Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted The Reality of the Tourist Guide Profession in Saudi Arabia Challenges and Development Prospects(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alsuliemani, Raghad Naif; Ladkin, AdeleThis study explores the current reality of the tourist guide profession in Saudi Arabia, examining its challenges and future development prospects within the framework of Vision 2030. As the Kingdom undergoes rapid transformation in the tourism sector, tourist guides play a critical role as cultural ambassadors and mediators between heritage and visitors. Using a qualitative research approach, the study investigates the professional identity of Saudi tourist guides and the structural, regulatory, and societal challenges affecting their performance and career sustainability. Drawing on Professional Identity Theory, the research introduces the Saudi Dynamic Identity Resilience Model (SDIRM), which explains how guides adapt to rapid sectoral transformation while maintaining professional authenticity. Findings reveal key issues related to training gaps, regulatory frameworks, seasonal employment instability, and public perception. However, the study also identifies strong opportunities aligned with Vision 2030 reforms, institutional support, and growing international tourism demand. The research contributes theoretically by contextualizing professional identity within emerging tourism economies and practically by offering policy and training recommendations to strengthen the profession and enhance national tourism competitiveness.5 0Item Restricted MAPPING POWER AND POTENTIAL: ENERGY SOVEREIGNTY, SPATIAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND LIMITATIONS IN SAUDI ARABIA—WITH STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FROM THE U.S.(Michigan State University, 2026) Alanazi, Abeer; Nathan, MooreThis dissertation investigates energy sovereignty in Saudi Arabia through an original five-pillar theoretical framework comprising Resource, Economic, Political, Cultural/Epistemic, and Technology Sovereignty. Saudi Arabia presents a compelling analytical paradox: a nation commanding the world's largest proven petroleum reserves and among the highest solar irradiance values on Earth, yet generating less than 1% of its electricity from renewables as of 2023. This research argues that the gap between Saudi Arabia's renewable energy ambitions and actual deployment is not primarily a technical or financial problem but a multidimensional sovereignty problem — rooted in the institutional architecture of the petroleum state, the structural logic of the rentier economy, and the geographic realities of the Arabian Peninsula. The dissertation is organized across an introduction and six chapters. The Introduction establishes the Saudi Arabian context — its geography, population, economy, and the global significance of its energy sector — and outlines the dissertation's analytical architecture. Chapter 2 develops the five-pillar energy sovereignty typology as an original theoretical contribution, derived from comparative analysis of food, water, resource, and political sovereignty literatures, and validated empirically through k-means clustering of 138 countries. Chapter 3 applies the typology to Saudi Arabia's historical and contemporary energy sovereignty configuration, testing its analytical utility against the Kingdom's capable-but-stalled transition trajectory. Chapter 4 operationalizes energy sovereignty quantitatively through the Timmermann and Noboa (2022) values-based framework, evaluating Saudi Arabia across six dimensions using established international indices. Chapter 5 grounds the analysis spatially through a GIS-AHP multi-criteria suitability analysis of seven strategically selected Saudi cities, reframing geographic barriers as sovereignty conditions with direct strategic implications. Chapter 6 synthesizes findings across all analytical layers, revisits the dissertation's three primary research questions, and identifies future applications of the five-pillar framework to other resource-dependent economies. The central finding is that Saudi Arabia occupies a capable-but-stalled configuration — possessing the institutional capacity, financial resources, and physical endowments necessary for energy transition, yet structurally constrained by rentier political economy dynamics that suppress deployment urgency. The 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, which unfolded during the completion of this research, provides unplanned empirical validation of the dissertation's core spatial argument: geographic exposure is not merely a cost factor but a sovereignty condition with direct strategic implications for Saudi Arabia's energy future. The insights developed extend beyond Saudi Arabia to all resource-dependent economies navigating the transition from fossil fuel dependency to renewable self-determination.4 0Item Restricted ESSAYS ON THE IMPACT OF BOARD GENDER DIVERSITY AND A FEMALE AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR ON FINANCIAL REPORTING QUALITY: EVIDENCE FROM VISION 2030 IN SAUDI ARABIA(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alshammari, Hasnah; Carter, Kelly EIn light of Vision 2030, this research investigates whether gender-based corporate governance practices enhance financial reporting quality using two essays. The first essay investigates the effect of board gender diversity on financial reporting quality among Saudi Arabian listed firms. Using a sample of 41 firms from 2013 to 2024 and analyzed using multiple regression models, the findings confirm an average discretionary accrual, and board size is positively associated with financial reporting quality. The main finding of this paper is that the contribution of female board membership to financial reporting quality is statistically insignificant, suggesting that the presence of women on the boards in Saudi Arabia does not affect earnings management. In case of non-executive directors, however, there is a significant positive impact on financial reporting quality, emphasizing the importance of board independence. The second essay examines the impact of female audit committee chair on financial reporting quality among Saudi Arabian listed firms. Using a sample of 49 firm-year observations from 2013 to 2024, the findings indicate sustained variation in discretionary accruals across firms, reflecting heterogeneous earnings management practices. The result also reveals an insignificant impact of audit committee chair gender and female board representation on earnings management, and the interaction between these two governance mechanisms is also insignificant. In contrast, audit committee’s financial expertise is significantly associated with improved financial reporting quality. Overall, the results suggest that while female leadership in audit oversight remains an important objective under Vision 2030, its effectiveness in improving financial reporting quality may be constrained by institutional and contextual factors within the Saudi corporate governance environment.17 0Item Restricted Internal and External Determinants of Adaptive Capacity in Saudi Large Companies(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alotaibi, Suwaylih; McMurray, Adela J; Rasel, SharifPurpose: This thesis identifies the key determinants (internal and external) of the adaptive capacity needed by Saudi Arabian large companies to facilitate a sustainable performance. The thesis examines the differentiation of adaptive capacity from other related concepts, as well as its application challenges and benefits. It further highlights the internal and external factors affecting adaptive capacity, with a specific focus on the Saudi Arabian context. In this context, the thesis identifies the key factors influencing the adaptive capacity of business organisations. It also examines internal factors such as leadership, organisational culture, innovation and employee skills (RQ1). Additionally, this thesis focuses on analysing external influences, including socioeconomic shifts, regulatory frameworks and technological changes (RQ2). It further explores limitations to adaptability (RQ3) and strategies for enhancing it (RQ4). This forms a critical foundation for the study’s empirical investigation and contributes to both academic discourse and practical implementations. Methodology: The methodology employed in this thesis adopts an interpretivist philosophy. Semi-structured interviews are used to collect textual data from 25 managers working in the supply chain and human resources departments in eight different companies in the Saudi food and beverage industry. A thematic analysis is conducted to extract the themes and patterns from interview transcripts. In this context, NVivo 14 is used to extract codes from the interview transcripts for further thematic analysis. Results: The findings reveal that adaptive capacity in Saudi food and beverage companies is driven by strong leadership, an innovation-focused culture and skilled employees interacting with socioeconomic, technological and regulatory forces. Novel insights reveal that external drivers act as both enablers and constraints, while barriers such as resistance to change, skill shortages and resource limitations persist. By addressing the internal and external determinants, identifying challenges and proposing strategies, the study answers the research questions, extends the adaptive capacity literature and provides practical guidance for Saudi firms. Contribution: The study concludes that adaptive capacity depends on the interplay between internal factors, including leadership, culture and employee skills, and external forces, such as socioeconomic shifts, technological change and regulation. It contributes to the literature by providing novel, context-specific evidence from Saudi Arabia, extending adaptive capacity theory beyond Western-centric studies. For the industry, it recommends leadership, an innovation culture, learning and collaboration to strengthen resilience and competitiveness33 0Item Restricted Developing incentive based ecosystem to empower Saudi Arabia Industrial SMEs in Machinery, and equipment components(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Almuqbil, Osama; Blackburn, OutiSMEs' importance comes as they contribute toward economies' GDP. In some countries, manufacturing SMEs have also been a major contributor to GDP contribution. In Saudi Arabia, the transformational vision for the oil-based economy is diversification. The industrial sector is one of the transformation programs, with a strategy to reach 36,000 in 2030, up from a base of 10,000. The mining sector, as part of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, has also created investment opportunity for various sectors. This report investigates how SMEs in Saudi Arabia can be part of the machinery manufacturing within the mining sector value chain. Findings reveals that there are multiple supportive entities that enable small businesses with industrial sector. The dimensions of the enablement are across policy, financial, and development. The gap is integrating the current dimensions into a complex machinery manufacturing. The report proposes establishing an ecosystem for the SMEs led by a synergy of collaboration between entities.6 0Item Restricted Exploring the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Achieving Saudi Vision 2030(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alessa, Abdulaziz; Dhakal, Subas; Bayerlein, LeopoldVision 2030 of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia involves significant institutional developments related to corporate social responsibility (CSR), aimed at transforming the economy into a more sustainable one. The private sector is expected to play a central role in achieving the Vision 2030 goals, and consequently, many Saudi companies have begun adopting CSR practices. However, the extent to which these initiatives—particularly in the banking sector—contribute to achieving these goals remains unclear. More importantly, studies on the link between CSR practices and Vision 2030 remain scarce. According to Carroll (1991), CSR involves conducting business in economically profitable, law-abiding, ethical and socially supportive ways. Grounded in this understanding, this thesis contends that CSR implementation in the Saudi banking sector can meaningfully support the Vision 2030 goals by serving as a mechanism for sustainable development. The study used a mixed methods approach: a document analysis of annual reports from 10 banks, semi-structured interviews with 10 CSR policymakers and a survey of 204 branch managers. This approach was used to assess the magnitude of these banks’ CSR initiatives, their policy formulation at the corporate level and their CSR initiatives at the branch level. The results revealed a multilayered picture of CSR within the Saudi banking sector. Document analysis showed that although banks are actively engaged in CSR initiatives—particularly in areas such as supporting small and medium enterprises, housing and charitable giving, environmental sustainability remains a peripheral focus. Further, the interviews with the CSR policymakers revealed that CSR policy formulation is centrally controlled and follows a top-down approach, often shaped by Vision 2030 priorities, board directives and alignment with Vision 2030. Some banks involve regional managers in the consultation process, but corporate management makes the final decisions, limiting input from operational staff. Moreover, governance plays a pivotal role: some banks have strong board oversight and structured CSR committees, while others rely on more ad hoc approaches with less formal integration. In addition, the survey results indicated a moderate alignment between branch-level practices and CSR policies, but also highlighted gaps in CSR-specific training, the insufficient allocation of financial resources and limited decision-making autonomy. Notably, statistical analysis showed that factors such as managerial experience, awareness of CSR policies and the availability of institutional support strongly influence branch-level CSR initiatives. These findings are supported by institutional and attitude–behaviour theories and offer in-depth insight into the multi-level dynamics of CSR policy and practice within the Saudi banking sector. This study provides valuable implications for policymakers, government regulators and banking professionals by highlighting the importance of aligning corporate-level CSR polices with operational initiatives to effectively support Vision 2030. In particular, regulatory bodies and CSR departments may use these findings to enhance policy communication, standardise reporting frameworks and strengthen branch-level capabilities, which would ensure that CSR becomes a more impactful, integrated tool for achieving the Vision 2030 goals.23 0Item Restricted Undergraduate Students' Preparedness for Science Degrees: An Evaluation of Secondary Schools' Science Education in KSA(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) AlSadir, Shaykhah Muneer S; Alex, ElwickExecutive Summary Research purpose and objective: Enhancing students’ scientific knowledge and skills in Saudi Arabia is vital to achieve Saudi Vision 2030. This emphasised the importance of motivating students to pursue higher education and careers in science disciplines. By taking the specific context of students' transition from secondary schools to university undergraduate science courses, this research is carried out with the objective of assessing the preparedness of undergraduate students for science degrees. Further, this research is also carried out with the purpose of evaluating secondary school science education present in Saudi Arabia in making them ready and identifying the existence of any gap in the practical science and the laboratory skills of the undergraduate students. Methodology: Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted based on mixed research methodology to achieve the purpose of this study. This methodological choice helped in collecting qualitative data and quantitative data from undergraduate students studying science courses across Saudi universities. A dedicated preparedness survey supported collecting numerical data using Likert scale questions, and open-ended reflective questions supported collection of descriptive data about assessments, practical support and teaching in Saudi secondary science education. Key findings: Detailed analysis of qualitative and quantitative data identified the potential of secondary science education to develop a basic conceptual foundation on science subjects but found it inconsistent in meeting the demand for analytical and critical thinking skills of the university. Memorisation-based assessments were found to help students achieve short-term-based academic success but were not useful in promoting long-term success, as they were found to be ineffective in developing inquiry and problem-solving skills. Findings also showed that laboratory preparation is the weakest domain, as students felt unprepared and less confident to carry out laboratory work in the universities. Also, students offered recommendations for increasingly practical learning through accessing the well-equipped laboratories, deepening the conceptual engagement and supporting English language along with scientific communication in secondary science education. Conclusion and recommendations: This study has concluded that secondary science schools in Saudi Arabia are useful in providing a basic foundation of science concepts but lack in fostering practical, communicating and critical thinking skills needed for university-level science degrees. Memorisation-based assessments in secondary science education can promote short-term success in exams but hinder long-term readiness for university-level science degrees. Students also recognised the need for hands-off practical experience that is inquiry-driven and also conceptually rich. Based on all these conclusions, recommendations are provided to make pedagogical reform, assessment reform, facilitate laboratory enhancement, provide language-based support and provide policy-based recommendations for secondary science school curriculum redesign.10 0Item Restricted The Legal Framework for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as an economic, social, and environmental Sustainability Transition in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Alluhidan, Nouf Ahmed; Chimia, Annamaria; Trepte, PeterThis research examines the legal framework for public–private partnerships (PPPs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a sustainable transition mechanism across three levels: social, economic, and environmental, by analysing all national regulations applicable to PPPs. The private sector could play a significant role in societal prosperity through its direct and indirect effects, making PPPs a crucial component in building sustainable infrastructures in countries. This has led the United Nations to recognise the need for all parties, including governments and the private sector, to cooperate in an international partnership to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, PPPs cannot effectively contribute to the SDGs unless governments implement internal legal reforms and enhance the legal environment. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to examine the current legal framework for PPPs under Saudi law and assess the extent to which it supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the SDGs. Numerous PPPs have recently been adopted in the country for the first time, with many more in the tendering process at various stages. In this regard, due to the recent adoption of PPPs, there was a strong need to conduct interviews to investigate their application across different sectors in the country. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with government procurement officials, policymakers, and other experts in the field to determine the extent to which PPPs can serve as effective instruments for achieving sustainability in Saudi Arabia. PPPs clearly offer various advantages, including leveraging private sector expertise and funding, enhancing quality, fostering innovation and local content, and enabling risk sharing. However, challenges remain, such as unstable environmental and social regulations, a lack of environmental and social requirements in contracts, negative impacts on public employees, and a wide number of applicants in the short term. In conclusion, the legal framework governing PPPs is critical to ensuring Saudi Arabia’s efforts to achieve its Vision 2030 objectives, some of which align with international standards, while others require serious consideration and reform.119 0Item Restricted Integrating Saudi Cultural Identity into Boutique Hotel Guest Experiences in Alignment with Vision 2030: Towards Innovation and Differentiation(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alnuwaiser, Raghad; Maekinen, TiiaSaudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has placed a strong emphasis on cultural identity as a primary element of tourism strategy. As such, cultural hospitality is reconceptualized as a vehicle for national identity, cultural diplomacy, and tourism product differentiation. In this regard, boutique hotels are specifically designed to offer a culturally rich and personalized guest experience. However, despite this strategy, literature on hospitality and tourism in Saudi Arabia is limited and often focuses on niche areas such as architectural heritage or service quality, overlooking the integration of cultural identity into the holistic guest experience. This study addresses this gap by exploring how Saudi cultural identity can be systematically integrated into boutique hotel guest experiences to enhance authenticity, innovation, and differentiation. Using a qualitative multiple-case study design, the research analyzes online guest reviews of boutique and heritage hotels across key Saudi destinations, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and AlUla. The study employs inductive thematic analysis to identify patterns related to cultural design, service interactions, culinary experiences, and the balance between modern luxury and traditional elements. Findings reveal that deeply embedded cultural elements significantly enhance guest satisfaction and create meaningful, memorable experiences. Guests particularly value authentic spatial design, culturally informed service interactions, and traditional culinary offerings. However, gaps remain in staff cultural competence and the depth of storytelling, leading to occasional inconsistencies in the overall guest experience. The study proposes a Cultural Cohesion-Integration Framework (CCIF), offering a structured approach for embedding cultural identity across strategic, operational, and experiential dimensions. This framework provides practical guidance for boutique hotel managers and policymakers, supporting the alignment of cultural preservation with innovation and tourism development under Vision 2030.11 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).5 0