SACM - United Kingdom
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9667
Browse
372 results
Search Results
Item Restricted Women’s Legal Empowerment in Employment in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Barnawi, Rehab Abdullah O; Shaheed, Ahmed; Maranlou, SaharLegal empowerment is an approach adopted by international organisations, civil society groups, and governments interested in development to improve the lives of the disadvantaged. In KSA, women's employment status warrants attention, as the country has consistently shown low female participation in the economy for decades. The situation is currently evolving due to new legal reforms that promote women's access to employment across various sectors, a development considered culturally revolutionary. This paper advocates examining the situation from a socio-legal perspective and proposes legal empowerment strategies as alternatives to the traditional rule-of-law orthodoxy. It particularly emphasises understanding Saudi women's agency and explores how they can effectively engage with the law to advocate for the promotion of their rights and interests. It employs the CLEP’s framework, feminist and developmental approaches towards women’s legal empowerment, recognising that legal reforms alone are insufficient to encourage women's full participation in the workforce. The study proposes strategies to empower women to overcome legal, cultural, and social barriers. The research is grounded in primary data collected through a survey, which investigated Saudi women’s employment experiences, needs, challenges, and aspirations. The findings identify key legal empowerment strategies that most effectively enhance women’s economic participation. These include continued legal reforms, the promotion of women's education, increased awareness of legal rights and societal responsibilities, and improved access to legal and financial training and support. Additionally, the thesis highlights the importance of promoting personal agency and self-awareness among women to address KSA’s persistent low ranking in global indices for women’s economic participation, despite recent efforts. This study argues that a legal empowerment approach tailored to the socio-cultural context of KSA can meaningfully help overcome persistent barriers and advance gender equality in the economic sphere.2 0Item Restricted The Contribution of Vision 2030 to Diversifying Income Sources in the Saudi Economy(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Almohaimeed, Nawaf; Albin, ErlansonSaudi Arabia used to depend mostly on oil money. Oil gave most government revenue and shaped the whole economy (World Bank, 2023). When oil prices fell in 2014–2016 the budget came under pressure (IMF, 2023). The government launched Vision 2030 in 2016 to grow non- oil sectors, bring in more private investment, and create jobs (Saudi Vision 2030, 2024). The plan pushes sectors like tourism, technology, finance and clean energy (Saudi Vision 2030, 2024). The Public Investment Fund was asked to invest at home to speed this shiV (PIF, 2021).3 0Item Restricted How to improve talent identification in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Hafiz, Othman; Mighten, EddieThe main purpose of this research was to develop a deeper understanding of the talent identification (TID) system, and how to improve it in Saudi Arabia. The case study also aimed to understand and explain the current situation and challenges of the Saudi Arabian TID system. The research was guided by the following question: How to improve TID in Saudi Arabia? A qualitative approach was adopted, using semi-structured interviews analysed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings provide insights into the current capacity and limitations of the system, as well as the wider Saudi sport ecosystem.11 0Item Restricted Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alhagbani, Ahood; Jones, Paul; Ebie, Samuel; Cotterell, DafyddEntrepreneurship is at the heart of Saudi Vision 2030, with knowledge-intensive businesses (KIBs) expected to play a leading role in driving innovation, economic diversification, and broader social transformation. Despite major policy reforms and investment, uncertainty remains over how the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia (KSA) supports or restricts the development of transformational entrepreneurship (TE): the creation of businesses with a mission to be innovative, ethical, and socially impactful. This thesis addresses that gap by examining the opportunities and challenges facing KIBs in the KSA, the influence of EE actors and factors, and the role of digital technology in shaping the adoption of TE. The thesis is underpinned by institutional theory, the triple helix model, and diffusion of innovations theory. A qualitative approach is adopted, drawing on data from 32 semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs and EE representatives. Thematic analysis reveals four major themes: the distinctive nature of KIB entrepreneurship, the enabling and constraining features of the EE, the impact of digitalisation, and the extent of TE adoption. The findings indicate that Saudi Vision 2030 reforms and the increasing prevalence of support mechanism create unprecedented opportunities for KIBs. However, challenges such as regulatory inconsistency, bureaucracy, cultural resistance to risk-taking, and weak coordination between EE actors constrain the realisation of TE’s full potential. Digital technology acts as a critical enabler, supporting scalability and visibility for KIBs. However, its full potential is constrained by persistent challenges, including shortages of skilled labour, high operational costs, and limited access to finance. Evidence of TE is visible in socially driven, future-oriented businesses, although its adoption remains fragile in the face of institutional and cultural frictions. This thesis makes a valuable contribution by extending the scope of research on EEs, TE, and digital entrepreneurship to an under-researched emerging economy. It shows that entrepreneurship in the KSA is not only shaped by but also reshapes the EE through visible role models and shifting cultural and institutional practices. The findings offer timely insights for policymakers, universities, investors, and entrepreneurs as they seek to realise the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030.16 0Item Restricted The Evolution of the Middle East Security Complex: Threat Perception and the Viability of a New Security Alliance(Saudi Digital Library, 2023) Alomair, Haifa Omair; Ardovini, LuciaThe geopolitical importance of the Middle East is intensifying with the economic and strategic opportunities unraveling in the wake of the current political landscape. Existing tensions escalate due to multifaceted inter-state conflicts and power disparities, posing a barrier to regional peace. Symptomatic of an insecure regional complex, the political landscape of the contemporary Middle East prompts the necessity for a new security alliance. This dissertation investigates the viability of a security alliance emerging in the Middle East between essential security complexes in the Gulf and Levant, mainly led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel, to deal with the existing and emerging threats in the region. Leveraging the regional security complex theory (RSCT), this research unravels the interconnected security threats while considering the region's distinct extended historical and political contexts. An in-depth analysis was conducted using a qualitative approach combining key state objectives and policy document review to identify the preconditions and prevailing systemic patterns necessitating the formation of the alliance through the perception of threat. The study concludes that an RSCT-informed security alliance can offer stability, strengthen inter-state relations, and introduce a potent platform for resolution negotiations. Additionally, it explores how such an alliance can shape national security policies, driving a systemic change in the region's security dynamics.5 0Item Restricted Developing a Culturally Adapted Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention for Saudi Adults with Multiple Sclerosis(University of Exeter, 2026) AlHarbi, Samia; Farrand, PaulBackground Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition associated with high levels of depression and anxiety, which substantially affect quality of life and illness adjustment. In Saudi Arabia, psychological difficulties among adults with MS remain insufficiently recognised and inadequately addressed within routine care. Barriers including cultural stigma, limited availability of psychological services, and the absence of culturally adapted therapeutic models restrict access to effective mental health support. Although Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is well established for managing mood difficulties in chronic illness, standard CBT formats may be poorly aligned with the cultural, religious, and illness-related needs of Saudi adults with MS. Low-Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LICBT) may represent a feasible and scalable solution; however, evidence regarding its cultural acceptability, adaptation requirements, and feasibility in this context remains limited. Methods Guided by the revised Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions, this PhD adopted a four-stage, multi-phase design. Stage I (Problem identification and evidence synthesis) involved a systematic review with thematic synthesis to examine the acceptability of CBT for adults with MS and to identify barriers and facilitators relevant to Muslim populations. Stage II (Understanding needs and context) comprised a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with Saudi adults living with MS to explore experiences of CBT, cultural and religious influences, and systemic barriers to psychological care. Stage III (Intervention development and adaptation) integrated findings from the previous stages with cultural adaptation literature to develop a culturally and religiously congruent LICBT intervention, structured as two modular booklets and informed by the MRC and ORBIT (Obesity-Related Behavioural Intervention Trials) models. Stage IV (Early evaluation) employed a prospective case series to explore usability, engagement, and cultural acceptability of the adapted LICBT intervention in practice. Results Across the four stages, convergent findings were identified. Stage I revealed that CBT was perceived as potentially beneficial for emotional coping and self-management in MS, while acceptability was constrained by access barriers, illness-related fatigue, and limited cultural relevance. Stage II demonstrated that engagement with psychological therapy was shaped by alignment with Islamic values, family roles, language simplicity, and flexible delivery formats, alongside MS-related cognitive and physical constraints. Stage III resulted in a culturally adapted LICBT intervention incorporating a structured problem-solving technique and paced engagement without reliance on formal problem-solving. Stage IV indicated that participants engaged positively with the intervention, reporting improved organisation of daily challenges, enhanced emotional regulation, and reassurance derived from culturally familiar framing, despite symptom fluctuation. Conclusions This thesis demonstrates that culturally adapted LICBT is a feasible and acceptable psychological intervention for Saudi adults living with MS. By integrating cultural, religious, and illness-related considerations into intervention development, the research addresses a critical gap between recognised psychological need and contextually appropriate care. The findings provide a foundation for future feasibility trials, digital adaptation, and broader implementation within Saudi MS services.12 0Item Restricted Essays on Digital Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (DEE): Integrating Systems Thinking and Multi-Level Analysis for DEE Sustainability in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alsughayer, Haifa; Tee, Richard; Parry, Glenn; Vanhaverbeke, WimThis thesis examines the structure, dynamics, and sustainability of Digital Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (DEEs) within the policy-driven context of Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation under Vision 2030. DEEs are distinct from traditional entrepreneurial ecosystems as they evolve in digitally mediated environments, where platforms, data flows, and governance mechanisms shape entrepreneurial activity. While scholarship on DEEs has grown, existing research remains fragmented, with limited attention to systemic interactions, interpretive practices, and non-Western contexts. Addressing these gaps, the thesis adopts an interpretivist, qualitative design structured around three interconnected papers. The first paper develops a conceptual framework grounded in General Systems Theory (GST), reframing DEEs as complex adaptive systems characterised by feedback, interdependence, and emergent behaviour. This systems-based perspective moves beyond static, component-focused models and provides analytical principles for understanding ecosystem dynamics. The second paper extends the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) to digital entrepreneurship, drawing on twenty-one semi-structured interviews. It proposes the Multi-Level Adaptive DEE (MLA-DEE) model, which illustrates how interactions across firm-level, regional, and global domains generate tensions, adaptive strategies, and institutional realignments. The third paper constructs an empirically grounded Systemic Model of DEE Sustainability, identifying three interrelated dimensions: Core Objectives (strategic intent and financial continuity), Structural Enablers (human capital and digital trust), and Adaptive Enablers (ecosystem fluidity and sociocultural readiness). Collectively, the three studies advance theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions. Theoretically, the thesis reconceptualises DEEs through systems thinking, contextualises the MLP within digital entrepreneurship, and develops a grounded typology of sustainability enablers. Methodologically, it demonstrates the value of interpretivist, qualitative approaches for studying complex socio-technical systems in non-Western settings. Practically, it offers diagnostic and strategic tools for policymakers, ecosystem builders, and entrepreneurs to navigate complexity, foster systemic alignment, and enable long-term resilience. Overall, the research positions DEEs as adaptive systems whose sustainability depends on coherence, feedback, and inclusive governance.13 0Item Restricted RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN ISLAMIC LEGAL SYSTEMS: A FRAMEWORK FOR SAUDI ARABIA’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) ALSHAHRANI, FAISAL HASSAN A; ALSHAHRANI, FAISALThe criminal justice system in Saudi Arabia is based mostly on the Islamic law where retributive justice is the main focus through hudud, qisas and ta zir. Although these mechanisms maintain order, they tend to restrict the chances of reconciliation, offender rehabilitation, and satisfaction to the victims. The idea of restorative justice is a culturally and religiously feasible alternative against the backdrop of the Vision 2030 reforms, which aim at modernising the legal field. This paper aims to understand how the principles of restorative justice based on Islamic jurisprudence, especially sulh and diya, could be applied to reform the criminal justice system in Saudi Arabia. The study is based on qualitative and normative legal research methodology with references to primary Islamic sources as well as the classical fiqh texts, Saudi law codes and secondary literature. It uses a doctrinal legal analysis, informed by comparative experience in Islamic-majority countries that have adopted restorative practices, alongside comparative scholarly interpretations where relevant. The study argues that the concept of restorative justice has solid roots in the Islamic law and that its official inclusion would help alleviate the overcrowding in prisons, improve victim-centred results, and would make reforms more acceptable by the society. In addition, the incorporation of restorative practices into Shariah norms reduces the distance between the customary jurisprudence and the international norms of human rights. The study concludes that restorative justice presents a credible, efficient, and culturally appealing model to develop the criminal justice reform in Saudi Arabia under the Vision 2030.26 0Item Restricted Education as an Economic driver: A study of Saudi Arabia Economic Growth(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alfaris, Khalid Mazin; Neslihan, SakaryaEducation is an essential component of economic growth, a guiding principle of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative to reduce oil reliance, and a knowledge-based economy built on business. The study examines the complex elements of education reform that are presented in this analysis regarding the Kingdom's economic development in systemic change, digital transformation, workforce alignment, and policy impact. The analysis shows that the investments made in new curricula, workforce training, and digital learning systems will further support the objectives of economic diversification. However, there still remain some shortcomings, such as a significant mismatch between the relevant skills of graduates and the labor market demands, specifically in non-oil parts of the economy. Moreover, there has been a growing trend towards equal educational access, but gender inequalities persist when it comes to workforce participation. These findings point to the fact that education quality (and not just education access) will be the key indicator of improved productivity. To realize Vision 2030 in its fullest capacity, educational outputs must reflect the competencies needed for the skilled worker role of the private sector. The ongoing development of human capital is a necessity to sustain economic viability.13 0Item Restricted Analysing the Influence of UNCAC and G20 Membership on Anti Corruption Measures in Saudi Arabia’s Public Procurement Reforms (2006–2022)(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alrehaili, Abrar Redha J; Fouladvand, Shahrzad; David-Barrett, ElizabethWith the launch of the Vision 2030 national strategy in 2016, Saudi Arabia made clear to the world that it plans a series of far-reaching social and other reforms, designed to bring it more into line with the international community and to assume a place on the international, as well as regional stage, as a leading nation. This study examines the reforms which were introduced to fight corruption in the domain of public procurement. Establishing a credible anti-corruption agenda and system is a significant area to address in order for the nation to obtain international credibility. The study considers the condition of the Kingdom’s anti-corruption mechanisms prior to 2016, focusing on the General Trade Procurement Law (GTPL) (2006) legislation, and analyses the weaknesses therein. It then turns attention to the reforms made after 2016 and discusses how these have or have not made an impact in terms of aligning the Saudi system more closely with accepted international norms and standards. The reforms are considered in two distinct categories, namely legislative and institutional. Evaluations are made on the basis of the UNCAC principles of transparency, accountability and integrity, and also on the measure to which Saudi reforms reflect internationally recognised best practice. The ways in which the UNCAC convention and the G20 intergovernmental entity might be able to exert their influence are detailed and assessed, using the framework of institutional isomorphism. This considers regulatory, normative and mimetic pressures which can encourage certain behaviours in member states. The study introduces a novel concept to add to the three just mentioned, namely that of soft coercion. This proposes a middle ground between soft and hard power and describes situations where unwritten but recognisable conditions are attached to the award of certain privileges sought by member states. In some cases the Saudi reforms did not completely address all of the issues and recommendations raised in the UNCAC report, but in other cases, the reforms went beyond the obligations that UNCAC imposed. This was found to be largely because of the political will shown by the government to fight corruption and also was due to the influence brought upon it as a member of the G20. The launch of the G20 anti-corruption agenda in 2010 is seen as a turning point, where a strong anti-corruption initiative caught the mood of the government and reforms accelerated. The study used primary sources. 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Saudi professionals, all of whom operate in the domain of public procurement, in a range of capacities, and have a professional interest in anti-corruption. To triangulate the information received from these sources, a careful analysis was made of the relevant literature. Recommendations have been made for the direction of future research and lessons have been suggested that could apply to other anti-corruption reform programmes.16 0