Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted The Role of Islamic Culture Curriculum in Saudi Universities in Promoting Women’s Rights(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Bajabir, Salwa Saeed; Brown, KatherineDespite the legal and educational reforms under Vision 2030, this research argues that a gap remains between policy advancements and societal awareness of women's rights principles in Islam (WRPI) among Saudi University students. Through a qualitative case study at a leading Saudi University, including content analysis and semi-structured interviews, this research explores how the Islamic Cultural Curriculum (ICC) influences women students' perceptions of their rights. This study integrates Freire's Critical Pedagogy and Tibbitt's Human Rights Education models to advocate for a transformative approach incorporating gender justice and peace education in line with Islamic principles. Findings reveal that the ICC content and teaching strategies contain a blend of preaching, indoctrination, and marginalisation of women's agency as rights holders in the Islamic framework. The analysis explores how the current ICC discourages critical engagement instead of promoting discussion and reflection, reinforcing hierarchical gender norms through rigid teaching methods and structure that presents knowledge as static and unquestionable. As these findings contradict WRPI, this research suggests that applying the foundation (Al-Taʾṣīl) methodology within a critical, dialogical framework can reconcile WRPI with contemporary gender issues, needs and rights. Overall, this research provides a multidisciplinary analysis of the Islamic approach to women's rights, transformational higher education, and gender justice.30 0Item Restricted The Role of the Private Sector in Delivering Sustainable Economic Development in Rentier States (The case of Saudi Arabia)(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almabadi, Tahani; Bradshaw, MichaelThe energy system transformation presents challenges for all countries, but rentier states face a unique vulnerability, as their entire economic structure depends on resource rents. While these states are accustomed to economic volatility and have experience in managing it, the energy transformation represents a long-term existential threat to the sustainability of their current economic model, effectively imposing a deadline for economic diversification efforts. The rentier state’s response to the energy system transformation presents challenges to many oil- and gas- producing countries in terms of their current domestic rentier arrangements and their path toward sustainable future economic growth. Despite the challenges associated with the energy system transformation, it presents Gulf rentier states with an opportunity for policy reform and economic diversification—an objective they have pursued for decades with only limited success. The response of these countries to the energy system transformation is crucial not only for the sustainability of their own development but also because of their role as major players in global oil and gas markets, particularly as demand begins to fall and the implications that has for global energy security. This study examines the role of the private sector in encouraging economic diversification to promote a more sustainable economic development model in a specific category of non-Western economies: the rentier states of the Gulf. Drawing from a range of qualitative data, including documentary analysis, business interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups with young Saudis, the findings of this study exemplify the critical role of the state in shaping economic transformation. The findings indicate that slower progress in fiscal diversification reflects the continued reliance of both the economy overall and the private sector on government expenditure. This means such states continue to be highly vulnerable to the risks posed by the global energy transformation. The emergent model is likely to be a mixed economy that remains engaged with hydrocarbons through the Circular Carbon Economy model while incorporating elements of private sector development alongside a degree of state control. While the state appears aware of the demographic pressures and associated risks, its current policies and the top-down imposition of a new social contract have yet to deliver meaningful employment that meets the aspirations of the large, young, educated population. This study deepens our understanding of how resource-abundant economies navigate the challenges posed by energy system transformation. It provides a broader perspective on the transformation of economic systems and the potential emergence of a distinct model of state capitalism in rentier states. It also provides an understanding of youth perspectives, social implications and the aspirations and attitudes of job seekers toward private sector employment and entrepreneurship.8 0Item Restricted Faith-Based Humanitarianism: The Role of Islamic Values in Shaping Saudi Arabia's Regional Aid Strategy(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alsubaie, Faisal; Nthakomwa, MartinThis project investigates how Islamic values shape Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian aid strategy by analysing the historical evolution, strategic deployment, and operational dynamics of its flagship agency, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief). Drawing on a wide range of secondary sources, the research explores the intersection of faith, statecraft, and governance in the Kingdom’s aid practices. It finds that while KSRelief is framed in the language of Islamic ethics, zakat, sadaqah, and ummah, its institutional design is largely driven by geopolitical interests, global diplomacy, and soft power aims. The study critically examines the tension between ethical rhetoric and strategic execution, revealing that Islamic references are often instrumentalised rather than embedded in practice. In conflict settings such as Yemen, this dissonance becomes especially pronounced, raising concerns about ethical coherence and legitimacy. Moreover, the research highlights a lack of robust governance mechanisms, including limited community participation and independent oversight. Through thematic and conceptual analysis, supported by visual frameworks, the project challenges the assumption that state-led Islamic humanitarianism automatically translates into faith-consistent outcomes. I. Recommendations urge institutional reforms: integrating third-party audits, establishing participatory frameworks such as local zakat boards, disentangling aid from strategic interests, and ensuring Arabic-language transparency. These steps aim to realign Saudi humanitarian practice with the ethical foundations it invokes, fostering greater accountability and effectiveness in serving vulnerable populations.32 0Item Restricted The Lived Experience of Working Mothers Who Intended to Continue Exclusive Breastfeeding Upon the Return to Work in Saudi Arabia: An Interpretative Phenomenology Analysis Study(Trinity College Dublin, 2025) Alsulimani, Manar; Hughes, Mary; Gallagher, LouiseBackground: The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for infants during their first six months of life. A mother’s ability to maintain the EBF for the recommended duration is often impacted by obstacles such as returning early to employment. Previous research has identified a lack of lactation facilities and short maternity leave as factors that contribute to the early cessation of EBF. A review of the literature underscored the need for additional research to examine the EBF experiences of working mothers following their return to work. Additionally, there is a lack of studies investigating factors influencing the EBF practices of working mothers in Saudi Arabia who returned to work before six months post-partum. Aim: The study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Saudi working mothers who intended to continue EBF upon their return to work after paid maternity leave. Methods: Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework was used, to explore the experiences of 14 Saudi working mothers in the health and education sectors. Participants, who had between ten to twelve weeks of maternity leave, were interviewed between March and May 2022 using purposive and snowball sampling. All participants had intended to continue EBF for up to six months after returning to work. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and IPA was utilised for data analysis. The study received ethical approval from TCD, UQU, MCH, and the General Administration of Education in Saudi Arabia. Findings: Three key themes emerged: i) Navigating EBF; ii) The Realities of EBF After Returning to Work; and iii) Resilience in Longer EBF Journeys. The study identified policy gaps, inadequate breastfeeding facilities, and inflexible breastfeeding breaks as significant barriers to continuing EBF. However, most participants who prolonged their EBF journey despite workplace barriers demonstrated strong commitment and resilience, significantly driven by their faith in Allah, the support of their social networks, and proactive strategic planning. Conclusion: This study makes a several unique contributions to Saudi literature and adds to the existing body of international research. It enhances understanding of the EBF experiences of working mothers in the distinct context of Saudi Arabia, highlighting the need for a comprehensive strategy to support EBF working mothers in the country. This includes addressing workplace challenges, implementing supportive workplace policies, strengthening healthcare support, normalising EBF within families and society through raising awareness to facilitate a smoother transition for EBF working mothers returning to work after maternity leave.13 0Item Restricted Design and Pilot Testing of a Mobile Health Application for the Chronic Care of Sickle Cell Disease in Adolescents and Young Adults in Saudi Arabia: Mixed Methods Study(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almarzooq, Fatimah; Pitt, Victoria; Inder, Kerry; Alqudah, Muhammad; Gollapalli, MohammedBackground Saudi Arabia has one of the highest burdens of sickle cell disease, leading to significant healthcare challenges and profoundly affecting the lives of individuals and families. This has been linked to the high prevalence of consanguineous marriage. The adolescent and young adult sickle cell disease-related mortality rate in Saudi Arabia is relatively high, due to a lack of an adolescent self-management transition program to adulthood care. Research on mobile health applications for adolescents and young adults living with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia is limited. This thesis explores the design of a mobile health application for adolescents and young adults living with sickle cell disease and evaluates its impact on health-related quality of life, self-management practices, and coping strategies for stressors. Aim The aim of this study was to design, develop and pilot test a mobile health application based on the electronic health enhanced chronic care model for adolescents and young adults living with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia referred to as the SCD-care app; evaluate the usability and feasibility of the SCD-care app; and compare health-related quality of life, self-management practices, and coping strategies for stressors pre and post-use of the SCD-care app. Methods This pilot study used an explanatory sequential mixed method design conducted in one Saudi government-funded teaching hospital in the city of Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia. After designing and developing the SCD-care application, pre- and post-intervention quantitative surveys were administered to assess health-related quality of life, self-management practices, and coping strategies for stressors among consenting adolescent and young adults with sickle cell disease. Correlational analyses were used to analyse the quantitative findings. Qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants post-intervention and analysed thematically. Further evaluation was conducted on the usability and feasibility of the application. Results from the two methods were integrated and discussed to inform the recommendations for policy, practice and future research. Results The SCD-care app demonstrated a significant positive impact on adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia. Of 93 potential participants, 53 completed the pre-intervention phase, with 43 completing all study phases. Ten adolescent and young adults participated in the qualitative phase. Quantitative findings showed statistically significant improvements in health-related quality of life, self-management practices, and coping strategies for stressors. Participants reported a 25% increase in overall health-related quality of life post-intervention (p<0.001), with gains in domains such as social functioning, energy, emotional well-being, and general health prescription. Self-management practices improved markedly, with participants 3.4 times more likely to practice self-management post-intervention (p=0.004). Additionally, coping strategies shifted toward active coping, with significant reductions in maladaptive coping, including denial (p=0.014) self-blame (p=0.008) and substance use (p=0.028). The application demonstrated high usability as evidenced by satisfaction scores, while quantitative evaluation of feasibility faced limitations due to server data loss. Qualitative analysis supported these findings, with participants highlighting the app’s usability and supportive features, particularly the reminder functions and educational content. Participants reported increased confidence in managing their condition and made design related suggestions. Themes emerging from qualitative exploration of the usability and feasibility of the SCD-care app included usability and supportiveness. Overall, the SCD-care app enhanced health-related quality of life, self-management practices, and coping with stressors among adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia. This study’s limitations include its single-hospital setting, small sample size, and non-randomised design, which may affect the generalisability of the findings. There were challenges in participant recruitment and the short duration of the pilot. Conclusion This study successfully designed, developed and piloted the SCD-care app, demonstrating its potential to enhance general well-being for adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia. Guided by the electronic health chronic care model and an explanatory sequential mixed method approach, the findings demonstrated statistically significant improvements across dimensions of health-related quality of life, self-management practices, and coping strategies and identified the application as a usable tool for addressing the diverse challenges associated with managing sickle cell disease.9 0Item Restricted Reimagining Education Spaces:(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alamri, Mona Saad; Erk, Gul Kacmaz; Flood, NualaThis thesis focuses on how classroom design influences the implementation of active learning in girls' secondary schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To address the gap identified in the literature, it seeks to evaluate how the learning environment in these schools can support the effective implementation of active learning by examining classroom design, exploring spatial challenges, and investigating the needs and preferences of teachers and students through a user-centric and participatory design approach, as well as analysing the role of architects and classroom users in creating effective learning environments. It also examines the extent to which the design of these environments is consistent with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Although the Ministry of Education has prioritised digital and pedagogical transformation and reform in the curriculum, the physical learning environment has not been sufficiently modernised to align with these goals. This thesis employs Henri Lefebvre’s spatial triangle to examine the relationship between perceived, imagined and lived spaces in the classroom, with active learning as the primary focus. The research uses a single-case approach to investigate a classroom with a design pattern replicated in all Saudi schools, making the findings relevant to many other school buildings. The study contributes to knowledge by demonstrating the application of a participatory design approach in the Saudi educational context and by generating transferable insights from an in-depth case study of a commonly replicated classroom design. Data collection methods include ethnographic observations of the classroom supported by classroom surveys. They also involve participatory design workshops (both evaluative and generative) and interviews with Ministry of Education architects. The findings reveal that the traditional design of these classrooms is inadequate for supporting active learning. Therefore, evidence-based recommendations have been made to develop learning environments that align with the goals of active learning and the broader objectives of Vision 2030, which focus on empowering women and girls and promoting innovative, stimulating education. Accordingly, the research recommends incorporating participatory design into the architectural and interior design of schools to create inclusive and vibrant learning environments that enhance learning experiences and outcomes.22 0Item Restricted The Supportive Care of Saudi Women with Breast Cancer(Saudi digital library, 2025) Alkhyat, Alhanouf; Topping, Anne; Hallett, NutmegSupportive Care Needs of Saudi Women with Breast Cancer: A Mixed Methods Convergent Design Study Women with breast cancer can experience a range of informational, psychological, and physical supportive care needs at different stages of the cancer journey. There is limited insight and understanding of the breast cancer experience and supportive care needs from the perspective of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), region and specifically Saudi Arabian women. Further, it is less clear which needs are most pressing to women, and at what point in the care pathway these needs arise. In this study, I aimed to fill that gap by exploring the supportive care needs of women in Saudi Arabia and evaluating the applicability of a supportive care framework to determine its relevance to the care of women with breast cancer in Saudi Arabia and more broadly the MENA region. Methods: A mixed methods exploratory convergent design was used. Cross-sectional surveys were applied, including the Supportive Care Needs Survey short form 34 (SCNS-SF34 – Arabic version), with eight supplementary questions that were specific to breast cancer patients, plus 15 additional items derived from the MENA region scoping review conducted by the researcher. All items were mapped against the identified supportive care needs framework and modified based on the scoping review findings. Then, the instruments were piloted to assess face validity and subsequently administered to Saudi women with breast cancer (n=85) recruited from one specialist cancer centre. Descriptive statistics were used, followed by Rasch modelling to estimate reliability, validity and dimensionality. Semi-structured interviews with a maximum variation sub- sample of Saudi women (n=20) were analysed using the framework method. Joint display integration was used to enhance the findings. Results: Physical needs (median=3.75, IQR=1.50), health system informational needs (median=3.67, IQR=1.67), and psychological needs (median=3.60, IQR=1.85) were ranked highest, whereas intimacy-related needs (median=2.22, IQR=1.6) were the lowest ranked domain. Correlations of supportive care needs with demographics showed significant associations with employment status, hormonal therapy, and age. Cognitive needs were significantly higher in younger women, while receiving hormonal therapy was significantly associated with higher spiritual and family-related needs. Also, employed women showed less need for physical and practical support and patientclinician communication. Interview findings suggested expanded results in most domains and showed that needs differ at various points in the cancer journey. Chemotherapy treatment specifically was identified as the most difficult period, requiring the most support. Joint display integration was used to synthesise findings and showed nuanced insights across most of the domains, such as how women still face social stigma, and the important role of religion in their cancer journey. These insights highlight the need to redefine supportive care needs and develop a tailored, culturally specific framework to fit the context of the MENA region. Conclusion: The findings from the scoping review confirm that women’s unique needs in the MENA region require redefining and redevelopment of the Paterson framework and adaptation to this context. The mixed-methods design provided rich evidence that illuminated women's needs and could contribute to informing the design of culturally specific supportive care interventions for Saudi Arabian women and provide recommendations for service improvement.50 0Item Restricted THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FACIAL EMOTION RECOGNITION ABILITY AND SAUDI NURSES' PROFESSIONAL SELF-CONCEPT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alruwaili, Ishraq Khurais Dhafi; Alsaqer, KhitamBackground: Facial emotion recognition (FER) is a crucial component of emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness in healthcare. Professional self-concept (PSC), representing a nurses' perception of their professional identity and competence, significantly impacts job satisfaction, resilience, and leadership behavior. Aim: To examine the relationship between facial emotion recognition ability and professional self-concept among Saudi nurses. XII Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in two governmental hospitals in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sample of 177 nurse completed an online questionnaire. FER ability was measured using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), and PSC was assessed using the Nurses' Self-Concept Questionnaire (NSCQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, including descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Simple linear regression analysis. Results: The results of the study showed a relatively high level of facial emotion recognition ability with a total score of (24.43). The level of professional self- concept among nurse was moderate and tended to increase with a total score of (192.59). The results showed a positive and statistically significant relationship between facial emotion recognition ability and nurse professional self-concept at a statistical significance level of 0.001. Finally, results of the study showed that facial emotion recognition ability is the only predictor of nurses’ awareness of Professional Self-Concept at the statistical significance level (0.001). The analysis shows that among the factors studied, only gender and facial emotion recognition ability were significant predictors of professional self-concept for Saudi nurses. XIII Conclusion: The study revealed a significant positive relationship between facial emotion recognition ability and professional self-concept among nurses in government hospitals in northern Saudi Arabia. Facial emotion recognition emerged as the strongest predictor of professional self-concept. Keywords: Facial emotion recognition, Self-concept, Nurses, Emotion, Saudi Arabia15 0Item Restricted Influence of Environmental, Social and Economic Factors on Willingness to Participate in Green Events in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Albalawi, Elham Hassan; Strafford, DavidThis study investigates the impact of personal and sustainability credentials of events on the willingness to attend green events in Saudi Arabia, guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). It explores key variables including environmental awareness, peer behaviour, price, perceived value for money, and ease of access and how these variables influence the willingness of people to attend green events in Saudi Arabia. Using a positivist philosophy and deductive reasoning, the research employs a mono-method quantitative approach through online surveys, collecting responses from 80 participants using snowball sampling. The data was analysed using multiple regression, Pearson correlation, and independent sample t-tests to test the formulated hypotheses. Findings reveal that while environmental awareness alone does not significantly influence willingness to attend, peer behaviour, perceived value for money, and ease of access have positive and significant impacts. Gender-specific differences are noted, with women showing higher price sensitivity and valuing perceived benefits more than men. Practical recommendations include enhancing sustainable transportation options and clearly communicating the value proposition of green events to attract a diverse audience. The study underscores the importance of considering cultural and demographic factors in promoting sustainable practices.13 0Item Restricted To what extent have Vision 2030 policies contributed to the reduction in youth unemployment in Saudi Arabia, and how does this compare to the expected trend in the absence of these policies?(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Muaythir, Abdulaziz Bin; Pandazis, MichaelThis study examines the causal impact of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 policies on youth unemployment using the Synthetic Difference-in-Differences (SDID) methodology. Launched in 2016, Vision 2030 represents Saudi Arabia's ambitious economic transformation program that aims to diversify the economy and create sustainable job opportunities. During youth unemployment in Saudi Arabia fell from 27.3% in 2016 to 16.25% in 2023, this research seeks to determine how much this reduction can be attributed to Vision 2030 policies versus external economic factors. By building artificial counter-facts from a similar oil exporting economies including Kuwait, Russia, UAE, Algeria and Oman, analysis estimates. Vision 2030 policies reduced youth unemployment by about 5.8 percentage points by 2023, which represents 58% of the noticeable decline, the effect was heterogeneous, with the largest effects on young women (7.3 percentage points) of males (4.2 percentage points), and for third Educated youth (6.5 percentage points) compared to those with secondary education (4.9 Percentage points). The time pattern reveals minimal effects during the period 2016-2018, followed by accelerating effects in 2021-2023, indicating increased policy effectiveness with implementation maturation and complementary reforms reach a critical mass.18 0