parker University, Dallas Tx, United States
2
Graduate Business School, Keiser University, Fort Lauderdale, USA
*Corresponding author: richmond.adebiaye@yahoo.com
Abstract The success of consumer e-commerce is perhaps based on its attractions. Increasingly diversified
products create even more reason for consumers to be attracted to online purchasing. However, the proliferation of
e-commerce has created a dilemma in determinant factors that drive consumer decisions. Using a survey
methodology (N = 125), this study examines the correlations of known “antecedents to consumer acceptance of
online shopping” in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A binary logistic regression analysis is performed to predict
how consumer attitudes, perceptions of website quality, and gender influence consumer e-commerce intentions. A
positive correlation is revealed between perceived ease of website navigation and increased consumer trust in using
the website. Additionally, perceived quality of the site is statistically significant to online purchasing. Consumer
attitude toward e-commerce also correlates positively to e-purchase intentions. This study also reveals that consumer
gender was not an influencing factor with any of the variables examined and to purchase intentions. Results from
this study suggest the important influential relationship between consumer behavior patterns and consumer
e-shopping decisions.
Keywords: e-commerce, consumer attitudes, purchase intentions, online shopping acceptance
Cite This Article: Richmond Adebiaye, and Theophilus D. Owusu, “Consumer Perspectives Relative to
Interpreting e-Commerce Acceptance in UAE.” American Journal of Information Systems, vol. 5, no. 1 (2017):
21-26. doi: 10.12691/ajis-5-1-3.
1. Introduction
The Internet has become an essential part of everyday
life in the modern world. It has drastically improved
sharing of thoughts, ideas, and beliefs between people in
remote geographical locations across the globe, a feat
previously considered impossible. In business, the Internet
has revolutionized communication and information-
sharing among stakeholders. manufacturers, trading
partners, employees, and consumers reach across the
borderless web through online relationship management
systems to meet one another’s needs [12]. Government
agencies and Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) also rely
on the Internet for research-based activities, learning,
tendering, and resource sharing. Assuredly, the majority of
business entities that properly utilize the Internet have
reaped lucrative benefits. Among these are improved
organizational performance, increased revenue, and
reduced communication expenses while increasing the
number of people communicating, an exponentially
growing phenomenon [11].
Despite these benefits, it is evident that many people
are still reluctant to engage in e-commerce, due to various
concerns such as trust and delivery issues [5,6]. Trust
issues result from a lack of touch and feel of the product,
which makes consumers uncertain as to whether they will
get the product they ordered. Delivery issues result from
of delayed deliveries, a challenging problem, especially in
cases of emergency. Other factors contributing to
consumer reluctance include culture, attitudes and
perception of the people from a given region, economic
and demographic factors [10].
Researchers, however, argue that consumer behavior is
a critical determinant of online shopping habits [1,2].
Consumer behavior is defined as the study of processes
used by people, groups, and organizations to select,
acquire and dispose of products, experiences, and services
for utility purposes, and how this behavior impacts both
the consumer and the society as a whole [14]. Volumes of
research have been published on consumer behavior,
which focused on psychology, sociology, and economics,
as well as how perceptions affect consumer inclination
toward engaging in online shopping.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is generally regarded
as a tourist hub. According to Vel and Rodrigues [16],
e-commerce was introduced in the UAE in 2009. The
country has since enthusiastically embraced online
shopping, resulting in the UAE’s rank among the region’s
top five nations participating in e-commerce [5,6]. This
study examines the correlation between the advantages of
online shopping and consumer intentions while web
browsing. The results presented will provide clear
consumer e-commerce behavioral patterns in the region,
vital for effective policy formation.