J. Global Business Advancement, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2018 41
Copyright © 2018 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Antecedents and consequences of customer loyalty
in Qatar
Shahid N. Bhuian
Aborton Limited,
Dental & Medical Instruments Trading,
Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh
Email: shahidbhuian@gmail.com
Maha Al Balushi
College of Economics & Political Science,
Sultan Qaboos University,
Musca, 123, Oman
Email: maha@squ.edu.om
Irfan Butt*
Faculty of Business Administration,
Lakehead University,
Thunder Bay, P7B 5E1, Canada
Email: ibutt@lakeheadu.ca
*Corresponding author
Abstract: Drawing insights from the customer value-based theory, the study
hypothesises and examines the relationships in the antecedents-customer
loyalty-consequences process in a unique context, Qatar. Five divergent and
salient antecedents and two important outcomes are incorporated in a single
comprehensive study. The antecedents are innovation (a novel one), service
quality, trust, satisfaction and switching cost, while the consequences are word-
of-mouth communication and repeat purchase. An analysis of a sample of
mobile internet subscribers reveals that the five antecedents impact customer
loyalty, which, in turn, influences the two outcomes. The study extends
customer loyalty theory to a region marked by unique Islamic values and
beliefs. Also, the study suggests that in addition to paying attention to a number
of traditional drivers of customer loyalty simultaneously, marketers seeking to
build and sustain customer loyalty in the Gulf region should also focus on
innovation. Implications are discussed.
Keywords: customer loyalty; innovation; service quality; trust; word-of-mouth
communication; Qatar; Gulf Cooperation Council region.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Bhuian, S.N.,
Al Balushi, M. and Butt, I. (2018) ‘Antecedents and consequences of
customer loyalty in Qatar’, J. Global Business Advancement, Vol. 11, No. 1,
pp.41–63.