Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030

Abstract

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has undergone major economic and social reform under Saudi Vision 2030, which targets greater inclusion of women in the entrepreneurial landscape. Despite these shifts, female entrepreneurs, particularly those managing low-resilience resource-constrained small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), continue to face challenges. This thesis explores the experiences of 20 female entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia to examine the challenges, opportunities, and institutional support mechanisms shaping their experience of running a business. Drawing on culture theory, institutional theory, and resource bricolage theory, the thesis investigates how women mobilise cultural capital, informal networks, and adaptive strategies to navigate financial, regulatory, and sociocultural constraints. The analysis is based on qualitative methodology, with semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis used to uncover themes across participants’ experiences. The findings indicate that cultural and network bricolage are critical for female entrepreneurs to overcome systemic limitations. Informal support systems, including family and community networks, are identified as essential for access to finance, mentorship, and operational resilience. However, challenges remain in accessing formal capital, navigating bureaucratic processes, and overcoming entrenched gender norms. The thesis also reveals the inadequacy of current policy frameworks. In response, several practical and social implications of this research are highlighted. On a practical level, gender-sensitive financial instruments, structured mentorship programmes, and inclusive regulatory reforms are proposed as solutions. These elements are crucial to foster resilience and sustainability among female-led SMEs. On a social level, the thesis shows the importance of these measures for ensuring that Saudi Arabia achieves its Vision 2030 goals, not only by increasing women’s economic involvement but also by changing their social prospects within this unique sociocultural and economic context. Ultimately, this thesis contributes to understanding how entrepreneurship is embedded in the Saudi sociocultural context. Moreover, it offers a framework for empowering female entrepreneurs to become key agents of economic diversification and national development under Vision 2030. In presenting its findings and implications, this thesis offers a valuable and original in-depth discussion of the challenges, drivers, and unique features of this specific type of entrepreneurship, with potential ramifications that extend beyond the chosen developing-country context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030.