Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Essays on Religiosity and Finance: Evidence from Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alwehaibi, Abdulmajeed Abdullah; Chou, Daisy; Le, AnhThis thesis examines the relatively underexplored influences of informal institutions, particularly religiosity, on corporate outcomes. Drawing on the theory of social norms, it investigates how Islamic religiosity, as a form of religious social norms, shapes firm behaviour in Saudi Arabia. The study focuses on three key areas: corporate investment efficiency, corporate risk-taking behaviour and corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. The research employs panel data analysis to evaluate these relationships among companies listed in Saudi Arabia from 2012 to 2020. In the first essay, the primary finding is that the firm’s headquarters, located in a community with a higher Islamic religiosity level, positively influences corporate investment efficiency. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the beneficial link between religiosity and investment efficiency is more pronounced in firms that are not financially constrained and those without significant institutional ownership. In companies that do not face significant financial limitations, the principles guided by Islamic religiosity appear to facilitate more effective investment decisions and better allocations. Similarly, the absence of significant institutional ownership suggests that without strong external governance mechanisms, internal cultural norms such as religiosity can be critical in enhancing monitoring functions, guiding corporate behaviour, and improving investment efficiency. Finally, our study finds a negative correlation between Islamic religiosity and agency costs. This finding implies that the advantageous effect of Islamic religiosity may largely stem from its role in diminishing agency conflicts. Reducing these conflicts plays a key role in the beneficial outcomes associated with implementing these norms. In the second essay, empirical evidence demonstrates that firms headquartered in communities with higher Islamic religiosity tend to engage in lower levels of corporate risk-taking. This effect is more pronounced in firms with lower institutional and foreign ownership, where external monitoring is weaker. The results suggest that Islamic religiosity plays a monitoring role, helping to curb excessive risk-taking. They support the proposed mechanism that religiosity constrains corporate risk-taking, especially in settings with limited institutional oversight. Moreover, the influence of Islamic religiosity appears to be offset in firms with foreign ownership, likely due to the introduction of different cultural norms and governance practices. Conversely, firms without foreign ownership appear more aligned with local religious norms, reinforcing the inverse relationship between religiosity and risk-taking. Furthermore, the study identifies a positive relationship between Islamic religiosity and corporate performance. Firms headquartered in communities with higher levels of religiosity are more likely to experience exceptional positive performance and are less susceptible to extreme negative outcomes. This balance contributes to their superior average performance and highlights the value-enhancing effects of religiosity. Path analysis further shows that Islamic religiosity reduces risk-taking, which, in turn, contributes to higher firm performance. In the third essay, findings reveal that firms operating in communities with higher levels of Islamic religiosity tend to exhibit lower ESG activities. This effect is particularly pronounced among financially constrained firms, where the added costs and potential inefficiencies of ESG initiatives may shrink profit margins and thus weaken managerial incentives to invest in them, especially when firms align with prevailing religious norms and enjoy the confidence of market participants. Moreover, higher levels of Islamic religiosity are associated with reduced agency costs, indicating that Islamic religiosity promotes ethical behaviour and limits managerial self-interest, thereby diminishing the need for ESG as a governance mechanism. These findings suggest that Islamic social norms can serve as a substitute for corporate ESG. In highly religious environments, where ethical conduct is expected and stakeholder trust is strong, ESG activities may offer limited signalling value and appear less necessary. These results provide important implications for policymakers and investors, offering insights into decision-making processes in emerging markets. By addressing the previously unexplored relationship between Islamic religiosity and corporate outcomes, this thesis enriches the existing literature and sheds light on the unique characteristics of the Saudi financial market as an emerging economy.28 0Item Restricted Assessing the Role of U.S. Foreign Policy on Global Oil Supply: The Case of Middle East Geopolitical Tensions and Energy Security(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-09-26) ALHAMMAD, MESHAL; Professor. Peter HoughThe present study focuses on analysing the role of the US foreign policy on global oil supply by considering the case of Middle East geopolitical tensions and energy security. Concerning this, it is evident that the United States has played a substantial role in forming geopolitical tensions and global oil supply of Middle East. Reflecting on this, it has been identified that the targeted area, i.e. Middle East is regarded as a major oil producer and exporter, making the nation geopolitically stable and determining factor in the context of global energy security. Therefore, the present study involves significant objectives for obtaining potential outcomes: 1) To assess the historical development of US foreign policy in the Middle East countries, 2) To analyse the impact of US foreign policy on geopolitical tensions and energy security in the Middle East, 3) To explore the effectiveness of US foreign policy initiatives to alleviate the risks associated with global oil supply in the Middle East. Following these objectives, literature has been developed by considering theoretical underpinnings, such as realism, neo-classical realism, liberalism, constructivism, hard power theory and dependency theory. To further obtain significant results, the study considered collecting secondary data from three different case studies of Middle East geopolitical tensions and energy security, which include, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Further, to analyse collected data, thematic analysis technique has been employed in this research by considering five themes of targeted issue. At last, the study includes discussing the topic-at-hand by backing it with significant literature, overall concluding the research and offering future recommendations.5 0Item Restricted Improving Understanding of the Health Informatics Landscape in Saudi Arabia: An Evidence-Based Learning Resource to Help Health Informaticians in the UK(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Aljohani, Fahad; Darlison, MatthewHealth informatics is increasingly recognised as a transformative force within healthcare systems. However, consolidated knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s health informatics landscape remains limited and scattered, making it challenging for professionals outside the country to engage effectively. This study aimed to develop a user-centred, evidence-based educational resource explaining Saudi Arabia’s health informatics landscape, tailored for UK-based health informaticians. A three-phase mixed-methods design was adopted. Phase 1 involved a structured survey of 23 UK health informaticians to assess their awareness of the Saudi Arabian health informatics landscape, identify key learning priorities, and determine their preferred learning resource formats. Results showed that 96% of respondents had minimal familiarity with Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system and its digital health initiatives. Key learning needs identified included governance and legal frameworks, healthcare system organisation, data standards and interoperability, technology infrastructure, public health initiatives, and strategic planning. Digital documents were the most preferred format selected by 38% of participants. Phase 2 involved reviewing credible sources, including government publications, policy documents, and peer-reviewed literature, to collect information on Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system and health informatics landscape. This material was analysed and organised according to the learning priorities identified in Phase 1, then assembled into a Wikipedia-style resource with modular sections covering system structure, regulatory authorities, digital health initiatives, interoperability frameworks, public health data, and Vision 2030 reforms. Phase 3 sought stakeholder validation, but no feedback was received during the collection period. The resulting resource is systematically structured and intended to be publicly accessible and continuously updatable, providing a reliable reference on Saudi Arabia’s health informatics landscape and serving as a starting point for further exploration. Its organised format and curated content enable generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to interpret and cite the resource itself, improving the accuracy and credibility of the information they generate on Saudi Arabia’s health informatics.4 0Item Restricted The Role of Innovation and Technology in The Internationalisation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): A Case Study of Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALQAHTANI, FAHD; Cranfield, Desireé; Mulyata, JohnThe thesis seeks to analyse the importance of innovation and technology in the internationalisation process of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia. Several elements have been identified as relevant in the internationalisation process of organisations, with an emphasis on innovation and technology. The literature review (Chapter 2) describes the relationship between various contributory factors and explains the study’s theoretical framework. The methods of the current study comprise the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data, therefore reinforcing its contribution to the literature and allowing the development of practical guidelines for SMEs about their internationalisation process. Five hypotheses are proposed to help understand how innovation and technology affect the internationalisation of SMEs: the first two are directly related to the theme of innovation and technology, investigating their influence on the process of internationalisation, while the following three examine the involvement of resource development, managerial experience, and networking relationships. The results suggest a clear link between the increased use of innovative practices and the application of advanced technologies and the internationalisation of SMEs, although weaknesses are identified around resource development, managerial experience, and networking relationships in the global venture process. These findings demonstrate the necessity of a mixed approach that preserves the direction of innovation and technology, effective resource usage, a high level of managerial competencies, and successful networking. Therefore, useful insights can be provided to expand understanding of SME internationalisation within the Saudi Arabian context, including entrepreneurial strategies to help SMEs compete and prosper in the global marketplace through the adoption of innovation and technology.25 0Item Restricted THE READINESS OF THE POISON CENTER IN THE AL-JAWF REGION IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA TO RECEIVE POISONING AND EMERGENCY CASES.(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) AlSirhani, Razan; Battah, AbdelkadePoison Control Centers (PCCs) provide 24/7 expert consultation for toxic exposures to healthcare professionals and the public. Only 47% of WHO Member States have established poison centers, with significant gaps in developing regions. Despite critical funding challenges, PCCs provide exceptional value by preventing emergency department visits and serving multiple roles including exposure data collection, hazard identification, and public health protection. A cross-sectional mixed-methods study assessed the readiness of Al-Jawf Region Poison Control Center in Saudi Arabia across seven factors including infrastructure capacity, staffing, emergency protocols, resource availability, and inter-agency collaboration. Using purposive sampling, 40 healthcare workers (toxicologists, pharmacists, nurses, and paramedics) completed standardized questionnaires through structured interviews and electronic surveys. Significant readiness gaps were identified across all assessed areas. Only 7.5% of participants reported full emergency preparedness for 24-hour responses with adequate surge capacity. Resource availability showed mixed results: 70% had partial access to toxicology databases and antidotes, but only 10% were fully prepared for patient outcome monitoring. Human resource challenges were prevalent, with 87.5% citing insufficient staffing. While Al-Jawf Region Poison Control Center demonstrates basic capabilities, substantial readiness gaps limit effective toxicological emergency response. Systematic improvements in infrastructure, workforce training, protocol standardization, and sustainable funding are urgently needed to achieve international best practices and support Saudi Arabia's healthcare transformation goals.11 0Item Restricted Parents' Perceptions of Quality in Early Childhood Education Programme for Children Aged 3-4 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Jifri, Samar; Gkouskou, EiriniThis qualitative study investigates the perceptions of Early Childhood Education (ECE) quality among parents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Guided by a constructivist and interpretivist paradigm, the research explores the diverse meanings and values parents associate with quality, seeking to move beyond a universal, one-size-fits-all definition. The study addresses two primary research questions: (1) What factors do parents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, look for to determine the quality of early childhood education? and (2) Do parents place greater importance on care or education when evaluating the quality of ECE services? A qualitative methodology was employed in this study, utilising semi-structured interviews to gain an in-depth understanding of the views and beliefs of seven participating parents, in an attempt to capture the lived experiences of individuals within a specific cultural context. The findings indicate that parents associate high-quality early years settings with relational and holistic factors. Specifically, they value an unstructured, play-based approach, consistent parent-school communication, opportunities for outdoor and real-life experiences, and a clean environment. In addressing the prioritisation between care and education, the study reveals that parents place a significantly greater importance on the nurturing aspects of "care." Their understanding of care extends beyond basic supervision to include attentiveness, positive teacher-child relationships, and a welcoming environment. In contrast, parents showed less interest in an academic, school-readiness focused approach to education.8 0Item Restricted Fire Performance Of Façade Materials In Saudi High-Rise Buildings: Implications For Civil Defence And Code Compliance.(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alzahrani, Rakan Rezgallah; Nadjai, AliAluminium Composite Panel (ACP) façade materials have been implicated in several catastrophic building fires worldwide, raising urgent concerns about their fire performance. The rapid vertical spread of fire, high heat release, and toxic smoke generation associated with certain ACP systems have led to significant casualties and property loss, prompting global scrutiny and regulatory reforms. These developments are particularly relevant for Saudi Arabia due to the intensive solar radiation and high temperatures experienced in the country. In that regard, this study aimed to comprehensively assess the fire performance of cladding materials used in high-rise buildings in Saudi Arabia (particularly Aluminium Composite Panels ACPs) through code compliance checks, experimental testing, and simulation analysis, to enhance building safety and Civil Defence preparedness. Three samples of composite materials were collected from different regions in Saudi Arabia. Bomb Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), together with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) and the Ozone model were utilised to gain insights into fire behaviour, thermal characteristics and fire performance of the composite materials. The results showed that while composite materials in Saudi Arabia could potentially meet the EN13501 -1 for class A1 and A2, there are specific risk factors within the ACP components that might enhance fire growth and smoke production levels. One sample in particularly was found to be high risk, having weak retardant properties and an exceptionally high mass loss percentage of 76% for the core. In view of such finding, there is a need to reassess façade composite materials and perform full scale tests.16 0Item Restricted An Exploration of How Talent Management Enhances Employee Performance Management in the Saudi Arabian Workplace(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Bukhari, Firas; Limki, RashneThis study investigates how talent management enhances employee performance management in the Saudi Arabian workplace, with a focus on national programs like Vision 2030 and Saudization. The study focuses on three areas: organised talent identification, talent development integration with performance systems, and policy framework. A qualitative method was used, using semi-structured interviews with HR professionals from various sectors and thematic analysis to find relevant patterns. The findings show that structured talent identification improves worker competency and engagement, whereas combining talent development with performance promotes continuous learning, career growth, and retention. Alignment with national policies improves compliance, reputation, and competitiveness. The study adds to the HRM literature in Saudi Arabia and provides practical guidance for organisations seeking to align policy requirements with global practices. It emphasises the importance of a comprehensive approach that promotes both individual achievement and national economic goals.3 0Item Restricted Investigating the Impact of Sustainable Leadership Practices on Social Sustainable Performance Through Social Innovation Capabilities in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALBaqami, Gzil; AlDhamour, Fairouz; Daghustani, widSustainable leadership is the engine of sustainable performance of organizations through social innovation. The research aims to investigate the impact of Sustainable Leadership Practices on Social Sustainable Performance Through Social Innovation Capabilities in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The research adopted a mixed methodology. The total sample is 494 respondents, where questionnaire included 481 respondents, and the interviews included 13 participants. The (SPSS) program was used for analysis for questionnaires, (Atalas.Ti) for interviews, and the AMOS program which confirmed the suitability of the model for the research. The hypotheses were tested, and the results were confirmed through linear and multiple regression. The results showed that there is a positive impact of sustainable leadership practices on social performance through social innovation capabilities. There is a positive impact of social innovation capabilities on sustainable performance. Sustainable leadership practices positively impact participation in social innovation capabilities. There is an effect of two of five variables which are (knowledge sharing and trust), The research recommends conducting more research on the factors of social innovation capabilities. It also recommends that decision makers choose a sustainable leader to stimulate innovation in their organizations.8 0Item Restricted THREE ESSAYS ON WATER MANAGEMENT IN AN ARID ENVIRONMENT(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alasfour, Abdulelah; Edward, Dekeyser; Robert, Hearne; Ahmed, Harb Rabia; Bakr, Aly AhmedThis dissertation addresses the challenge of water scarcity in arid and semi-arid environments, where limited renewable resources, overexploitation of groundwater, and the impacts of climate change threaten long-term water security. The study first reviews a wide range of global strategies, including desalination, managed aquifer recharge, wastewater reuse, cloud seeding, virtual water trade, irrigation efficiency, crop selection, and economic instruments. While each approach presents technical, environmental, or social challenges, the literature shows that when properly regulated and adapted to local conditions, these strategies can effectively reduce pressure on freshwater resources. Building on this foundation, the research then turns to Saudi Arabia as a case study. An analysis of wheat imports from 2001 to 2023 demonstrates that virtual water trade has conserved 183.71 billion cubic meters of national water resources, including 139.62 billion cubic meters of nonrenewable groundwater, while also contributing to global efficiency by sourcing wheat from rain-fed regions. A second analysis of four key crops, dates, potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelons, shows that adopting modern irrigation techniques could save an average of 823 million cubic meters annually. Economic modeling further indicates that moderate water pricing and targeted tax exemptions can improve the financial feasibility of these systems, supporting wider adoption by farmers. The dissertation shows that addressing water scarcity in arid regions cannot rely on a single solution. A combination of strategies, such as relying on virtual water trade, improving irrigation efficiency, and applying supportive economic policies, is necessary to reduce pressure on groundwater and secure more sustainable water use.5 0