This study seeks to improve the current understanding of e-government adoption by taking a novel approach. Drawing on the social cognitive theory and its triadic reciprocal model, we developed and tested a new research model in the context of e-government adoption in the United Arab Emirates. The overall findings suggest that e-government adoption is influenced by the reciprocal interactions of personal, behavioural, and environmental factors. The findings imply that when formulating e-government strategy, policy makers need to address in a holistic and integrative way the issue of e-government environment and its alignment with citizens' Internet use preferences and personal factors. This study opens a new lens for e-government adoption research and offers practical value for governments to develop effective e-government strategy.