While a large body of research has examined the outcomes of emotional intelligence, relatively little is known about the antecedents of emotional intelligence. In particular, prior research suggests that emotional intelligence has different effects on management outcomes, such as task performance and leadership behavior, in different cultural contexts. Using a sample of 2,067 individuals in nine countries the present study explores the influence of cultural dimensions on emotional intelligence. Our results show that especially collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation have a positive influence on the different dimensions of emotional intelligence. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed and future research directions are provided.