Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted A KPIs Framework for Minimizing Environmental Impacts from Chemical Manufacturing Processes: The Case of Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) الفارسي, علاء عبدالرحمن; Jagtap, SandeepThe goal of this study was to create a complete framework to make Saudi Arabia's chemical industry more environmentally friendly by focusing on emissions, pollutants, and resource use. A mixed research approach was utilized, encompassing a systematic literature review, surveys, and case studies. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to investigate quantitative data, while Non-Versioned Information, Versatile Outcomes (NVIVO) was applied to look at qualitative data from interviews to make sure we had many different types of data. finding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), measuring and analyzing them, judging performance, and making things better all the time. Results showed that there were big gaps in efforts to cut emissions, and that the average performance in resource use was below industry standards. The use of SPSS analysis showed that KPI performance was statistically different between organizations. NVIVO, on the other hand, helped find important qualitative insights about the problems that organizations face when trying to implement sustainable practices. The tiered rating system was used to rank organizations, and those that had emissions and energy use below the baseline were given specific plans to help them do better. The study found that chemical organizations could cut emissions by 15% and improve resource efficiency by 10% in just two years by using this framework. This would help them meet both regulatory and sustainability goals.11 0Item Restricted تمايز الخدمات الصحية و علاقتها بمرتادي المستشفيات الأهلية: دراسة ميدانية فى نجران(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) اليامي, هادي; جابر, محمودتعمل المستشفيات الأهلية في نجران ضمن هذا الإطار الأوسع ،مساهمة في تحقيق الأهداف الاستراتيجيةللمملكة. من خلال توفيره الخدمات متنوعة ومتخصصة ،تجذب هذه المستشفيات مرتادي بمختلف الفئات الاجتماعية، في المجتمع السعودي. وتلعب المستشفيات دورًا هامًا في تقديم الخدمات العلاجية والوقائية للمجتمع. وقد شهدت السنوات الأخيرة نموًا ملحوظًا في عدد وأنواع المستشفيات في المملكة العربية السعودية وفي مدينة نجران .. تعتبر منطقة نجران إحدى المناطق الرئيسية في المملكة العربية السعودية، وقد شهدت تطورًا ملحوظًا في قطاع الرعاية الصحية خلال السنوات الأخيرة. حيث تم إنشاء العديد من المستشفيات الحكومية والأهلية لرفع مستوى الخدمات الطبية المقدمة لسكان المنطقة. وتعد المستشفيات الأهلية أحد أهم العوامل المساهمة في تنويع مصادر تقديم الخدمات الصحية، ورفع كفاءة أدائها. إلا أن نجاح هذه المستشفيات واستدامتها يتطلب رصد رؤى مرتاديها فيخدماتها المقدمة لهم ، سيما وأن تكاليف العلاج فيها أعلى من المستشفيات الحكومية. تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تحليل هذاالتنوع وفهم العوامل التي تحكم اختيارات وتفضيلات المرتادين لهذه المستشفيات. من خلال فحص وتحليل البيانات الميدانية،يمكن للباحثين وصانعي السياسات الصحية تحديدالاتجاهات السائدة وتقييم كيفية تأثيرالسياسات الحاليةعلى جودة وفعالية الرعايةالصحية.2 0Item Restricted Greening the Desert: Evaluating Saudi Arabia’s Afforestation and Desertification Control Strategies for Enhancing Climate Resilience(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Bakhalgi, Rafal; Alejandro, De Coss CorzoSaudi Arabia’s hyper-arid environment faces severe land degradation, water scarcity, and rising temperatures. In response, Vision 2030 launched the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) in 2021, pledging to plant 10 billion trees, restore 40 million hectares of degraded land, and protect 30 % of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. This dissertation evaluates how SGI’s afforestation and desertification control strategies contribute to long-term climate resilience. Guided by resilience theory and political ecology, the study employs three methods: (1) qualitative policy document analysis of Vision 2030 and SGI reports, (2) quantitative spatial mapping of future heat-stress zones using NASA GDDP-CMIP6 data overlaid with afforestation sites, and (3) ecological assessment of selected tree species’ drought, salinity, and temperature tolerances. Findings show that afforestation zones are strategically placed in climatically vulnerable yet ecologically viable areas, balancing feasibility and adaptation intent. Species selection follows ecological zoning, favouring drought- and salt-tolerant native trees. Institutional integration under Vision 2030 and SGI’s whole-of-government structure provide strong governance, funding, and public engagement through national campaigns and volunteer programs. However, critical challenges include water-resource constraints, limited transparency on site-selection criteria, and the absence of post-planting survival data. Community participation is visible but lacks formal decision-making roles. While SGI aligns with international frameworks and advances Saudi Arabia’s environmental profile, its long-term success depends on adaptive management, robust monitoring, and inclusive governance. The dissertation concludes that SGI offers a promising model for desert afforestation when ecological realism, socio-political inclusion, and resource planning converge, but sustaining resilience will require ongoing evaluation and policy refinement.3 0Item Restricted Delivering Prehabilitation in Cancer Surgery: A Service Evaluation at Nottingham University Hospitals(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alharbi, Abdulrahman; O’Connor, DominicAbstract Background: Cancer surgery carries high risks, with complications linked to delayed recovery and poorer outcomes. Prehabilitation aims to optimise patient fitness before surgery, yet evidence from real-world NHS settings remain limited. In 2022, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust introduced a multimodal prehabilitation service, developed in line with Macmillan Cancer Support guidance. Methods: This service evaluation included 1,720 patients triaged to Specialised (n = 329), Targeted (n = 943), or Universal (n = 448) prehabilitation pathways. Outcomes assessed pre- and post-programme included functional capacity (incremental shuttle walk test [ISWT], 60-second sit-to-stand [STS] test, grip strength), psychological health (GAD-7, PHQ-9), and physical activity. Analyses used paired t-tests, ANOVA, and effect size calculations. Results: Significant improvements were observed across outcomes. ISWT increased by 57 m (p < 0.001, d = 0.6), STS by 6 repetitions (p < 0.001, d = 0.9), and grip strength modestly (p < 0.001). Anxiety (Δ –1.9) and depression (Δ –2.0) scores decreased (both p < 0.001, d ≈ –0.5). Weekly physical activity more than doubled (+142 min/week), and strength sessions increased by 2.4 sessions (both p < 0.001, d > 1.0). Between-group differences were limited, although PHQ-9 scores improved more in the Specialised than the Targeted pathway and strength sessions more in the Universal than the Targeted pathway. Conclusion: A multimodal prehabilitation programme delivered within routine cancer care was associated with meaningful functional, psychological, and behavioural gains. However, barriers to engagement highlight the need for flexible delivery models and systematic follow-up to maximise accessibility and sustainability.4 0Item Restricted A Systematic Literature Review of the Role of Informal Urban Networks in Enhancing Disaster Risk Resilience in terms of preparedness and response, in informal urban settlements(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alanezi, Sultan; Dias, NuwanInformal settlements in urban areas are highly vulnerable to disasters due to their high population density, poor infrastructure, and limited access to resources. Despite this, these areas are economic powerhouses, which makes it important to study and enhance their resilience mechanisms. While academic literature has extensively examined formal institutional interventions, there remains a significant research gap regarding the role of informal urban networks in enhancing disaster resilience. The aim of this systematic literature review is to critically analyse the role of informal urban networks in enhancing disaster risk resilience in terms of preparedness and response within informal settlements. Using the PRISMA methodology, a systematic literature review was conducted across two academic databases, namely google scholar and SCOPUS, guided by a set of carefully developed keywords. Using the keywords, the initial search results were screened and refined based on certain inclusion and exclusion criteria, and finally 52 relevant peer-reviewed articles were chosen. A thematic analysis of these studies identified five key categories of informal urban networks: (1) Family and kinship networks, which provide immediate shelter, material aid, and emotional support during crises, (2) Community-based organisations (CBOs), grassroots organisations, and women’s groups, who are generally the first responders in a disaster and push for collective action, (3) Community and youth leaders, who serve as trusted intermediaries for information dissemination and coordination; (4) Community entrepreneurs, who leverage their connections for rapid relief, and (5) Membership-based organisations (MBOs) and faith-based organisations (FBOs), which offer both structured and culturally embedded mechanisms for mobilisation, social support and relief distribution. This review finds that informal urban networks play a critical yet often under-recognised, role in DRR by enhancing trust, ensuring culturally appropriate interventions, and enabling faster responses more suitable for local conditions. By documenting and analysing their functions, this research fills a crucial knowledge gap in disaster studies and offers insights for policymakers, practitioners, and humanitarian actors seeking to integrate informal networks into inclusive and contextually grounded disaster preparedness and response strategies in informal settlements.2 0Item Restricted Sustainable Urban Planning and Liveability in Al Madinah Al Munawwara, Saudi Arabia: Assessing the Impact on Quality of Life(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alharthi, Nahed Saad; Cox, SavannahThis dissertation evaluates liveability and sustainability in Almadinah through a systems approach that links urban form, mobility, public space, environment, and governance to outcomes in daily life. The purpose is to translate strategy into delivery by building a practical indicator portfolio and a clear route from evidence to priorities, targets, responsibilities, and monitoring at neighbourhood and city scales. The study uses a combination of primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through an online bilingual survey. The survey gathered perceptions on accessibility, comfort, shade, public space, cleanliness, safety, awareness of sustainability initiatives, and preparedness for environmental events. Secondary data included official government documents, planning reports, and academic sources that provided contextual information and supported the interpretation of the survey findings. The collected responses were analysed using descriptive statistical methods to identify key patterns and relationships reflecting liveability and sustainability within the city. Findings indicate that accessibility, comfort, shade, cleanliness, and safety are the strongest influences on how residents and regular users perceive liveability in Almadinah. Survey responses show that satisfaction is highest with accessibility and safety, while the lowest ratings relate to shade availability and environmental comfort. Awareness of sustainability initiatives and preparedness for environmental risks were moderate, suggesting room for improvement in public communication and engagement. Secondary data from official planning and sustainability reports confirm these perceptions, highlighting the ongoing efforts toward improved mobility, public space enhancement, and environmental resilience under Vision 2030 programmes. Key strengths include strategic direction, ongoing infrastructure investments, and a growing focus on data driven planning. Gaps remain in the continuity of shaded pedestrian routes, consistency in neighbourhood level maintenance, and public awareness of sustainability and risk management. Priority actions include expanding shaded walkways, strengthening connectivity between neighbourhood centres, improving greenery and environmental comfort, and maintaining transparent data systems that support effective monitoring and decision making. The dissertation provides an applied framework that combines resident perceptions with official planning evidence to assess and enhance liveability and sustainability in Almadinah. The approach is grounded in local context and demonstrates how integrating community feedback with government priorities can guide practical urban improvements. It supports implementable actions that city agencies can maintain over time to strengthen accessibility, comfort, environmental quality, and overall urban resilience.6 0Item Restricted Emerging Cybersecurity Risks and the Effectiveness of Risk Management Frameworks in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Abdulaziz, Mohammed; Adamos, VasileiosCybersecurity, Risk Management, Saudi Arabia, NIST CSF, ISO 27005, SAMA, UK NCSC, Risk Frameworks, Emerging Threats, Financial Sector17 0Item Restricted The Effect of ESG Disclosure and ESG Performance on Firm Financial Performance: The Moderating Role of Economic Conditions(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Basahi, Ruba; Zhang, SylviaThis study examines how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure and performance influence firm financial performance, and whether these effects differ under varying economic conditions. Drawing on stakeholder, signalling, legitimacy, and agency theories, the study differentiates between ESG disclosure as an external communication tool and ESG performance as a reflection of actual practices. Using panel data from S&P 500 firms spanning 2006-2023, fixed effects regressions with clustered standard errors are employed to control for unobserved heterogeneity and firm-level dynamics. Financial performance is measured using ROA, ROE, and Tobin’s Q. The results show that both ESG disclosure and performance are positively and significantly associated with all three financial outcomes, indicating broad financial benefits across operational and market-based metrics. However, during crisis periods (2008-2009 and 2020-2021), ESG disclosure and performance are each significantly associated only with ROA, suggesting that ESG practices primarily support internal profitability under economic stress. However, the results do not support the hypothesis that ESG performance offers stronger financial benefits than disclosure. Both variables show similar economic effects on ROA, with no significant relationship to ROE or Tobin’s Q. These findings challenge the assumption that ESG performance always offers superior financial value over disclosure. Both ESG disclosure and performance appear to support operational resilience during downturns, though their financial effects are concentrated in internal outcomes such as profitability rather than in market-based measures. Overall, the results emphasise the need to evaluate ESG’s financial implications through a context-sensitive lens, particularly under varying economic conditions.2 0Item Restricted Food waste survey – how safe food with expired used by dates perceived by the public in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALSAIF, ASHWAQ; O'Neill, SallyFood waste is a serious problem that is particularly acute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) due to its high reliance on food imports. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contrasting public perception and possible microbiological safety of food that consumers voluntarily. This research study utilized a data collected from 272 participants from a structured online questionnaire. The survey addressed consumer awareness & knowledge of date labels ('Use By' versus 'Best Before'), food storage (fridge, freezer, cupboard) & disposal practices, risk perceptions related to food, and cultural and religious influences. The main findings of this study show that while most consumers (66.2%) check the expiry date label of foods, the confusion is staggering where 27% of respondents underestimated both 'Use By' and 'Best Before' labels as real deadlines, a situation that contributes to the overly risk averse culture of disposing of perishable foods such as raw meats (94%) and dairy (81%). Islamic principles do prohibit waste ('Israf') for 88.6% of respondents but 'interferes' with cultural practices ('Karam') of hospitality. The research finds that food waste in KSA is not caused by negligence, it is predominantly driven by a consistent misunderstanding of date labelling. Because of this significant perception gap, safe, healthy, and edible food continues to be irresponsibly wasted. Education that directly addresses the confusion about what labels mean and that use already trusted religious and social channels must take place to shift consumer misbehaviour towards the sustainability agenda established by Saudi Vision 2030.3 0Item Restricted Selective Detection of Pesticide using Monolayered HON-100 and HON-101(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almutairi, Naif Khalaf; Foster, JonathanPesticide contamination in the environment has major human health and ecological concerns, especially from long-lasting nitroaniline compounds such as 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline (DCN), a high-volume fungicide. Traditional detection techniques such as gas chromatography (GC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectroscopy (MS), though accurate, are limited by high costs, time demands, and lack of portability. This study introduces monolayer hydrogen-bonded organic nanosheets (HON-100), exfoliated from pyrene-based hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOF-100) and (HOF-101), as novel, metal-free, fluorescent sensors for selective and sensitive detection of DCN. The nanosheets were synthesized through Suzuki coupling, followed by exfoliation using optimized sonication and solvent-assisted techniques. Structural and morphological characterization via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy, Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) confirmed the formation of few-layer nanosheets, particularly effective in solvents like toluene. AFM analysis revealed nanosheet thickness as low as ~5 nm and lateral sizes of ~10 µm, ideal for optical sensing applications. TGA data indicated reduced thermal stability in exfoliated forms due to disruption of the hydrogen-bonded framework. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed strong emission from HONs, with HON-100 displaying significant quenching upon interaction with DCN. Control experiments ruled out solvent and handling effects as major contributors to quenching. The optimal dilution for sensing was 0.12 M, and titration studies with solid DCN further confirmed direct molecular interaction. A linear fluorescence response to increasing DCN concentrations was observed with a poor correlation (R² = 0.585), and the calculated Limit of Detection (LOD) was 354 µM. Overall, this work demonstrates that HON-100 offer promising, metal-free, for real-time DCN detection.8 0