Corporate social responsibility reporting in Qatar: a descriptive analysis

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to explore the current status and extent of corporate social responsibility reporting (CSRR) in the annual reports of Qatari companies listed on the Qatar Exchange. It seeks to contribute to the meagre descriptive literature on CSRR in emerging economies in general, and in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in particular.Design/methodology/approach -The paper reviews the annual reports of companies from both the financial and manufacturing sectors. The paper uses content analysis and covers five areas of CSR reporting including environment, human resources, product development, community involvement and others relating to inequality and the employment of disabled people.Findings -The paper finds that most companies disclosed information related to human resources and product development, followed by community involvement. However, no companies reported environmental issues in their annual reports.Research limitations/implications -The research is based on annual reports for the financial year 2007. Hence, the conclusions reached cannot be generalized. A longitudinal analysis is needed to highlight trends in CSRR practices in Qatar. An in-depth case study would also facilitate our understanding of why companies are making or not making certain types of social and environmental disclosure in Qatar. Originality/value -Descriptions of CSRR in different parts of the world are still welcome, and arguably CSRR research in GCC in general and Qatar in particular is very limited.

Adaptations of CSR in the Context of Globalization the Case of the GCC

“…Qatar is also a country rich in oil and gas with other booming sectors, with Qatar recently serving as the largest exporter of cement and steel [22]. It is a small country with the second highest migration rate and the first GDP per capita in the world [23].…”

“…While financial reporting has improved in the past decade, CSR disclosure is still a voluntary practice in Qatar, and not enforced by law. Companies lack a broad scope of CSR disclosure that mostly focuses on human resources; state regulations by the Qatari Government would help enhance CSR activities and set clear environmental disclosure standards in line with global sustainability trends [22]. Due to its contextual dynamics, as a small country with relatively low population, Qatar has excelled in inclusive social welfare initiatives; apart from its high living standards, the country's contribution to global development has been pronounced.…”

“…The energy sector in Qatar however does not follow the same type of CSR disclosure seen in western energy sectors. It is expected that such an industry would be keener on disclosing socially responsible behavior regarding environmental challenges; however, this is not the case in the Qatari energy market, as a study revealed that the sector's highest emphasis through CSR reporting is related to human resources rather than an environmental theme [22].…”

“…Despite the high international market integration in Qatar, corporations fall short on CSR practices as the main themes of CSR reporting are related to human resources and product development; the disclosure is mostly in a narrative format through the chairman's report which indicates that companies through CSR pursue higher profits and a corporate image and reputation as responsible corporate citizens rather than contributing to the enhancement of local sustainable development [22]. The highest amount of reporting is recorded in large companies [25,35]; as they have higher financial resources to be able to apply CSR strategies, in addition to being more visible to the public eye and so need to maintain a responsible corporate image for long-term success [25].…”

Corporate sustainability disclosure and market valuation in a Middle Eastern Nation: evidence from listed firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange: sensitive industries versus non-sensitive industries

“…The majority of research studies on the corporate sustainability and social responsibility are adapted to studying the methods accomplishment by firms in industrialized nations. The restricted CSR surveys dedicated to firms in emerging nations as far as this propose variations in geographic, political, and economic settings be present in developing nations that reason distinctions in the perception of CSR and therefore the enhancement of CSR methods in various practices compared with their industrialized nation counterparts (Griesse, 2007;Zhu et al, 2016).CSR has gained the increasing attention to the academicians and many surveys are done both in developed (Adams et al, 1998;Barth & McNichols, 1994;Berthelot et al, 2012;Cardamone et al, 2012;Gray et al, 1995;Perez-Ruiz & Rodriguez-del Bosque, 2012) and developing countries (Choi & Jungh, 2008;De Klerk & De Villiers, 2012;Griesse, 2007;Kong, 2012;Kucukusta et al, 2013;Zhu et al, 2016), however, a very few attention is done in the Middle East (Alfaraih & Alanezi, 2011;Al-Khater & Naser, 2003;AlNaimi et al, 2012;Katsioloudes & Brodtkorb, 2007;Nobanee & Ellili, 2016;Rizk et al, 2008) in general and Iran in particular.…”