Exploring the Interplay of Female Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in the KSA Towards Saudi Vision 2030

Abstract

In recent years, the KSA has undergone significant socio-economic transformations under the Saudi Vision 2030 agenda, strategically positioning entrepreneurship, specifically female entrepreneurship, as a national priority. These transformative reforms have simultaneously created new opportunities and presented ongoing challenges for female entrepreneurs, especially within the KSA's traditionally patriarchal institutional environment. This study critically explores the lived experiences of Saudi female entrepreneurs, examining their interactions within the entrepreneurial ecosystem and assessing how ecosystem conditions function as both enablers and barriers to entrepreneurial engagement. While extensive scholarship has examined entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Western context, there is a limited understanding of how these ecosystems operate within gendered institutional settings like the KSA. Using a qualitative methodology, this research involved semi-structured interviews with 42 participants, comprising 26 Saudi female entrepreneurs and 16 key entrepreneurial ecosystem actors. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify significant themes at the institutional, organisational, and individual levels. The findings reveal a complex landscape in which recent institutional reforms have significantly enhanced female entrepreneurs' access to markets, financial resources, and formal support mechanisms. Nevertheless, persistent informal institutional constraints, including deeply rooted gender norms, social class distinctions, geographic disparities, and reliance on Wasta, continue to influence entrepreneurial experiences and opportunities substantially. The study demonstrates that Saudi female entrepreneurs actively participate in ecosystem development through resilience, mentorship, collaboration, and advocacy for inclusive policy reform. This research highlights the intricate interplay between female entrepreneurship and the evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem within the KSA's socio-economic context. Entrepreneurial outcomes result from the dynamic interaction of enabling factors and individual characteristics. Furthermore, the extent to which Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives are internalised and effectively operationalised significantly influences entrepreneurial trajectories. Consequently, Saudi female entrepreneurs employ diverse strategies: some continue to be restricted by structural impediments, whereas others strategically navigate and exploit emerging opportunities to advance their entrepreneurial goals.