Cultural intelligence and performance in highly international, diverse working environments: a mediating model in the money exchange sector

Purpose This study examines the mediating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between cultural intelligence and job performance, as well as between job security and job performance, within a highly multicultural workplace environment. The research further examines the relationship between cultural intelligence, job security, job satisfaction, and job performance in the money exchange sector of the United Arab Emirates. This sector represents a crucial element of the UAE economic context due to the number of international workers and its total global workforce.Design/methodology/approach The study employs a quantitative approach. The data was gathered via questionnaires distributed online and in person. The study applies structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses.Findings The results suggest that job satisfaction mediates the relationship between cultural intelligence and job performance. Job security indirectly influences job performance through job satisfaction rather than through a mediating effect. Furthermore, cultural intelligence is positively related to job performance and job satisfaction, as well as job security to job satisfaction. The study emphasizes the need to consider the general framework when examining these relations, as the interaction among the variables might be context-dependent.Originality/value To the best of the authors’ understanding, this is the first study to investigate these variables in a highly multicultural work environment. It also adds a cultural dimension to the research within a sector and a socioeconomic context neglected in the literature. The results of this study contribute to the existing knowledge base of human resources management from a cross-cultural perspective.