SACM - United Kingdom
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9667
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Item Restricted Exploring the Influence of Culture on Adherence to Physical Activity Guidelines Among Older Adults with diabetes mellitus and/or chronic kidney disease in KSA: A mixed methods study(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alrashidi, Lamya; Gillian, Prue; Iseult, WilsonBackground: Physical activity (PA) is essential for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly among older adults. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), limited data exist on the PA behaviours of this population or the cultural and contextual factors that influence them. This study employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design to assess PA levels and explore the cultural dynamics influencing PA adherence among older adults with DM and/or CKD in Ha’il City. Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was employed in three phases. Phase 1 consisted of a scoping review to examine the influence of culture on physical activity behaviours among older adults with chronic diseases. Phase 2 involved a quantitative cross-sectional survey of 256 older adults using the Arabic version of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE-A). Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between physical activity and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Phase 3 comprised qualitative dyadic interviews with 15 older adults and their informal caregivers. Thematic analysis, guided by the Social-Ecological Model (SEM), was used to interpret the findings and contextualise the quantitative results. Results: PA levels among older adults in Ha’il with DM and/or CKD were low relative to published international reference values, with a mean PASE score of 30.6 (SD = 41.9). Household activity contributed to overall physical activity scores among a subset of participants, particularly women; however, household physical activity was unevenly distributed, with more than half of participants reporting no household activity. Participants with CKD were less active than those with DM, and longer disease duration was associated with lower PA levels, while higher educational attainment was positively associated with PA engagement. Qualitative findings identified multiple barriers to PA, including chronic illness, fatigue, restrictive cultural norms equating ageing with rest, gender-based mobility constraints, family overprotection, inadequate infrastructure, and extreme climatic conditions. Key facilitators included family encouragement, medical advice, social companionship, and increased awareness of PA benefits. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that PA among older adults with DM and/or CKD in KSA is limited and shaped by an interaction of individual, interpersonal, community, and societal influences. Multi-level interventions that address cultural norms, strengthen family and caregiver support, and improve community and environmental resources are needed to support sustainable PA engagement and improved health outcomes in this population. Keywords: Physical activity, Older adults, Diabetes mellitus, Chronic kidney disease, KSA, Mixed-methods, Cultural factors, Caregivers, Social Ecological Model12 0Item Restricted Identity Construction Among Higher Education Saudi Students in The UK(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Althubiti, Rayed; Sheikh, Mustapha; Alonso, GregorioThe steady rise in Saudi students attending British universities gives them a unique experience since it exposes them to a new way of life with distinct beliefs, values, and customs. However, they might also have to cope with the contemporary anti-Muslim sentiment known as Islamophobia. This study aims to better understand how Saudi students create and re-create their identities through their experiences while studying in the UK. In particular, the following inquiries are addressed: 1) Which academic and everyday life experiences do Saudi students share during their time studying in the UK? 2) What do their combined experiences reveal about their identity as Saudis? Twenty Saudi students enrolled in UK higher education institutions participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews as part of a narrative approach used to answer these questions. The approach of interviewing them twice provides an even deeper understanding of their stories and how time affected their attitudes during two periods: before coming to the UK and after spending a while in the UK. With respect to the first query, the results of this study show that Saudi students have a lot of interests in common while they are studying in the UK. These narratives examine how Saudi students viewed British identity before coming to the UK and how their views on race changed over time. The findings also shed light on their accounts of encounters with Islamophobia, discrimination, and equality in their social and academic lives. The accounts also reveal how Saudi students socialise with people of the opposite gender in the UK and how they engage with locals, Muslims, and other Saudis. The stories explore how the students perceive gender roles in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. The narratives also look at how Saudi students' views of British identity have changed as a result of their time in the UK. Regarding the second query, the research's conclusions show how Saudi students create their gender identities. Most participants in this study acknowledged that their gender identities and responsibilities had changed since coming to the UK, showing that they had adjusted to these changes. Furthermore, this study also emphasizes the shift in the religious identities of Saudi students. The experiences of Saudi students studying in the UK reveal a change, leading to greater sense of solidarity with other Muslims and a more steadfast dedication to their Islamic faith.10 0Item Restricted Food waste survey – how safe food with expired used by dates perceived by the public in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALSAIF, ASHWAQ; O'Neill, SallyFood waste is a serious problem that is particularly acute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) due to its high reliance on food imports. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contrasting public perception and possible microbiological safety of food that consumers voluntarily. This research study utilized a data collected from 272 participants from a structured online questionnaire. The survey addressed consumer awareness & knowledge of date labels ('Use By' versus 'Best Before'), food storage (fridge, freezer, cupboard) & disposal practices, risk perceptions related to food, and cultural and religious influences. The main findings of this study show that while most consumers (66.2%) check the expiry date label of foods, the confusion is staggering where 27% of respondents underestimated both 'Use By' and 'Best Before' labels as real deadlines, a situation that contributes to the overly risk averse culture of disposing of perishable foods such as raw meats (94%) and dairy (81%). Islamic principles do prohibit waste ('Israf') for 88.6% of respondents but 'interferes' with cultural practices ('Karam') of hospitality. The research finds that food waste in KSA is not caused by negligence, it is predominantly driven by a consistent misunderstanding of date labelling. Because of this significant perception gap, safe, healthy, and edible food continues to be irresponsibly wasted. Education that directly addresses the confusion about what labels mean and that use already trusted religious and social channels must take place to shift consumer misbehaviour towards the sustainability agenda established by Saudi Vision 2030.32 0Item Restricted Exploring the experiences and concerns about privacy and security in online teaching by students and teachers in the United Kingdom and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almekhled, Basmah Fahad; Petrie, HelenThis research programme investigated experiences of online teaching and related privacy and security concerns before and since the pandemic among HEI students and teachers in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). As there is little cross-cultural research on these issues, five studies were conducted to explore them. Studies 1 and 2 were online surveys with students. UK students reported difficulties due to the pandemic with practical, interaction, and social isolation. In contrast, KSA students reported difficulties with focus, engagement, and technical issues. UK students used webcams selectively, whereas KSA students reported little use. Privacy and security concerns were low among UK students but moderate among KSA students. Studies 3 and 4 were online surveys with teachers. UK teachers struggled with students not using their webcams during online teaching, whereas KSA teachers faced communication and assessment issues. Both groups reported difficulties with student engagement. KSA teachers reported low webcam use, whereas UK teachers reported high use. Privacy and security concerns were low among UK teachers but moderate among KSA teachers. Study 5, a field study in a KSA HEI, found neither students nor teachers used webcams in teaching. Students cited flexibility, distractions, and privacy concerns, whereas teachers cited distractions and security concerns. Students reported high levels of privacy concerns about their institutions but only moderate concern about teachers and classmates. Complex relationships were found between students’ online privacy, security concerns and trust. Studies 6 and 7 were online surveys which explored KSA and UK HEI teachers experiences and attitudes in more detail. Both groups valued webcam use for engagement, but UK teachers felt self-conscious and struggled with students' webcams presence, while KSA teachers had privacy, security and cultural concerns. Both groups were uncertain about institutional webcam policies and expressed limited satisfaction with privacy and security guidelines. These findings highlight the need to address webcam use and privacy and security concerns in online teaching in relation to cultural and educational contexts.16 0Item Restricted Addressing risk, challenges, and solutions in Megaprojects: A case study of Neom Smart City in Saudi Arabia(leeds beckett university, 2024) Alluqmani, Waleed Salem; Omotayo, TemitopeNeom Smart City is designed as a high-tech city with sustainable living and renewable energy sources such as solar power and autonomous transportation systems. The City aims to become an attractive destination for talents and investment Mega Projects are more common in the 21st century due to global population growth, urbanisation, and technological innovation that requires the establishment of big projects. The aim of this research is to focus on risks, challenges, and solutions that may occur at the Neom Smart City project in KSA, and provide insights for the effective management of megaprojects. A positivist philosophy and a deductive research approach was used in this research. The overarching methodology was quantitative. The data-gathering procedure involved questionnaire instruments. The sample involved twenty participants including project managers, while the data analysis technique used was descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS and crucial ethical considerations were confidentiality and informed consent. Descriptive analysis of the findings have revealed that the participants perceived financial risks to be the most important concerns, followed by legal and construction risks. The result from the study also shows poor planning, political failures, and the lack of high-performing teams were the most significant contributor to the failure of megaprojects. The inferential statistics have revealed that there is a significant positive correlation between design risks and legal risks, contractual risks, construction risks and operational management risks. Financial risks are linked to construction risks, political risks, and leadership risks. Empirically, financial risks are influenced by contractual risks, poor leadership, and poor planning. The outcomes also suggest that stakeholder collaboration has a statistically significant impact on construction risks.61 0Item Restricted Towards energy benchmarking in residential buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(University of Nottingham, 2024) Aladwani, Abdulaziz Mohammed; Omer, Siddig; Gan, GuohuiCountries worldwide are facing the challenges of improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions to mitigate climate change, conserve resources, achieve energy security, and reap economic benefits. Over recent decades, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has experienced a rapid increase in domestic energy consumption. Notably, residential buildings have emerged as significant consumers, accounting for approximately 50% of the total electricity consumption within the building sector. This sustained expansion in energy demand raises concerns regarding environmental impact. Sustainability has recently become a fundamental issue in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), as one of the cornerstones of Saudi Vision 2030. One of the key initiatives under Vision 2030 is the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2060. To support the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and promote sustainable growth, it is essential to develop effective strategies and tools for improving energy efficiency in residential buildings. One of the key challenges here is the lack of a national benchmark values that may help stakeholders to evaluate the energy consumption of their buildings. In response, this research attempts to develop a benchmarking framework tailored explicitly to the Saudi Arabian context and establish an energy benchmarking for residential buildings. The research is divided into five milestones. The first milestone involves a thorough review of energy consumption in the KSA, identifying factors contributing to energy demand, and reviewing the current energy benchmarking methods for buildings. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the energy consumption of residential buildings and identifies the most appropriate energy benchmarking methods, which can be adapted to the Saudi Arabian building context. The second research milestone involves collecting data from a representative sample of residential buildings in the Saudi Arabia. The third milestone involves improving the specifications of the representative sample buildings to comply with the Saudi Building Code (SBC) requirements. The fourth milestone concerns conducting statistical tests and analyses, which are necessary to ensure that the research is based on sound data and assumptions, contributing to the overall quality of the research. The last milestone involves developing energy benchmarks for villas and apartments in the KSA. The benchmark can contribute to improving building energy performance in the region. The benchmark provides insights into factors influencing energy use, enabling stakeholders to assess the energy efficiency of their buildings. The benchmark also educates the public about energy consumption patterns, influences building asset value, and aids policymakers in setting energy-efficiency standards and implementing incentives. The main findings reveal that applying the SBC-602/2018 requirements to the buildings can improve the energy consumption of villas and apartments by up to 19% and 40%, respectively. Moreover, the findings suggest that the normalised energy use intensity (EUInorm) benchmarks for villas and apartments that meet the SBC requirements in the Riyadh region are 60 kWh/m2/Yr and 98 kWh/m2/Yr, respectively. These benchmarking values were based on normalising the significant variables that affect energy consumption.73 0Item Restricted Regulatory and Social Acceptance Challenges in Using Artificial Intelligence in Genomic Diagnostics in Saudi Arabia: Applying the Responsive Regulation and Innovation Diffusion Model.(University College London (UCL), 2024-08-28) Alderaa, Khalid; Jong, SimchaThis study explores the regulatory and social acceptance challenges of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into genomic diagnostics in Saudi Arabia, using the Responsive Regulation and Innovation Diffusion model as theoretical frameworks. Methodology: The research employs a narrative review methodology, emphasizing regulatory frameworks, public trust, and the cultural perceptions that influence the adoption of AI technologies. Findings: The study identifies that, although AI holds significant promise for advancing genomic diagnostics, its full integration is hindered by regulatory gaps and a low level of social acceptance. The research emphasises the importance of creating a flexible and dynamic regulatory framework that can evolve with AI advancements. It also highlights the crucial role of stakeholder engagement and public education in building trust and ensuring that innovation progresses without compromising public safety. Limitations: Key limitations of the study include the restricted scope of the literature review, which primarily focuses on the European Union and Saudi Arabia, and the fast-paced development of AI technology, which may limit the long-term applicability of the proposed models. Practical Implications: To improve the adoption of AI in healthcare, this study recommends the implementation of regulatory sandboxes, which would allow AI innovations to be tested in controlled environments. Additionally, fostering public trust through transparency and education is critical to ensuring the successful integration of AI technologies in genomic diagnostics.26 0Item Restricted IPO Regulation in Saudi Arabia: A Look into IPO Listing Requirements and their Future Suitability(University of Edinburgh, 2024) Mushaikh, Yousuf; Hood, ParkerThis thesis discusses the KSA capital market in light of the recent rise of private companies pursuing initial public offerings. The thesis discusses the history of KSA's capital market and its continuous growth in light of Vision 2030 and its realization programs. The thesis provides an overview of the listing requirements for IPOs in both Tadawul's main market and NOMU and assesses them in a comparative manner with UK's IPO listing rules. The aim of this thesis is to analyse IPO listing requirements in KSA and their role in enabling private companies going public. The thesis looks into the potential difficulties private companies may face in going public and analyses them while also looking into the potential of introducing SPACs in KSA to further grow the capital market, in line with Vision 2030's goals.45 0Item Restricted Satisfaction, utilization, and willingness to pay for primary care services(Queen's University Belfast, 2023-12) Aljohani, Motab; Donnelly, Michael; O’Neill, CiaranThis thesis investigates the nature of stated and revealed preferences on the part of the public for primary care services. It examines the relationship between satisfaction, willingness-to-pay (WTP), and use of primary care services in Britain and Saudi Arabia. The thesis used three measures to triangulate these concepts: satisfaction, WTP, and utilisation of primary care services. Satisfaction provided an ordinal measure of stated preference, while WTP provided a cardinal measure of stated preference. Use (utilisation) provided a measure of revealed preference. Using these measures across various contexts, the thesis explores how preferences and the relationships between preferences and respondent characteristics vary depending on the context and the measure used. The thesis findings indicate that satisfaction, WTP, and use of primary care services provide distinct but complementary insights into variations in preferences between socio-demographic groups; points in time; regions and; the location in which data are collected. Observed variations are grounded in a variety of factors that include needs and the nature of service provision. The thesis provides an appreciation of the complexity of stated and revealed preferences and the challenges inherent in using such data to inform policy using examples drawn from Britain and Saudi Arabia and identifies a number of avenues for future research in this area.40 0Item Restricted Dynamics and Geo-Politics Involved in the Formulation of Vision 2030 as KSA National Strategy Post 9/11(Middlesex University London, 2022-09-30) Alsaud, Salman; Hough, PeterThis study investigates the political and academic discourse surrounding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia post 9/11, with the assumption that this discourse was instrumental in the creation of Vision 2030. The specific objective of this study is to prove or disprove this assumption by analyzing official documents, contemporary reporting and academic literature that illuminate the internal and external pressures placed on the Kingdom post 9/11. This study employs qualitative methodologies, relying on Critical Discourse Analysis and Policy Analysis to consider such influential dynamics as geopolitics, the political economy of oil, globalization, and state power. The study concludes by reviewing current Vision 2030 benchmarks against the aforementioned internal and external pressures, thereby drawing a direct line between previous commentaries on the kingdom and the current impact seen by the implementation of Vision 2030.59 0