THE IMPACT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP ON PROJECT SUCCESS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Abstract Transformational leadership is crucial for achieving project success in the UAE, a region characterized by rapid economic growth and cultural diversity, which adds complexity to project management. Leaders who embrace this style in the UAE power sector are known for inspiring and motivating their teams by cultivating a shared vision, encouraging innovation, and empowering team members to take ownership of their responsibilities. The UAE power sector is the second largest in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia, where projects are often large-scale and multifaceted; transformational leadership proves especially effective in project-based companies where organizational success depends on the successful completion of projects. By fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, and ongoing improvement, these leaders can navigate the challenges posed by the UAE's fast-paced and competitive market, ensuring that projects are delivered on schedule and within Budget and surpass expectations in quality and stakeholder satisfaction. This research was conducted to meet these objectives by employing an online survey via Google Forms between January 2024 and June 2024. The data from this response was processed quantitatively and analyzed by IBM SPSS. Correlation studies were conducted to find the significance of transformational leadership and five key project success factors. The study's findings indicated that transformational leadership in the UAE extends far beyond the successful delivery of projects by playing a pivotal role in stakeholder satisfaction and post-project benefit realization.