Intro; Acknowledgements; Disclaimer; Contents; Editors and Contributors; 1 Introduction: Musings on a Regional Positive Psychology; References; Government and Policy; 2 The Pursuit of National Wellbeing Policies Across the GCC: The What, How, and Why?; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Defining Happiness and Wellbeing; 2.3 What's Wrong with the GDP?; 2.4 Why Does Wellbeing Matter?; 2.5 Developing National Wellbeing Policies; 2.6 Policy Development in the GCC Nations; 2.7 Creating a Policy Framework; 2.8 Final Thoughts; References; 3 Commercial Life: The Private Sector's Contribution to Wellbeing

3.1 Commercial Life: The Missing Component for Greater Wellbeing3.2 What is Commercial Life?; 3.3 Commercial Life: A Theoretical Model for Wellbeing; 3.3.1 Hedonic Happiness: The Experiencing Self; 3.3.2 Eudaimonic Happiness: The Striving Self; 3.3.3 Social Connection: The Relating Self; 3.3.4 Built and Living Environments: The Functioning Self; 3.4 The Work Experience; 3.4.1 Hedonic Work Experiences; 3.4.2 Eudaimonic Work Experiences; 3.4.3 Social Resources at Work; 3.4.4 Environmental Health at Work; 3.5 The Consumer Experience; 3.5.1 Hedonic Consumer Experiences

3.5.2 Eudaimonic Consumer Experiences3.5.3 Social Connections and Consumerism; 3.5.4 Consumerism and the Natural/Built Environment; 3.6 The Product and Service Experience; 3.7 Implications for the UAE; References; 4 Happiness and the Built Environment; 4.1 Introduction to the World Happiness Report Ranking; 4.1.1 Happiness in the Region; 4.2 Potential Impact of the Built Environment on Happiness; 4.3 The Built Environment and Health Outcomes; 4.4 The Built Environment and Social Support Outcomes; 4.4.1 Built Environment Factors Impacting Social Support; 4.4.2 Social Support in the MENA Region

4.4.3 Rise of the Happiness Agenda in the Region4.5 Case Study 1: The Sustainable City in Dubai; 4.6 Case Study 2: The Happier Cities Initiative; 4.7 Case Study 3: Finding Happiness Across Virtual and Retail Spaces; 4.8 Conclusion; References; Education and the Workplace; 5 Coming Full Circle: Taking Positive Psychology to GCC Universities; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 What is a Positive University?; 5.3 What are Character Strengths?; 5.3.1 Of What Use are Character Strengths?; 5.4 Which Strengths Make the Biggest Difference?; 5.5 Three Approaches to University Level Character Development

5.6 Avenues for Future Study5.7 Conclusion; References; 6 Saudi Arabia's Road to Positivity: Positive Psychology Education and Research; 6.1 Introduction; 6.2 The Positive Islamic Psychology Movement; 6.3 Saudi Arabia's Positive Vision; 6.4 A Growing Movement of Positive Psychology and Other Practices; 6.5 Developments in the Research Culture of Saudi Arabia; 6.6 The Beginning of Positive Psychology Education in Saudi Arabia; 6.7 The Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Research Lab (PPWRL); 6.7.1 Mission and Vision of the Lab; 6.7.2 Research Assistant Program