Entrepreneurial leadership in Middle East sport businesses: the impact of gender differences in cultural values

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand the impact of gender in the sport business by investigating gender differences in entrepreneurial leadership and cultural values using quantitative methods.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 241 surveys were completed by sport business owners in 4 countries in the Middle East.FindingsThe results revealed that gender differences and similarities are not only widely affected by national cultural values but also the effects of national cultural values vary between countries in the Middle East, despite these countries being similar in terms of habits, traditions, history, language and institutional systems. Additionally, it was found that entrepreneurial leadership is a role, task or responsibility that is related to both men and women in the sport business in the Middle East.Research limitations/implicationsTheoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed, together with limitations and suggestions for future research.Originality/valueThis is the only study in the field of entrepreneurial leadership that examined the concept of entrepreneurial leadership in Middle East sport businesses.