Gebel, KlausAlzahrani, Ali Ahmed2025-11-132025https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14154/76971Physical activity levels in Saudi Arabia remain low, contributing to rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases, highlighting the need for effective strategies to promote active lifestyles. This thesis explores the policy, cultural, social, and environmental barriers to physical activity in the Gulf region, with a specific focus on the southern region of Saudi Arabia.Physical activity levels in Saudi Arabia remain low, contributing to rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases, highlighting the need for effective strategies to promote active lifestyles. This thesis explores the policy, cultural, social, and environmental barriers to physical activity in the Gulf region, with a specific focus on the southern region of Saudi Arabia. Through three interconnected studies, it examines the complexities of physical activity promotion at both the policy and community levels. The first study was a qualitative study with semi structured interviews with 19 policymakers from Saudi Arabia and Oman, exploring cross-sectoral challenges and facilitators of physical activity (PA) policies. It identified key gaps in policy implementation and intersectoral coordination. The second study was a qualitative study in which 39 PA policy documents from across the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries were analysed, providing a comparative overview that highlights policy inconsistencies and the absence of systematic evaluation mechanisms. The third study was based on interviews with 15 participants from diverse backgrounds in the southern region of Saudi Arabia. It offers a qualitative perspective on how local norms, safety concerns, and social expectations shape individuals' engagement in physical activity. One of the key findings was the need for improved collaboration among government sectors, particularly between health, education, municipal, and sports authorities, to effectively promote physical activity. The research highlights insufficient financial support and the lack of dedicated budgets for PA initiatives, which limits the scalability and sustainability of current efforts. Additionally, the findings underscore the importance of developing culturally adapted interventions that are sensitive to local traditions, gender norms, and environmental constraints specific to the southern region. Safety concerns, limited access to appropriate facilities, and social perceptions around physical activity, especially for women, emerged as critical barriers. The thesis contributes valuable insights for policymakers and public health practitioners by emphasising the importance of context-specific, multisectoral strategies to enhance physical activity participation and reduce health disparities in the region. Recommendations for future research and policy development are provided to further address the barriers identified and promote a healthier, more active population. Key recommendations include strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration to create more integrated approaches, increasing financial support to ensure sustainable initiatives, and aligning physical activity programs with local cultural norms to foster cultural change and greater community acceptance.250enphysical activitypublic healthSaudi ArabiaGCCHealth promotionThesis