Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item 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.6 0Item Restricted Investigating the Implementation of Governance Through the Adoption of the Universities Law in Saudi Higher Education(ASTON UNIVERSITY, 2025) Alowaid, Othman; Hall, MatthewThis research investigates the implementation of the new Universities Law in Saudi Arabia and its implications for higher education governance. The primary aim is to develop a comprehensive governance framework tailored to Saudi universities' unique sociocultural, political, and economic context. This study provides a robust theoretical foundation for understanding governance dynamics within Saudi higher education by synthesising agency, stewardship, and stakeholder theories. There has previously been an in-depth exploration of adapting governance in Saudi higher education through the new Universities Law; hence, this research examines the two universities that first implemented the new law. The study explores the governance framework of Saudi higher education, the adaptation processes, and the challenges encountered. A qualitative case study approach allowed participants to describe their experiences. Data collection involved two main methods: document analysis and semi-structured interviews. The key documents analysed were the previous Higher Education and Universities Council Law and the new Universities Law. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from the two universities and the Universities Affairs Council, considered the body supervising universities. This study contributes to the theoretical discourse on higher education governance by demonstrating the novel combination of agency, stewardship, and stakeholder theories and revealing the limitations of existing governance frameworks when applied in isolation. This study addresses practical challenges universities face during the transition, providing insights crucial for successfully implementing governance reforms. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, this research supports ongoing efforts to improve governance in Saudi higher education, aligning with the broader goals of the Vision 2030 initiative. Additionally, it addresses practical challenges universities face during the transition, providing insights crucial for successfully implementing governance reforms. By bridging the gap between theory and practice, this research supports ongoing efforts to improve governance in Saudi higher education, aligning with the broader goals of the Vision 2030 initiative.9 0Item Restricted ASDLAF: An Innovative Framework for Adopting Learning Applications for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Saudi Arabia(University of Sussex, 2024) Almazni, Yahya; Natalia, BeloffBackground: Learning tools have been recognized as an effective approach to enhance the skills of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who face interaction, social and communication challenges. Relevant studies highlight that most of the ASD learning applications (LAs) are designed for children, but few investigate tools designed specifically for adults. Additionally, studies show that many applications are developed for the Western users which lack Arabic language support. Saudi Vision 2030 emphasises enhancing the quality of life including through digital transformation, which presents a promising opportunity to address the discussed challenges by investigating the factors that impact the adoption of ASD LAs. Aims and Objectives: The study aims at investigating the intention of the Saudi adults with ASD to use LAs by exploring the current challenges and barriers they face and identifying the most influential factors that impact the adoption of ASD LAs. These factors focus on three elements––technological, cultural and pedagogical which shape the ASD users’ engagement with LAs. To achieve this, the ASDLAF framework was developed to evaluate the 16 factors to assess the unique needs of ASD individuals. The thesis also captures the perspectives of the ASD caregivers who work closely with this population. Methods: This study employs a mixed-methods approach combining the quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews) methods. In the quantitative phase, a structured survey was distributed among ASD individuals gathering date from 412 respondents. Prior to the analysis, the validity and reliability of the survey instrument were assessed using SPSS software to ensure accurate analysis results. The descriptive analysis was conducted to provide an overview of the data gathered, which was followed by conducting the statistical analysis, aiming at assessing the significance of each factor within the ASDLAF framework. After that, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with ASD caregivers and experts to understand their perspectives into the adoption of ASD LAs. By integrating quantitative and qualitative data, the thesis was able to provide valuable recommendation and insights. Results: The results of this study reveal that ASD LAs are in their infancy within the Saudi context, though a significant intention to adopt exists among ASD individuals. The findings also provide insights into the factors that most influence LAs adoption by highlighting the key aspects such as usability, accessibility, privacy and motivation, which positively impact the adoption intention. Recommendations based on these insights aim to guide LA developers and caregivers in designing and assessing technological tools. Additionally, they offer valuable insights for policymakers focused on enhancing the quality of life of ASD individuals.12 0Item Restricted The Impact of Disability on Intimate Partner Violence Experienced by Saudi Married Women in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(The Catholic University of America, 2025) Khan, Hanady; Eileen A. Dombo, DirectorExperiencing a disability in human functioning and intimate partner violence (IPV) have both been recognized as critical impediments to the human well-being of women around the world, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). However, although some research exists on disability and IPV separately, no previous study has examined the connection between these two impediments in the KSA. This study investigates two research areas: (1) whether there is a significant association between the level of disability and IPV in adult Saudi married women in the KSA, receiving help from Family Protection Organizations (FPOs ), and (2) whether married women with disabilities (MWWD) compared to married women without disabilities (MWWOD), significantly differ in their level of IPV. Based on prior research, the study controls the possible influence of women’s and their husbands’ age, education, and household income. The study is supported by feminist theory, as women’s experiences with disability and IPV are culturally embedded in KSA’s struggles of marginalization of women. The study defines disability based on difficulties in human functioning related to physical components (with vision, hearing, cognition, communication, self-care, upper body function, and mobility), and emotional components (with anxiety and depression). This definition was developed by the Washington Group on disability statistics in the U.S. It has also been recognized internationally and used by the KSA to collect data on population disability levels in 2017. In the study, disability is operationally examined as a total summated score and as physical and emotional disability components. This study defines and examines IPV as consisting of four different forms of violence (emotional, physical, and sexual violence, and controlling behaviors) and total summated violence. The IPV behaviors are measured by a standardized questionnaire of the World Health Organization’s Violence Against Women Instrument (WHO VAWI) that has been used in KSA. Methodologically, the study applies a cross-sectional non-experimental correlational research design, with a purposive sample of 100 recruited Saudi-born adult (age 18 years or older) married women receiving services from one of three FPOs in Jeddah, KSA. The study research ethics were approved by the Institutional Review Board at The Catholic University of America. All data were anonymously provided through a structured paper and pencil survey questionnaire by consented adult Saudi married women at FPOs during 2024. The data were analyzed by the SPSS Version 28 statistical software. Descriptive results found that in the recruited sample, 50% of the adult Saudi women had disability (and of these, 70% had mild level and 30% moderate level disability). In addition, in the sample of 100 women, 57% reported mild IPV, 17% had moderate IPV, and 26% had severe to very severe IPV. Out of the four possible types of violence (emotional, physical, sexual, controlling behaviors), 38% of women had at least one type of IPV, and 62% had 2-4 types of IPV. The results of MRA revealed that women’s total disability difficulties significantly, positively, and strongly predicted their level of total IPV, showing that higher total disability scores were significantly correlated with higher scores of total IPV, explaining about 87 % variance in IPV. Binary LR revealed that MWWD were nearly twice as likely to experience moderate to severe IPV compared to MWWOD. Although some of the control variables were implicated in bivariate analyses, none significantly predicted IPV in multivariate analyses. Additionally, the two-factor MRA model of disability revealed that the physical disability total score was a much stronger predictor of IPV, as it accounted for around 74% of the total variance in IPV, whereas emotional disability accounted for only around 13% of total IPV variance; control variables had no effect. Further comparing the mean IPV by disability revealed that MWWD had a significantly higher mean of total IPV when compared to the mean of the total IPV in MWWOD. Similarly, MWWD also had significantly higher mean IPV scores for emotional, physical, and controlling behaviors of IPV when compared to such mean IPV scores of MWWOD. No such difference was found for sexual IPV comparison. Also, none of the control variables had any impact on these analyses. Findings from this study may allow social workers and human rights activists to become more knowledgeable about the challenges facing Saudi MWWD with IPV, as such knowledge may help to establish more effective interventions and protection policies in KSA and create directions for future research. Study limitations and additional practice and policy implications are discussed.50 0Item Restricted The Impact of Media Specialists' Credibility on Interaction and Trust of the Saudi Public: A Study on Saudi Users of the 𝕏 Platform(Virginia Commonwealth University, 2025) Alshareef, Maha; Song, BaobaoThis study investigates the influence of media specialists on the 𝕏 platform regarding public knowledge and engagement in Saudi Arabia, focusing on credibility, trust, and audience interaction. A survey of 314 Saudi users revealed that perceived credibility significantly drives content consumption and engagement. Additionally, frequent interaction with and reliance on media specialists for information was associated with higher knowledge acquisition. The study underscores the importance of strategic content creation, audience engagement, and analytics while addressing challenges such as misinformation. By implementing trust-building strategies, media specialists can help foster well-informed digital communities. This research extends the concept of credibility theory to social media and offers practical insights; however, limitations include reliance on self-reported data and a focus exclusively on Saudi 𝕏 users, which may restrict broader applicability.9 0Item Restricted The Resource Curse, Religious Practices and Household Behaviour: Evidence from Petroleum-rich & Selected Islamic Countries(University of Sussex, 2024) Alghanmi, Amal; Reilly, BarryThis thesis focuses on two main topics. The first relates to the resource curse, and the second is linked to the seasonality of prices during Ramadan. The first chapter examines whether oil revenues influence demographic outcomes in oil exporting countries with weak institutional quality, emphasizing the role of institutional quality as a mechanism. Our hypothesis is that an abundance of oil revenues in a weakly institutionalized country adversely impacts demographic outcomes through inadequate provision of public health services. Our dataset covers 2000-2017, allowing us to test this hypothesis using a large country panel data. Weak support is found for our hypothesis regarding infant mortality using a country specific fixed effects estimation approach. Nevertheless, oil wealth has a very mild impact on other demographic indicators in countries with weak governance. The second chapter explores the seasonal dynamics of local consumer prices with religious traditions. Specifically, this paper examines how Ramadan affects seasonal food prices. The case study in this chapter is based on the Kingdom of Saudi i Arabia since it is the centre of Islam. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Hijri calendar, and it is a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset for healthy Muslims. As a result, the daily meal schedule, frequency, and composition of meals change. It is hypothesized that Ramadan will impact food and non-food demand in Saudi Arabia during that month. This chapter analyses data for 24 food items, 8 non-food items, and 7 paid services. By treating seasonal effects deterministically, we can estimate the effect of Ramadan on commodities prices using OLS. We measure the intensity of Ramadan using both Hijri and Gregorian calendars. Results emphasize the unique nature of consumer behaviour during Ramadan. The third chapter extends the second but with a broader emphasis including more countries. In this chapter, we assess Ramadan's impact on the rise of food prices locally and globally. Unlike other price seasonality studies focusing on one commodity globally, this study analyses global market seasonality across a broad range of commodities. Furthermore, a major objective of this study is to investigate how Ramadan affects local market prices in selected Asian and African countries with diverse religious affiliations. We hypothesize that Ramadan will positively affect the prices of food commodities, and the extent of the impacts depends on the nature of the local and global markets. Our analysis shows that Ramadan has no long-term impact on global commodity prices. When positive Ramadan effects are detected locally, their magnitude is found to be very modest, thus suggesting Ramadan effects are not systematically present in local market commodity prices.10 0Item Restricted PERCEIVED VALUE AS A MODERATOR ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERVICE QUALITY AND SATISFACTION PILGRIMS IN SAUDI ARABIA(University Technology Mara, 2025) dubayl, Hanadi Al bu; Gani, Arni bt AbdulIn Umrah, service quality is paramount due to the unique nature of the Umrah experience. Ensuring smooth and efficient services, such as transportation, accommodation, safety, and food & beverages, is crucial for meeting pilgrims' expectations. Pilgrims' satisfaction in Umrah is closely tied to the seamless execution of services, commitment to religious protocols, and personalized attention from Saudi Arabia and service providers. This study aims to assess the impact of service quality on pilgrims’ satisfaction with the services received. And to examine the role of perceived values as the moderating factor between service quality and satisfaction. This study employed a quantitative approach with convenient sampling to analyze service quality in Umrah in Saudi Arabia. The sample consists of 138 Malaysian pilgrims who have performed Umrah at least once in the last five years. The data was gathered through the distribution of the questionnaire, following which it was run by SPSS 27&30 for further analysis. The study results showed that the regression model accounts for 80.5% of the variation in Perceived Value, and the correlation matrix shows that most of the variables are positively correlated. Finally, perceived value moderates the relationship between service quality and satisfaction in some dimensions of service quality, enhancing its impact on satisfaction. However, in other dimensions, the perceived value did not have a significant effect on the satisfaction of pilgrims.9 0Item Restricted Challenging the Dominant Eurocentric Worldview Within the Psy-Disciplines: From the Perspective of Saudi Arabian Practitioners(University of Edinburgh, 2025) AlSharef, Lama; Boylston, TomThis study is an ethnographic inquiry into the subjective experience of Saudi mental health practitioners who studied and trained in Western countries and are currently practicing in Saudi Arabia. The objective behind this study is to challenge the dominant Eurocentric worldview within the psy-disciplines and incorporate their voices in order to challenge the power distribution of voice within the psy-disciplines. This research used ethnographic interviews as the primary method of data collection. Throughout the interviews there was an emphasis placed on knowledge, power, language, and culture, therefore a de-colonial perspective of discourse analysis was used as a method. This paper adheres to a de-colonial lens in regards to investigating knowledge production, more specifically within the psy-disciplines. The emphasis on discourse and language unraveled a hermeneutics approach to de-colonising knowledge. The discussion illustrates how translation between different languages and meaning-making can illuminate frictions that arise when dominant languages and conceptual frameworks are used in contexts that differ in linguistic and cultural foundations. Incorporating the voices of Saudi practitioners within the broader discourse of psy- disciplines demonstrated how psy-discipline theories are being modified and adapted to the Saudi context. Additionally, it underscored the significance of incorporating the broader social, economical and political factors in utilising a de-colonial framework in researching knowledge production and practices within the psy-diciplines.17 0Item Restricted ATTITUDES AND MOTIVATION OF SAUDI STUDENTS LEARNING CHINESE AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN SAUDI ARABIA(The University of Mississippi, 2025) Emad, Hamuh; Dyer, DonaldThis study aims to examine the attitudes and motivation of Saudi learners toward learning Chinese as a foreign language (CFL), the effectiveness of Chinese teaching pedagogy, and the learners’ perceptions of Chinese culture and its impact on cross-cultural communication. This study is qualitative in nature, incorporating a qualitative instrument of data collection (in-depth interviews). The target population includes 8 Saudi CFL learners and 4 instructors at two universities in Saudi Arabia, namely King Abdulaziz University (KAU) and the University of Jeddah (UJ). The findings revealed that some Saudi CFL learners exhibited positive attitudes toward CFL learning, primarily influenced by their interest in the language. On the other hand, some learners expressed negative views about learning Chinese, highlighting certain challenges encountered during the first two years of their study. These negative attitudes, however, shifted to a more positive outlook due to the significant enhancements made by the Chinese-language programs. In terms of motivation, the findings indicated that the learners demonstrated both instrumental and integrative motivation, with instrumental motivation being more dominant. The study also identified certain language challenges, including mastering Chinese tones and characters. Despite these challenges, some learners highlighted the impact of CFL learning on their personal and cognitive development. Additionally, the findings highlighted the effectiveness of Chinese teaching pedagogy, indicating that the use of interactive teaching strategies and innovative methods (e.g., the integration of technology and Chinese cultural elements into instruction) were more effective and engaging than the traditional methods of teaching. Nonetheless, pedagogical challenges remained for both CFL learners and instructors, including the lack of qualified teachers, limited learning resources, and issues related to the curriculum and the learning environment. The findings also indicated that all learners held positive attitudes toward Chinese culture and its native speakers. Most importantly, the study emphasized the impact of learners’ exposure to Chinese culture and their interactions with native speakers on their cross-cultural communication. The study concluded with providing valuable insights for policymakers and educators, suggesting effective teaching strategies and curriculum development that help foster learners’ attitudes and motivation to overcome learning challenges and enhance their overall learning experience.18 0Item Restricted The Compensatory Principles and Provisions in Relation to Medical Harm in Saudi Arabia(University of Sussex, 2024) Alotaibi,Gadah; Davies, Mark; Ghouri, Ahmad; Griffiths, DanielleBasing its legal system on Islamic law, the prevailing view in Saudi Arabia is that the provision of healthcare is an obligation of the state. For this obligation to be fulfilled, it is essential that the compensation process for medical harm and negligence is fair and transparent. However, defects exist in the contemporary medical compensation system in Saudi Arabia, and these have not previously been explored. Consequently, this thesis investigates the Saudi compensation system for medical harm and negligence, with a view to proposing legal and procedural reforms that will ensure fair compensation. To achieve this goal, the thesis analyses the principles of compensation in Islamic theory through an in-depth analysis of the provisions of the Quran, Hadith, and existing literature. In addition, the thesis analyses and critiques the findings of a qualitative empirical study, wherein semi-structured interviews were conducted with doctors and lawyers in Saudi Arabia to examine the compensation system in practice. The findings reveal defects arising from the practical application of the compensation system, due to the ambiguity of the medical negligence concept, the rate of compensation, and the current timescales and procedures for litigation. Consequently, improvements to the Saudi compensation system are recommended. Specifically, based on the research results, Article 34 of the Saudi compensation law should indicate the type of harm covered under the compensation system, and its Article 40 should propose the timeline and procedures for the compensation process.11 0