Analysing Drivers and Barriers of Accommodation Sharing in Dubai Using the Grey-DEMATEL Approach

Abstract

The continuous growth of the sharing economy has the potential to transform the competition in the accommodation sector. At present, research on accommodation sharing is scarce. This paper identifies drivers and barriers to accommodation sharing in Dubai. Taking into account different viewpoints of accommodation sharing professionals in Dubai and the grey-based Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, this study singles out the essential drivers and barriers and examines the cause and effect connections between them. The process starts with a review of the existing accommodation sharing literature and the feedback from the industry experts to identify the drivers and barriers. Then, the elaboration of the questionnaire, data collection from five experts, data analysis with grey-based DEMATEL, and the sensitivity analysis follow. The lower costs, higher value, ease of use, wealth of available information, and contributions to the development of the local economy and residents are the most influential drivers of accommodation sharing in Dubai. The difficulties related to learning and using new technology along with insufficient or underdeveloped accommodation sharing legislation are the most critical barriers. The paper ends with implications for the stakeholders, limitations, and future directions for research on accommodation sharing.