Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/10
Browse
2 results
Search Results
Item Restricted AN INVESTIGATION INTO LOCAL CROWD BEHAVIOUR AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES: THE CASE STUDY OF RIYADH SEASON 2024(Bournemouth University, 2025) Alfadel, Abdullah; Whitfield, JulieAs Saudi Arabia strives to promote and position itself as a global hub for events under Vision 2030, events like Riyadh Season are rapidly growing in scale, ambition, and complexity. Understanding and controlling crowd behaviour has become crucial for both safety and providing top-notch visitors experiences as millions of people converge on public destinations. This dissertation investigates crowd behaviour and crowd management strategies during the Riyadh Season 2024, one of the largest events in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The study investigates how behavioural patterns in mega event settings are explained by psychological theories, particularly the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), as well as contagion and convergence theories. The effectiveness of the crowd management strategies used during the event is also investigated by the research. 142 local participants took a part in an online structured questionnaire survey created on google forms and distributed through X platform and WhatsApp, as part of a quantitative research methodology approach. SPSS was used for data analysis, which included multiple regression analysis, descriptive statistics, and Pearson correlation. The findings show while there were high presence of personal intentions on crowd behaviour. Yet, emotional contagion emerged as an effective gauge of actual behaviour, even though TPB components like intentions, subjective norms, and perceived control have a major influence on individual compliance and crowd behaviour. Moreover, findings showed high influence of crowd management effectiveness. While finding also showed areas of improvements and recommendations for emerging trends of using real-time, modern technologies and mobile applications in events management. As the research also find a gap in considering Saudi Arabia's unique sociocultural event environment. Regarding how gender dynamics, national policies (such as Vision 2030), and cultural norms influence crowd behaviour at public events, there is a visible research gap.24 0Item Restricted An Urban Management Framework for Crowd Movements in Hajj: A User-Centric Approach(University of Leeds, 2024-08) Kadi, Abdulrahman Omar; Selim, GehanThis thesis explores the complexities of urban management in the context of crowd movements during mega-events, with a particular focus on the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj. The research aims to develop a user-centred management framework that enhances both crowd movement conditions and user experience, addressing the limitations of traditional top-down management approaches. Through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates theories from event management, crowd dynamics, and user experience, the study offers a novel perspective on managing large-scale gatherings, where the safety and satisfaction of participants are paramount. The research establishes the importance of urban management in facilitating effective crowd movements during mega-events, particularly addressing the unique challenges of Hajj, a religious event in Makkah that annually draws millions of pilgrims. The study identifies critical variables and correlations within urban management, event activities, and user experience, highlighting the need for a user-centric approach. The research examines urban management variables influencing crowd movements and analyses existing literature in order to identify gaps in the current understanding of crowd dynamics, particularly the formation and impact of collective behaviour during mass gatherings. A significant focus is placed on the pivotal role of user experience in shaping innovative crowd management strategies, employing tools such as User Journey Mapping (UJM) to dissect the collective experiences of pilgrims. The thesis further contextualises the study with a historical background of the Islamic pilgrimage, detailing the Holy Sites' rituals, circulation patterns, and significance. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and observational studies, to gather data during Hajj in 2021 and 2022. This data presents an in-depth analysis of crowd movement conditions during Hajj, identifying key challenges and proposing strategies to improve crowd control and user experience. The analysis from the user's perspective identifies touchpoints that influence crowd dynamics and underscores the importance of considering users' needs, expectations, and experiences in designing effective crowd management strategies. Moreover, the research introduces an urban management framework comprising three overarching themes: Event Management, Crowd Movement, and User Experience, each divided into sub-themes that collectively form a comprehensive approach to managing crowd movements during mega-events. The research synthesises these findings, relating them to the initial research questions and theoretical framework. It advocates for a user-centric strategy prioritising inclusivity, safety, and user satisfaction. It introduces the User-Centric Management Canvas (UCMC), a practical tool designed to guide event organisers in adopting this new approach. This framework offers a structured yet flexible method adaptable to various mega-event contexts. In conclusion, this thesis marks a significant contribution to urban management, providing a blueprint for future research and practical applications in crowd management. It sets the stage for a paradigm shift towards more empathetic and effective management of mega-events, potentially enhancing participants' safety and spiritual fulfilment at events like Hajj, with global applicability to other large-scale events.67 0