In view of the growing emphasis by educational leadership and management (EDLM) scholars on diversifying the existing knowledge base in the field, this review of research analysed topics and conceptual models employed in 104 studies on school principals from the Arabian Gulf states published between 2000 and 2019. Systematic review methods were used to identify relevant studies documented in Arabic databases hosted by Dar Almandumah. Information was extracted from the articles and analysed using quantitative methods. The results revealed similarities between the data set under review and EDLM research from other developing countries in terms of research topics and conceptual development. Weaknesses are highlighted and recommendations are offered for strengthening future studies on school principals in the region.
Abu KareemA (2015) Organizational justice for principals in public schools in Riyadh and its relationship to teachers’ organizational loyalty. Education Journal: Al-Azhar University2(162): 221–263.
2.
AhmedMAl-AniW (2015) International school leadership characteristics and their degree of realisation by secondary school principals in Egypt and the Sultanate of Oman: a comparative study. The Journal of Educational Administration2(5): 65–207.
3.
Al-AjmiN (2017) The role of school administration in developing citizenship among high school students. Journal of Educational Sciences: Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University11: 311–373.
4.
Al-AniMAl-AttarA (2017) The role of private school principals in activating TQM and its relationship to educational leadership styles. Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies: Sultan Qaboos University11(3): 686–706.
5.
Al-AwadiFAl-AwadiA (2015) Analysis of the impact of transformational leadership on administrative creativity: an applied study on the educational institutions in the State of Kuwait. The Future of Arab Education: 22(93): 11–67.
6.
Al-AzmiA (2013) The reality of administrative practices of school principals in general education in the State of Kuwait in the light of strategic management. Educational Sciences2: 50–75.
7.
Al-AzmiM (2017) The degree of commitment of public school principals in the State of Kuwait to the ethics of administrative work and its impact on the level of teacher satisfaction with the work environment. Educational Sciences: Cairo University25(2): 368–409.
8.
Al-BalwiNTanashS (2017) Developing a tool to evaluate the performance of public education school principals in the Tabuk educational region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Educational Sciences Studies: University of Jordan44(2): 221–232.
9.
Al-GhaithA (2011) Training needs for school administration tasks for high school principals in the Riyadh region. Journal of the Association of Modern Education: Association of Modern Education4(10): 43–128.
10.
Al-GhaithA (2015) The level of organizational culture of government secondary school principals in Riyadh and its relationship to the job satisfaction of female teachers from the viewpoint of school principals and their teachers. Zarqa Journal for Research and Humanities: Zarqa University15(3): 1–20.
11.
Al-GhamdiA (2006) Measuring the effectiveness of the performance of general education school principals in the Kingdom in the light of the Hallinger’s instrcutional leadership scale from the teachers’ point of view. Taibah University Journal for Educational Sciences2(4): 1–54.
12.
Al-GhamdiR (2016) The leadership behaviour of school principals and its relationship to the degree of organizational justice as perceived by female teachers in Al-Baha region. Journal of the College of Education: Tanta University63(3): 229–289.
13.
Al-HamdanJAl-ShammariI (2008) The extent of the contribution of secondary school principals in the State of Kuwait in planning professional training programs for teachers and a proposal for their development. Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences: University of Bahrain9(1): 13–35.
14.
Al-HosaniAASinghSKAl NahyanMT (2017) Role of school leadership and climate in student achievement: the mediating role of parental involvement. International Journal of Educational Management31(6): 843–851.
15.
Al-JaradatM (2013) Change management for high school principals in the Hail Educational District. Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences: University of Bahrain14(2): 227–254.
16.
AllyMAlshahraniK (eds) (2018) Transforming Education in the Gulf Region. Abingdon: Routledge.
17.
Al-MeheilbyAAl-AzmiMAl-QahtaniA (2014) Organizational culture in public and private education schools in the State of Kuwait and its relationship to administrative creativity. Educational Journal: Kuwait University – Scientific Publishing Council28(110): 15–57.
18.
Al-QahtaniA (2013a) The role of school leaders in managing the professional development of staff members in the areas of information and communication technology. Educational Journal: Kuwait University5: 1–35.
19.
Al-QahtaniA (2013b) Patterns of school administrative leadership in the State of Kuwait: an exploratory study. Journal of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies39(150): 55–96.
20.
AlqahtaniASNomanMKaurA (2020) Core leadership practices of school principals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Educational Management Administration & Leadership. DOI: 10.1177/1741143220901857.
21.
Al-SaadiH (2014) Organizational culture and management practices among school principals of the second cycle and the relationship between them from the viewpoint of female teachers in Suwaiq Wilayat in North Al BatinahGovernorate. Jerash for Research and Studies: Jerash University15(2): 1–16.
22.
Al-SadaKhAbabnehS (2016) The relationship between the self-efficacy of public school principals in the Kingdom of Bahrain and their motivation to work. Studies: Ammar Thleighi University in Laghouat44: 60–74.
23.
Al-SahlawyA (2000) A suggested scenario for principal selection in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Yearbook of the College of Education: Qatar University16(16): 141–176.
24.
Al-SakkaC (2013) The degree to which high school principals in Riyadh possess strategic planning skills from the viewpoint of school administration supervisors. Education & Psychology Message: Saudi Society for Educational and Psychological Sciences43: 52–83.
25.
AlsalehA (2019) Investigating instructional leadership in Kuwait’s educational reform context: school leaders’ perspectives. School Leadership & Management39(1): 96–120.
26.
Al-ShammariA (2015) Organizational commitment and its relationship to job satisfaction among principals of public schools in the region of Hail. The Future of Arab Education22(96): 119–190.
27.
Al-SharifO (2016) The degree to which high school principals in Tabuk Educational Administration practice the requirements of change management from the viewpoint of their teachers and administrators. Educational Journal: Sohag University45: 73–134.
28.
AlsharijaMWattersJJ (2020) Secondary school principals as change agents in Kuwait: principals’ perspectives. Educational Management Administration & Leadership. DOI: 10.1177/1741143220925090.
29.
Al-TammamA (2016) The degree of the educational leader’s practice of knowledge management processes in secondary schools in Yanbu Governorate and its relationship to administrative decision-making. Education Journal: Al-Azhar University169(3): 192–269.
30.
Al-YousefY (2017) The Gulf Cooperation Council States. London: Saqi Books.
31.
Al-ZeyodM (2012) The degree of information technology practice and its relationship to managerial creativity of government secondary school principals in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences: University of Bahrain13(2): 13–41.
32.
AravenaF (2020) Principal succession in schools: a literature review (2003–2019). Educational Management Administration & Leadership. DOI: 10.1177/1741143220940331.
33.
AshourM (2010) The principal of the school in activating the partnership between the school and the local community in the Sultanate of Oman. Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences: University of Bahrain11(4): 75–106.
34.
AsugaGNScevakJEacottS (2016) Educational leadership, management and administration in Africa: an analysis of contemporary literature. School Leadership & Management36(4): 381–400.
35.
AtariAOutumN (2019) Research on educational administration published in Arabic language educational journals: a systematic review and analysis. International Studies in Educational Administration (Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration & Management (CCEAM))47(1): 61–73.
36.
BaileyLPurintonTAl-MahdiO, et al. (2019) Conceptualizing school leadership in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) cultures: demarcating challenges for research. Educational Management Administration & Leadership. DOI: 10.1177/1741143219884682.
37.
BajunidIA (1996) Preliminary explorations of indigenous perspectives of educational management: the evolving Malaysian experience. Journal of Educational Administration34: 50–73.
38.
BellibaşMŞGümüşS (2019) A systematic review of educational leadership and management research in Turkey. Journal of Educational Administration57. DOI: 10.1108/JEA-01-2019-0004.
39.
BushTGloverD (2016) School leadership and management in South Africa: findings from a systematic literature review. International Journal of Educational Management30(2): 211–231.
40.
CastilloFAHallingerP (2017) Systematic review of research on educational leadership and management in Latin America, 1991–2017. Educational Management Administration & Leadership46(2): 207–225.
41.
ClarkeSO’DonoghueT (2017) Educational leadership and context: A rendering of an inseparablerelationship. British Journal of Educational Studies65(2): 165–182.
42.
DayCLeithwoodK (eds) (2007) Successful Principal Leadership in Times of Change: An International Perspective. Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 11–137.
43.
EdmondsR (1979) Effective schools for the urban poor. Educational Leadership37(1): 15–24.
44.
FlessaJBramwellDFernandezM, et al. (2018) School leadership in Latin America 2000–2016. Educational Management Administration & Leadership46(2): 182–206.
45.
GhawanmehF (2017) Administrative creativity and its relationship to organizational conflict management among schools leaders in the General Administration of Education in the Hail educational region. Education Journal: Al-Azhar University – College of Education2(175): 176–217.
46.
GoughD (2007) Weight of evidence: A framework for the appraisal of the quality and relevance of evidence. Research Papers in Education22(2): 213–228.
47.
GümüşSBellibaşMŞGümüşE, et al. (2020). Science mapping research on educational leadership and management in Turkey: a bibliometric review of international publications. School Leadership & Management40(1): 23–44.
48.
HallingerP (2011) A review of three decades of doctoral studies using the Principal Instructional ManagementRating Scale: A lens on methodological progress in educational leadership. Educational Administration Quarterly47(2): 271–306.
49.
HallingerP (2013) A conceptual framework for systematic reviews of research in educational leadership and management. Journal of Educational Administration51(2): 126–149.
50.
HallingerP (2018) Surfacing a hidden literature: a systematic review of research on educationalleadership and management in Africa. Educational Management Administration & Leadership46(3): 362–384.
51.
HallingerPBryantDA (2013) Mapping the terrain of research on educational leadership and management in East Asia. Journal of Educational Administration51(5): 618–637.
52.
HallingerPChenJ (2015) Review of research on educational leadership and management in Asia: a comparative analysis of research topics and methods, 1995–2012. Educational Management Administration & Leadership43(1): 5–27.
53.
HallingerPHammadW (2019) Knowledge production on educational leadership and management in Arab societies: a systematic review of research. Educational Management Administration & Leadership47(1): 20–36.
54.
HallingerPHeckRH (1996) Reassessing the principal’s role in school effectiveness: a review of empirical research, 1980–1995. Educational Administration Quarterly32(1): 5–44.
55.
HallingerPHuberS (2012) School leadership that makes a difference: international perspectives. School Effectiveness and School Improvement23(4): 359–367.
56.
HallingerPWalkerAD (2017) Leading learning in Asia: Emerging empirical insights from five societies. Journal of Educational Administration5(2): 130–146.
57.
HammadWHallingerP (2017) A systematic review of conceptual models and methods used in research on educational leadership and management in Arab societies. School Leadership & Management37(5): 434–456.
58.
HammadWShahS (2018) Dissonance between the ‘international’ and the conservative ‘national’: challenges facing school leaders in international schools in Saudi Arabia. Educational Administration Quarterly54(5): 747–780.
59.
HammadWSamierEAMohammedA (2020) Mapping the field of educational leadership and management in the Arabian Gulf region: A systematic review of Arabic research literature. Educational Management Administration & Leadership. 1741143220937308.
60.
HofstedeG (1986) Cultural differences in teaching and learning. International Journal of Intercultural Relations10(3): 301–320.
61.
IbrahimHAl-ShehoumyS (2018a) The role of school principals in building professional learning communities in the Sultanate of Oman from the viewpoint of school administration supervisors. Educational Journal, Benha University29(116): 335–376.
62.
IbrahimSAl-ShehoumyS (2018b) The degree to which principals of basic education schools in the Sultanate of Oman possess the standards of the International Association for Education Technology from the point of view of administrative supervisors. Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences: University of Bahrain – Scientific Publishing Center19(2): 73–107.
63.
Karami-AkkaryRHammadW (2019) The knowledge base on educational leadership and management in Arab countries: its current state and its implications for leadership development. In: SamierEAElkalehES (eds) Teaching Educational Leadership in Muslim Countries. Singapore: Springer, pp. 77–92.
64.
KılınçAÇGümüşS (2020) What do we know about novice school principals? A systematic review of existing international literature. Educational Management Administration & Leadership. DOI: 10.1177/1741143219898483.
65.
LeithwoodK (2005) Understanding successful principal leadership: progress on a broken front. Journal of Educational Administration43(6): 619–629.
66.
LeithwoodKHarrisAStraussT (2010) Leading School Turnaround: How Successful Leaders Transform Low-Performing Schools. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.
67.
LumbyJ (2014) Leadership preparation: engine of transformation or social reproduction?Journal of Educational Administration and History46(3): 306–325.
68.
MayJJSandersET (2013) Beyond standardized test scores: an examination of leadership and climate as leading indicators of future success in the transformation of turnaround schools. Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research9: 42–54.
69.
OplatkaI (2004) The principalship in developing countries: context, characteristics and reality. Comparative Education40(3): 427–448.
70.
RobinsonWSBuntrockLM (2011) Turnaround necessities. The Education Digest77(3): 4–8.
71.
SaffariSAbdolmalekiKAkhbariR (2017) Unsettling colonial modernity: Islamicate contexts in focus. In: SaffariSAbdolmalekiKAkhbariRHamdonE (eds) Unsettling Colonial Modernity in Islamicate Contexts. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, pp. 1–26.
72.
StringerPHouraniRB (2016) Transformation of roles and responsibilities of principals in times of change. Educational Management Administration & Leadership44(2): 224–246.
73.
WalkerAHallingerP (2015) A synthesis of reviews of research on principal leadership in East Asia. Journal of Educational Administration53(4): 554–570.
74.
WalkerAQianH (2006) Beginning principals: balancing at the top of the greasy pole. Journal of Educational Administration44: 297–309.
75.
Zawacki-RichterOKerresMBedenlierS, et al. (eds) (2020) Systematic Reviews in Educational Research. Wiesbaden: Springer.
