Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Strategic Partnerships Between Saudi Arabia and International Technology Companies amid Vision 2030: Drivers and Outcomes(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ALSHAHRANI, NIDAA SAEED G; Dan, ColeThis study examines how Saudi Arabia is using international technology partnerships to support its Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to reduce dependence on oil and build a knowledge-based economy. Partnerships with multinational enterprises (MNEs) such as Google Cloud, Oracle, and NVIDIA are especially important because they bring advanced capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and semiconductors: sectors viewed as central to digital transformation agenda of Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030. The aim of the study is to investigate how such partnerships promote Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation under Vision 2030. The literature review employed three main theories: Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), which examines governance and risks; the Resource- Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities, which focus on ownership and renewal of resources; and the Triple Helix (TH), which focuses on collaboration between government, industry and academia. The research adopted a pragmatist philosophy and abductive approach, applying a case study design with purposive sampling of secondary data, including policy documents, corporate press releases, consultancy reports, and legal analyses. Thematic analysis was used to generate codes and themes across four research questions. The findings show Saudi Arabia engages in partnerships to achieve five key goals: signalling international credibility, accelerating infrastructure growth, ensuring data sovereignty, creating economic multipliers, and using cost advantages. Governance is characterised by hybrid contracts, centralised convening bodies, jurisdictional innovation, and links between infrastructure and energy policy. Domestic benefits are visible in localised learning systems, transfer of knowledge, workforce development, and spillovers to suppliers and small firms. However, challenges include dependency on foreign hardware, high energy use, legal complexities, skills shortages, and risks of passive learning. The study concludes that although partnerships have accelerated digital transformation, their long-term success depends on strengthening domestic capabilities and embedding sustainable governance models.3 0Item Restricted Analysing Operational Efficiency in Saudi Industrial Factories Using Labor-to-Production Ratios and Interpretable Machine Learning Technique.(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alwalan, Abdulaziz; Sotiris, MoschoyiannisThis dissertation investigates plant-level efficiency of individual factories in Saudi factories, highlighting significant voids in the literature at the factory level that have attracted limited scholarly work. The labor-to-production ratio provides a measure of plant-level(factory-level) efficiency, which is a simple and practical measure that is of particular utility in settings where machine-level data are limited. The paper attempts to understand efficiency variations with respect to types of products and plant sizes, among other variables, while also trying to estimate interpretable models that have easily understandable classification boundaries of efficiency. The data set was collected from the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and covered five years of monthly data. After applying stringent inclusion criteria and preprocessing, a stratified sampling of 50 factories was randomly drawn from three size classes and five main product categories. The framework of methodology comprised descriptive statistics, inferential hypothesis tests, and interpretable machine learning approaches. Descriptive analysis assessed distributional properties and pointed out the occurrence of asymmetry in the efficiency measures. Inferential analysis utilized Shapiro–Wilk and Levene’s tests, followed by Two-way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and Tukey HSD tests, with the objective of detecting group distinctions. In addition, Decision Tree models were considered based on two approaches: Fixed Parameters Evaluation (Entropy and Gini experiments) and Per-Fold Parameter Optimisation. Results revealed that the type of product was the main efficiency predictor, with plastic bag production factories always performing best relative to the production of concrete. Conversely, the factory size failed to show significant explanation power, with the medium factory size sometimes showing excellent performance but inconsistently so. The statistical tests confirmed that the product type variances were large, while the effects of factory size and factory size-product type interaction were non-significant. In addition, Decision Tree experiments emphasized the balance between accuracy and stability, and it was determined that the entropy-based configuration was the most viable alternative. Overall, this research provides significant theoretical and practical contributions through the provision of empirical evidence on factory-level efficiency in Saudi Arabia. The findings provide significant implications for policymakers and managers interested in optimizing resource use and meeting the target of Vision 2030, while also demonstrating the methodological strength of combining statistical inference with interpretable machine learning models.9 0Item Restricted The Role of Soft Power and Mega-Events in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 – A systematic review(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almutawa, Abdullah; Lynsey, MelhuishSaudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 represents an ambitious national transformation programme aimed at reducing dependence on oil, diversifying the economy, and strengthening the Kingdom’s global influence. In order to achieving these goals strategic use of soft power and mega-events to reshape international perceptions, attract investment, and stimulate growth in tourism, culture, entertainment, and sport is being done. This systematic review critically examines how these instruments contribute to Vision 2030 by analysing peer-reviewed studies, comparative case literature, government publications, and grey literature from 2015 to 2024. The findings show that mega-events and soft power initiatives play a significant role in expanding tourism revenues, accelerating infrastructure development, enhancing global positioning, and supporting social transformation. They also reveal ongoing challenges, including criticisms of sportswashing, questions around sustainability, and the difficulty of assessing long-term outcomes. Based on this evidence, the study offers recommendations centred on improving transparency, strengthening legacy planning, investing in local capacity, and enhancing the integration of cultural and sporting initiatives within broader development strategies. While the review provides a comprehensive synthesis, it is limited by the relatively recent nature of Vision 2030, the scarcity of long-term observed studies, and reliance on grey literature where peer reviewed sources are still emerging. These limitations highlight the need for future research that tracks long-term impacts of Saudi Arabia’s soft power and mega-events over time and examines their effectiveness through primary data.26 0Item Restricted Assessing how Social Media Influences Tourist Decision-Marketing Concerns in Saudi Arabia Related to Vision 2030(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Albalawi، Ashuq Mohammed; Conyard, EmilyThe context of the research is the novelty of both social media and tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and although “electronic word of mouth (e-WoM)” via social media has an impact in marketing around the world (Bushara et al., 2023), and directly on tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Alsheikh, Aziz and Alsheikh, 2021), the extent of that impact is not known. Studies on the role of social media applications (Al-Hazmi, 2021) and marketing (Bahurmuz and Al-Kubaisy, 2022) on tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have been completed because it is a growth area (Statista, 2023), but other factors of tourism, such as culture, have been more deeply studied in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Madkhali, 2020; Sudigdo and Khalifa, 2020).12 0Item Restricted From Religious Legitimacy to Cultural Nationhood: How Vision 2030 Coordinates the Reconstruction of Saudi Identity Through Heritage, Architecture, and the Creative Economy(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alotaibi, Layla; Acikgoz, GizemThis thesis examines how Saudi Arabia deploys culture as a strategic instrument of governance, identity construction, and soft power under Vision 2030. It addresses a gap in existing scholarship that often treats cultural reform as symbolic or externally oriented, rather than as a tightly coordinated state project entrenched within institutional systems. The central argument is that Vision 2030 represents a shift in Saudi legitimacy. This shift is from an overwhelming reliance on religious authority toward a diversified cultural and nationalist framework that operates domestically and internationally. Methodologically, the thesis employs qualitative analysis of policy documents, institutional structures, cultural initiatives, along with case studies on AlUla, the Saudi Architecture Characters Map Initiative, and the creative economy industry. The findings demonstrate that Saudi cultural governance is highly centralized and deliberate, shaping national identity through curated heritage narratives, spatial and aesthetic regulation, and institutionalized cultural production. The thesis concludes that culture under Vision 2030 functions as a form of symbolic governance, revealing both the generative power and selective limits of state-led cultural transformation.50 0Item Restricted IPO Governance in Saudi Arabia's Energy Sector: Legal Structures, Compliance, and Reform under Vision 2030(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Aljohani, Mohammed; Nigro, CasimiroThis thesis examines the legal and institutional dimensions of initial public offerings (IPOs) in Saudi Arabia’s energy sector, with a focus on how corporate governance, compliance, and ESG mechanisms are formalized within state-owned enterprises (SOEs) undergoing partial market exposure. IPOs in this context are not solely financial transactions but are also instruments of institutional transformation—tools that enable alignment with international standards while accommodating sovereign policy priorities. Employing a doctrinal legal methodology supported by a case study of Saudi Aramco, the research investigates how statutory provisions, Capital Market Authority regulations, and corporate governance codes shape the IPO process, particularly in relation to board independence, disclosure obligations, and sustainability oversight. The findings reveal that although the Saudi regulatory framework demonstrates formal convergence with global governance norms, its implementation reflects selective adaptation, shaped by the continued presence of state ownership through entities such as the Public Investment Fund. The thesis further explores how IPO governance structures are designed to advance transparency, investor confidence, and ESG integration, while retaining flexibility for national development strategies under Vision 2030. In doing so, it contributes to corporate governance literature by offering a nuanced understanding of hybrid regulatory models, where public-sector priorities and market-facing reforms coexist. Ultimately, the study argues that IPOs in Saudi Arabia’s energy sector function as calibrated mechanisms of governance modernization, balancing legal compliance, institutional credibility, and sovereign interests, rather than serving as vehicles of full privatization or market liberalization.14 0Item Restricted Environmental Impact Assessment of Solid Waste Management in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Opportunities(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Almutairi, Mohammed; Barker, Adam; Lauwerijssen, RachelThis study examines the environmental impacts of solid waste management in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the country’s continued dependence on landfilling, limited recycling, and the slow adoption of waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies. These challenges contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, environmental pollution, and inefficient resource use. The research evaluates the performance of current waste-management strategies, identifies operational, policy, and technological gaps, and proposes solutions aligned with international best practices. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining document analysis with survey data collected from practitioners, policymakers, and academics. Descriptive statistics were used to assess operational effectiveness and policy performance, while thematic analysis provided deeper qualitative insights. Findings show that Saudi Arabia generates more than 15 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, exceeding global per-capita averages. While waste collection is perceived as moderately efficient, source segregation remains low, and recycling systems are still in early development. Barriers to implementing WtE include high costs, infrastructure limitations, and low public awareness. The study concludes that improving policy coordination, strengthening enforcement, and investing in technological innovation are essential to achieving Vision 2030 goals. It recommends expanding recycling infrastructure, increasing WtE initiatives, and enhancing public awareness to support a circular and sustainable waste-management system in Saudi Arabia.9 0Item Restricted A Case Study on National Branding via X: The Role of Government Public Relation Accounts in Shaping Saudi Youth Attitudes Towards Saudi Vision 2030(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Saad, Albaqami; Marcus, MessnerThis study investigated how Saudi government public relations accounts on X influence Saudi youth perceptions of Vision 2030 as a national brand. It aimed to determine whether exposure to official digital communication strengthens awareness, national pride, and engagement among youth audiences, and to evaluate how message alignment, interactivity, and credibility shape their perceptions and participation. The research relied on two theoretical frameworks. Agenda Setting Theory explains how repeated exposure to official content influences public priorities, while Nation Branding Theory examines how state-led communication shapes national identity, legitimacy, and public attachment to national transformation initiatives. A mixed methods sequential explanatory design supported the achievement of the study objectives. The quantitative phase used an online survey completed by 400 Saudi youth aged 18 to 35 from both local universities and Saudi students studying in the United States. The qualitative phase included semi-structured interviews with ten participants selected from the survey pool to provide deeper interpretations of the patterns identified in the quantitative results. Quantitative analysis explored relationships between exposure to government communication, perception, engagement behavior, and national pride. Qualitative analysis used a thematic approach to identify recurring meanings that illustrated how youth interpret and experience Vision 2030 communication on X. The results showed that youth hold strong awareness of Vision 2030, positive perceptions of government communication efforts, and a high sense of national pride associated with official messaging. Message alignment with youth aspirations played an important role in shaping perception and emotional connection. Youth who interacted more frequently with official content tended to express stronger attachment and identification with Vision 2030. Differences appeared between participants inside Saudi Arabia and those living abroad, with domestic students showing higher levels of behavioral engagement and international students demonstrating wider interpretive diversity. The qualitative findings identified four core themes. Empowerment, national pride, digital participation, and cautious trust highlighted how youth view Vision 2030 as both a personal and collective reform initiative that connects individual ambition with national progress. The integration of both data strands confirmed strong convergence between numerical and narrative evidence. The findings showed that youth feel emotionally connected to Vision 2030 but may limit behavioral participation because of cultural expectations and limited opportunities for dialogic engagement on official platforms. Most of the proposed hypotheses were supported, affirming that government digital communication plays an important role in enhancing awareness, national unity, and emotional identification among Saudi youth. The study offers practical implications for improving government communication strategies. Authentic content, clear alignment with youth values, and interactive communication practices help build trust and increase participation. A communication style that reflects local cultural expectations while also appealing to global digital norms strengthens credibility and inclusivity. Several limitations were recognized. The sample does not represent all Saudi youth, the focus on a single platform excludes behavior on other digital channels, and the cross-sectional design captures perceptions from only one moment in Vision 2030’s timeline. Future research should use longitudinal and cross-platform designs to examine how youth engagement evolves as national communication strategies expand. This study contributes to communication and nation branding scholarship by demonstrating how digital government communication shapes public perception, emotional identity, and national unity. It presents a Saudi case model that shows how agenda-setting and nation-branding principles interact within a digital governance environment and provides evidence-based recommendations to enhance message resonance, transparency, and interactivity to support greater youth participation in Vision 2030.36 0Item Restricted The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Supply Chain Optimization in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) AlQahtani, Abdullah Saeed; Khobzi, HamidThis dissertation examines the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on supply chain optimization in Saudi Arabia, with particular emphasis on its alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives. AI technologies such as machine learning, predictive analytics, robotic process automation, and the Internet of Things are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance efficiency, resilience, and sustainability within supply chain operations. However, despite growing national interest, empirical research focusing on AI adoption in the Saudi supply chain context remains limited. The study adopts a qualitative, interpretivist approach based on multiple secondary case studies drawn from peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2025. The analysis is guided by the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, supported by the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model, to examine both adoption drivers and process-level applications across key sectors, including telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, and national mega-projects. Findings indicate that AI adoption in Saudi supply chains is most advanced in planning, forecasting, and logistics delivery, while challenges persist in system integration, data quality, workforce readiness, and organizational resistance to change. Environmental factors such as Vision 2030 initiatives and government support act as strong enablers, although adoption remains concentrated among large organizations and flagship projects. The study concludes that while AI has significant potential to transform Saudi supply chains, its full benefits depend on improved digital integration, skills development, and supportive policy frameworks.45 0Item Restricted An Evaluation of the Transformation of the Public Libraries in Saudi Arabia – Focusing on their Services, Staff, and Patrons.(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alshehri, Danea; Aarti, SehgalBackground. Saudi Vision 2030 prioritizes rethinking public libraries as vibrant cultural, learning, and digital engagement centers from passive repository spaces. While flagship centers such as Ithra Library and King Fahad National Library are upgraded, there is minimal empirical work that explores how reforms are experienced by users and workers, particularly in community and regional centers. Aims. The research assesses the effect of Vision 2030 reforms on Saudi public libraries in terms of services, staff role, and user interaction, and measures alignment with cultural and educational goals. Methods. A mixed-methods approach combined a bilingual online user survey (n = 54) with a managerial survey of three senior library system leaders. Saudi public libraries were purposely selected to include flagship, regional, and community libraries. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive analysis, whereas qualitative responses were analyzed thematically using Institutional Change Theory and Public Sphere Theory. Results. User responses revealed high reliance on legacy services (book lending 20.83%), followed by study/group rooms (13.89%) and digital services (12.5%). Low attendance at cultural events was reported (43% fewer than three times yearly; 28% never). Positive individual and social impact was realized by 50% of the respondents; 83% of the respondents valued staff support. Managerial data corroborated core service stability, cultural programming increase, and high staff development, but commented on uneven innovation facilities and low digital literacy programs. Conclusions. Vision 2030 has broadened the social role of Saudi public libraries through hybrid service models. To maintain momentum, national coordination, investment in rural infrastructure, and further outreach—most critically for innovation and digital competencies—are necessary.25 0