Exploratory research into Tourism Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, An anthropological Perspective into the socio-cultural environment.

dc.contributor.advisorArgyriou-Roberts, Elia
dc.contributor.authorMaghrabi, Jamal
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-29T16:51:34Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.descriptionThis study is grounded in the anthropology of entrepreneurship, which emphasizes that entrepreneurial behavior is embedded in cultural and social contexts (Pfeilstetter, 2021). Rather than viewing entrepreneurship in purely economic or managerial terms. Thusly an anthropological lens considers how entrepreneurs navigate meanings, values, and informal institutions of their society. For example, In Saudi Arabia entrepreneurs mobilize family ties and networks (Wasta, translated to Nepotism) as key resources (Albihany & Aljarodi, 2024). In tourism entrepreneurship, the socio-cultural domain is pivotal in area of enquiry (Fu et al., 2019). Consequently, culture, society, and institutions collectively guide how Saudi tourism entrepreneurs spot opportunities, start businesses and maintain them. Therefore, understanding an aspect of the social, economic or cultural landscape will lead to important insights into entrepreneurial process in the growing tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation investigates the socio-cultural dimensions of tourism entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia through an anthropological lens, situating the analysis within the transformative context of Vision 2030. As the Kingdom transitions from a rentier economy to a diversified, innovation-driven model, tourism has emerged as a key sector for economic growth. Drawing on qualitative, desk-based methods and grounded in the anthropology of entrepreneurship, this study explores how religious values, gender norms, family and tribal networks, and broader cultural systems influence entrepreneurial behaviour in the tourism sector. The research identifies six key socio-cultural determinants—religious values, gender dynamics, family/tribal affiliations, rentier state legacies, regional variations, and labour policy reforms—and interprets them through conceptual frames such as entrepreneurialization, ethno-preneurship, moral entrepreneurship, and the commodification of identity. Findings reveal that while Vision 2030 has opened new spaces for innovation and inclusivity—particularly for women and youth—entrepreneurs continue to navigate deeply rooted cultural constraints and shifting moral landscapes. The study highlights both the enabling and limiting effects of informal institutions like wasta and et-moone, as well as the tensions between tradition and market logic. Ultimately, this research argues that tourism entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia is an economic phenomenon with an embedded process of identity negotiation and social transformation. It offers strategic implications for policymakers, educators, and practitioners seeking to cultivate inclusive, context-sensitive entrepreneurial ecosystems. By foregrounding culture in economic development, the dissertation contributes to a richer understanding of how entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia adapt, resist, and redefine their socio-economic realities in a time of profound national change.
dc.format.extent25
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14154/76022
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherManchester Metropolitan University
dc.subjectTourism Entrepreneurship
dc.subjectAnthropology of Entrepreneurship
dc.subjectSaudi Arabia
dc.subjectSocio-Cultural Determinants
dc.subjectWasta and Informal Institutions
dc.titleExploratory research into Tourism Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, An anthropological Perspective into the socio-cultural environment.
dc.typeThesis
sdl.degree.departmentFaculty of Business and Law
sdl.degree.disciplineInternational Tourism and Hospitality Management
sdl.degree.grantorManchester Metropolitan University
sdl.degree.nameMSc

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