Dr. Rashed Salem AlHaimer is a highly accomplished academic and thought leader with a PhD in Electronic Marketing from Brunel University London, a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Bachelor’s in Management Information Systems. Former Dean of the Faculty of Business and Associate Professor at the Arab Open University, Kuwait, Dr. AlHaimer plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic and strategic direction of the institution. His professional journey also includes notable contributions in administrative and managerial capacities, particularly within the SME Support Department, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership and organizational acumen.
Dr. AlHaimer’s research portfolio reflects a deep engagement with pressing global and regional issues, including the role of social media in political campaigns, public health communication, gender dynamics in enterprise performance, and consumer behavior during emergencies. His work, published in esteemed academic journals, underscores his commitment to addressing complex societal challenges through rigorous scholarship and evidence-based insights.
A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. AlHaimer is actively involved in curriculum development, quality assurance, and strategic planning initiatives. His collaborative approach and diplomatic leadership have earned him recognition, including the Excellence Award in Scientific Research. With a strong emphasis on fostering innovation and inclusivity, Dr. AlHaimer continues to make significant contributions to academia, industry, and the broader community, embodying the principles of intellectual excellence and social responsibility.
Research interest :
My research lies at the nexus of digital transformation, strategic communication, and institutional development, with a particular emphasis on digital marketing, social media marketing, political marketing, and social marketing. I am deeply engaged in examining how these interconnected domains influence public policy, organizational change, and socio-economic advancement. Through a multidisciplinary lens, my work investigates the role of digital platforms in shaping political discourse, enhancing SME resilience, and fostering innovation ecosystems particularly within the sociopolitical context of the Gulf region and the strategic framework of Kuwait Vision 2035.
• Marketing & Society.
• Digital Marketing.
• Service Marketing.
- Associate Professor for the Faculty of Business, Arab Open University (Julya 2023 to present).
- Dean Of Faculty of Business Studies – Arab Open University – Kuwait Brach (February 2023 to February 2025).
- Assistant Professor for the Faculty of Business, Arab Open University (September 2018 to Julya 2023).
- Administrative work at Manpower and the Government Restructuring Programme – SME Support Department (2010–2018).
Articles:
Alhaimer, R. (2025). Rebranding as a Catalyst for Organisational Change: Insights and Impacts. International Journal of Service Science, Management, Engineering, and Technology (IJSSMET), 16(1). https://doi.org/10.4018/IJSSMET.377573
Alhaimer, R., Alshami, A., Alkhaldi, A., Alsadeeqi, A., Aloumi, D., & Malik, S. (2025). Evaluating public policy interventions in mitigating financial default risk among SMEs. International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 15(5), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJPSPM.2025.145590
Alhaimer, R. (2025), "Comparing virtual political campaigns with traditional political campaigns: evidence from Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. 74 No. 1/2, pp. 548-563. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-07-2022-0182
Alqaoud, A. and Alhaimer, R.S. (2024): The Role of Social Entrepreneurship on Economic, Social and Environmental Development: Evidence from the UK. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 91–104. DOI: 10.47556/J.WJEMSD.20.2.2024.1
Alhaimer, R. (2024), "Digital transformation on the design and implementation of virtual political campaigns in Kuwait: perceptions and attitudes of politicians and campaign managers for bold innovation and social impact in Kuwait", Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-11-2023-0212
Afnan Alkhaldi, Sawsan Malik, Rashed Alhaimer, Abdullah Alshaheen, Miltiadis D. Lytras, Translating a value-based framework for resilient e-learning impact in post COVID-19 times: Research-based Evidence from Higher Education in Kuwait, Heliyon, 2024, e24271, ISSN 2405-8440, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24271
Alhaimer, R.S. Unveiling the digital persona image: the influence of social media on political candidates’ brand personality and voter behavior in Kuwait. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 10, 969 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-02420-4
Alhaimer, R. (2023), "Impact of governmental social media campaigns on citizens’ attitudes towards Kuwait’s vision 2035", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-06-2023-0209
Alhaimer, R. (2023). Exploring the Attitudes of Kuwait’s Residents Toward the Role of Corruption and Anti-Corruption Entities (Nazaha) in Kuwait. Public Integrity, 26(3), 305–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/10999922.2023.2176054
Alhaimer, R. (2022). The health belief model: Evaluating governmental public health messages on social media aimed at preventing a COVID-19 epidemic in Kuwait. Cogent Business & Management, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2022.2031682
Hend Hassan, Ahmed Abdelkader, Rashed Alhaimer and Marwa Abdelkader, 2021. Moderating role of gender in influencing enterprise performance in emerging economies: Evidence from Saudi Arabian SMEs sector. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 19(3), 148–161. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.19(3).2021.13
Alhaimer, R. S. (2021). The Role of Social Media in the Innovation and Performance of Kuwaiti Enterprises in the Food Sector. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 16(6), 1960-1972. https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16060110
Alhaimer, R. (2021). Fluctuating Attitudes and Behaviors of Customers toward Online Shopping in Times of Emergency: The Case of Kuwait during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Internet Commerce, 21(1), 26–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332861.2021.1882758
Rashed Alhaimer, 2019. Adopting social media and identifying return on investment from using social media as a marketing tool amongst Kuwaiti SMEs. Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, 23(2).
Rashed Alhaimer, 2019. Factors affecting SME owners to use social media for online advertisement in Kuwait. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 23(2).
Book Chapters:
Alhaimer, R. (2024), "Shifting Toward Digitalization and Smart Cities: Evidence from Kuwait", Lytras, M.D., Alkhaldi, A. and Malik, S. (Ed.) The Emerald Handbook of Smart Cities in the Gulf Region: Innovation, Development, Transformation, and Prosperity for Vision 2040, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 327-343. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83608-292-720241018
