Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted The Influence of Digital Technology Engagement on Academic Performance in Undergraduate Students in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alruthaya, Ali Saleh; Khan, ShahadatThis thesis examines the influence of digital technology on student engagement and academic performance among undergraduate students in Saudi Arabia. Recognising the importance of digital transformation in education, this research addresses significant gaps in understanding how digital technologies affect educational outcomes broadly within Saudi higher education institutions. Employing a positivist paradigm and a quantitative research approach, this study utilises the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) framework. It evaluates the impact of seven key constructs, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, habit, and learning value, on student engagement and subsequently assesses the direct relationship between student engagement and academic performance. Data was collected via questionnaires from a diverse sample of 527 undergraduate students across six Saudi public universities, and subsequently analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, social influence, facilitating conditions, and learning value significantly enhance student engagement, which positively influences academic performance. Theoretically, this research extends the UTAUT2 model by incorporating academic performance as a critical outcome variable, offering original and nuanced insights specific to the Saudi educational context. Practically, the results provide valuable guidance for educators and policymakers aiming to utilise digital technologies effectively to boost student engagement and academic achievement. This study acknowledges limitations, including its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, which may limit external validity. However, the originality and value of this research lie in its pioneering application of the UTAUT2 framework within the unique socio-cultural and educational landscape of Saudi Arabia. This research provides foundational insights to inform strategic and operational educational reforms in Saudi Arabia and other similar regional contexts.15 0Item Restricted Between Demolition and Development: The Impact of Slum Demolitions on Housing Prices in the Makkah Region(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alghamdi, Almaha; Milcheva, StanimiraThis study examines the causal impact of slum demolitions on housing prices in Saudi Arabia’s Makkah region, where clearance initiatives were implemented as part of broader economic and infrastructural reforms. Employing the Synthetic Control Method (SCM) as the primary identification strategy, alongside robustness checks via Synthetic Difference-in-Differences (SDID) and standard Difference in-Differences (DiD) models, the analysis finds consistent post-demolition price surges. SCM estimates a 13.3% nominal increase (≈275 SAR/m2), while SDID andDiDreportcomparableeffectsof252.31SAR/m2 (0.117logpoints)and328.33 SAR/m2 (0.05 log points), statistically significant at the 5% and 1% levels, respec tively. The results contribute to a growing body of literature linking demolition-led urban renewal to housing market restructuring.8 0Item Restricted Investigating the Relationship Between Transit-Oriented Development and Housing Preferences of Saudis: Riyadh as a Case Study(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alshehri, Abdullah Ghurm M; Hoon, Han; Hazel, EasthopeThis study investigates the relationship between Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and housing preferences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, examining how socio-cultural norms influence housing preferences near metro stations. The research addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding community perceptions of TOD, housing preferences near metro stations, and socio-cultural impacts on these preferences in Saudi Arabia's first major TOD implementation. A mixed-methods approach combined expert interviews in Dubai and Riyadh with a survey of 355 Riyadh residents across 28 locations. This methodology enabled analysis of housing preferences, socio-cultural influences, and TOD acceptance before metro operations commenced in December 2024. The findings reveal demographic factors significantly influence TOD acceptance, with younger residents, singles, and smaller families showing greater openness to high-density living. Traditional preferences for villa-type housing remain strong among older residents and larger families. Economic constraints frequently override cultural preferences, pushing residents toward apartment living despite cultural inclinations toward villas. Socio-cultural analysis identified evolving attitudes toward privacy and shared spaces, particularly among women, with 47.8% expressing willingness to use mixed-gender elevators. Religious facilities and family-oriented amenities ranked as highest priorities. Despite cultural preferences for larger homes, 65.0% of respondents would accept smaller units near metro stations if prices remained affordable. This research makes three key contributions: examining resident preferences before TOD implementation, documenting how demographic factors influence housing preferences, and revealing the ways socio-cultural norms affect TOD acceptance. The findings can inform culturally sensitive urban planning approaches that balance density requirements with traditional values, applicable to Riyadh and similar cities seeking to implement TOD while respecting cultural contexts.11 0Item Restricted Exploring Dentists’ Perspectives on Patient-Reported Service Quality Challenges in Dental Care in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Study(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Shafei, Noor Suhail; Faruquee, MurtazaThis dissertation explores dentists’ perspectives on patient-reported service quality challenges in Saudi Arabia, positioning dental care within the broader context of service operations management. Adopting a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, the study first synthesised fourteen quantitative studies applying SERVQUAL, which highlighted persistent deficits in responsiveness, empathy, and tangibles, particularly in public facilities. Qualitative interviews with twelve dentists across government, private, and teaching hospitals revealed systemic bottlenecks in scheduling, resource allocation, staffing, and infrastructure. Dentists reported adopting adaptive strategies to maintain service quality under operational constraints, but their efforts were limited by institutional inefficiencies. The study develops a structural SERVQUAL model that integrates provider and institutional offering, both theoretical refinement and managerial insights. Findings provide actionable recommendations for improving service delivery, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s healthcare transformation agenda.5 0Item Restricted Enhancing Productivity in Saudi Arabian SMEs Through Lean Construction: Adoption Challenges and Implementation Strategies(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) alghamdi, Almohannad khaled; Selcuk, CidikThe following dissertation investigates the persistent productivity challenges faced by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia’s construction sector and evaluates the potential of Lean Construction (LC) principles to address these issues. Its main objective is to explore how Lean methodologies, adapted to the SME context, can enhance operational efficiency and support the sector’s role in achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development goals. A mono- method quantitative approach was adopted, using a structured questionnaire comprising closed- ended items and one open-ended question distributed to construction professionals across Saudi Arabia. Findings reveal that skill shortages, weak planning and scheduling, limited technology adoption, and financial constraints are key internal barriers, compounded by external delays, payment issues, and fragmented supply chains. While 77.6% of respondents reported some familiarity with LC, only 12.1% had fully implemented it. Evidence suggests that gradual, tailored adoption of Lean methods can improve planning accuracy, reduce rework, and enhance coordination. However, widespread application is hindered by insufficient training, cultural resistance, and leadership hesitation. The study concludes that targeted training, leadership commitment, and policy-level incentives are essential to enable sustainable LC adoption and unlock productivity improvements across Saudi construction SMEs.1 0Item Restricted To What Extent Do Macroeconomic Indicators Influence Residential Property Prices In Major Saudi Cities Between 2016 And 2024?(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alghamdi, Yousef khalid; Dr Mohamad El DaoukThis study investigates the influence of key macroeconomic indicators on residential property prices in four major Saudi cities Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah over the period 2016 to 2024. Situated within the broader context of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the research focuses on the impact of inflation, interest rates, unemployment, money supply, GDP growth, and stock market performance on average housing prices. By using annual city-level data, the study addresses a gap in the existing literature by offering localized, data-driven insights into the dynamics of the Saudi real estate market. The findings indicate that interest rates exerted the most consistent and pronounced effect on housing prices, with monetary tightening during 2022–2023 particularly dampening market growth outside Riyadh. Inflation showed limited influence, while expansions in money supply and GDP were positively associated with housing activity. Unemployment and stock market performance demonstrated moderate and variable effects depending on city-specific conditions. These results highlight the need for tailored housing policies and improved alignment between monetary and housing sector planning. The study contributes to a broader understanding of real estate dynamics in rapidly transforming economies and provides valuable implications for policymakers, developers, and investors.2 0Item Restricted An Exploration of Parents' and Healthcare Professionals' Experiences and Perceptions of Family-Centred Care (FCC) for Children in the PICU in Saudi Arabia: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-Methods Study(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Althomali, Saud; Byole, Breidge; Clarke, SonyaThis thesis investigates the experiences and perceptions of parents and healthcare professionals regarding family centred care (FCC) for children admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Saudi Arabia, employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data from healthcare staff surveys assessed current FCC practices and identified key gaps, while qualitative interviews with parents and focus groups with professionals explored lived experiences and institutional barriers. The findings reveal systemic challenges such as hierarchical communication, restricted parental involvement, and environmental factors, language barriers and heavy workloads that inhibit effective FCC implementation. Although healthcare professionals conceptually support FCC, its practical application is often undermined by institutional policies and perceived parental knowledge limitations. Parents expressed trust in professionals yet reported exclusion from decision-making and care routines, resulting in feelings of helplessness and disenfranchisement. Structural and cultural factors, including restrictive visiting policies and inadequate family facilities, further hinder meaningful family participation. The study’s integrative analysis demonstrates the critical need for culturally adapted, policy supported FCC models in Saudi PICUs, highlighting the importance of infrastructure improvements, educational interventions for both staff and families, and the development of collaborative care frameworks. These recommendations are informed by both local context and international best practices, aiming to foster family engagement, improve communication, and enhance patient outcomes. This work provides new insights into FCC within the Saudi context and offers actionable strategies for reforming paediatric critical care environments to better support families and children. The thesis contributes to the growing body of evidence advocating for holistic, culturally sensitive approaches to FCC in diverse healthcare settings.5 0Item Restricted ASSESSMENT OF THE SAFETY CULTURE IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIES IN SAUDI ARABIA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alqarfi, Ahmed Mohammed; Karwowski, WaldemarGiven the inherently hazardous nature of petrochemical operations, an effective safety culture is critical. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 29 peer-reviewed articles published in open access between 2014 and 2024 were selected to evaluate the status of safety culture dimensions employed in the petrochemical sector. This cross-sectional study assessed safety culture in the Saudi Arabian petrochemical industry and examined the relationships among safety culture dimensions, safety motivation (SM), and safety performance. Safety performance was operationalized as personal error behavior (PEB) and attitudes toward violations (ATV), with SM modeled as a mediating factor. After obtaining IRB approval, a total of 482 employees from the petroleum facilities in Jubail and Yanbu Industrial Cities completed an email-administered survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied using SmartPLS and SPSS. The results indicate that safety culture has a significant effect on SM, PEB, and ATV, and that SM significantly mediates the relationship between safety culture and safety performance. To enhance safety outcomes across the petrochemical sector, future studies should focus on longitudinal research to track safety culture trends and extend safety culture assessments to other high-risk environments, including oil exploration, drilling, and gas operations. Additionally, further studies could investigate the development of subcultures within broader safety frameworks, providing deeper insights into the specific safety dynamics at play in these critical sectors.22 0Item Restricted Analysing intercultural health language: A linguistic (im)politeness study of nursing communication in Saudi hospitals(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alalawi, Badryah Nasser S; Harvey, Kevin; Mullany, Louise(Im)politeness remains understudied in Saudi intercultural healthcare settings, where differing norms may influence healthcare practitioners’ perspectives of (im)politeness as well as overall communication outcomes. This study examines how nurses from different cultural backgrounds – Saudi, Filipino and Indian – perceive (im)politeness based on their intra-professional work experience in intercultural medical contexts. My study adopts a mixed-method design, combining quantitative discourse completion tasks (DCTs) and qualitative semi-structured interviews. The DCT data were collected from nurses’ responses to hypothetical scenarios involving directive speech acts, requests and advice giving, with 50 registered nurses from each group: Saudi, Filipino and Indian. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 registered nurses, four from each group, to gain insights into their perspectives on (im)politeness in the context of their intra-professional communication. The DCT data were analysed using a taxonomy combining two frameworks, Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness strategies and Blum-Kulka, House and Kasper’s (1989) Cross-Cultural Speech Act Realisation Project (CCSARP), to identify politeness strategies and markers in nurses’ responses. The interview data were analysed using Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory and Culpeper’s (2011a) conceptualisation of impoliteness, to understand nurses’ perceptions of (im)politeness in hospital contexts. The findings revealed that while Saudi, Filipino and Indian nurses reported a primary preference for an indirect communication style, particularly for directive speech acts, the Indian nurses reported significantly greater usage of a direct style compared to Saudi and Filipino nurses. Additionally, there were variations in nurses’ reported use of address terms, with Filipino and Indian nurses using them notably more commonly than Saudi nurses, who rarely reported using them. Such differences in communication styles, along with varying cultural expectations, suggested potential gaps in nurses’ intercultural communicative competence (ICC), which might contribute to communication breakdown. Building on these findings, my study recommends integrating intercultural training courses for Saudi and non-Saudi nurses prior to clinical work. Such training could address cultural variations in nurses’ communication norms, perceptions of (im)politeness and strategies to reduce miscommunication. Practical components, such as case studies of nursing interactions and role-playing exercises, could enhance nurses’ awareness of cultural differences in language use and foster adaptable communication skills. To maintain long-term improvement, intercultural training should be ongoing rather than one-time, supplemented by mentorship programmes pairing Saudi and non-Saudi nurses. These research-informed recommendations provide nursing policymakers with practical guidance for improving intercultural interaction in Saudi’s multicultural healthcare sector.6 0Item Restricted What are the recent reforms to Saudi Arabia's private international law in dispute resolution mechanisms, and how have these reforms improved the country’s competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment?(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Abuzinadah, Sarah; Chong, ShouThis paper explores the recent reforms Saudi Arabia has made to its international private law, focusing on dispute resolution mechanisms and their impact on evaluating the country’s ability to attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Saudi Arabia has achieved significant legal transformations as a part of its 2030 vision agenda, which included the introduction of a new Investment Law that creates a more favorable environment for investors. In this context, the country’s ratification of the Singapore Convention on Mediation was an essential step, indicating Saudi Arabia’s commitment to adopting international best practices in regard to dispute resolution. Furthermore, the paper critically assesses the implications of these legal reforms on key factors that influence Foreign Direct Investment, including cost, confidentiality and cultural familiarity, while also evaluating investor satisfaction levels. Taking into consideration foreign investors confidence in Saudi Arabia’s legal system, who prioritize reliable and transparent legal frameworks. Additionally, exploring the evolving role of Saudi arbitration practices, by focusing on dispute resolution in international business contexts. The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of how the recent reforms have reshaped the legal landscape for resolving business disputes in Saudi Arabia, balancing the country’s traditional legal principles with the demands of global investors. For instance, significant improvements to corporate governance have been established by the new Companies Law, which has increased flexibiliy in corporate structure while ensuring comliance to modern legal requrements. This law is a significant advancement for private international law since it offers a more transparent framework for both local and foreign commercial operations. By using case studies and empirical data, the research assesses how effectively these reforms address investor concerns and propose actionable recommendations for further improvements. The goal is to ensure that Saudi Arabia’s legal system develops a more competitive, transparent and efficient environment for both international and local businesses.5 0