This paper empirically assesses Saudi Arabia’s industrial policy using data on policy announcements matched to industry-level exports and firm-level outcomes. It first provides a comprehensive overview of the country’s industrial policy landscape, documenting the scale, timing, sectoral...

Attaining education sustainability is indeed important as it ensures the overall economic sustainability of countries and it is directly connected with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-4). However, the literature evidence on the determinants of education sustainability is...

This study examines the short-run dynamics and long-run determinants of bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Jordan during the period of 1995-2024 using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach. Employing a country-pair time series framework, the analysis...

This study examines the impact of Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) on Corporate Environmental Performance (CEP). Furthermore, it explores the mediating role of Green Process Innovation (GPI) in this relationship. Data from 558 employees across registered Saudi Arabian oil and natural...

A strong transportation infrastructure is critical in advancing ICT trade by facilitating the efficient movement of goods and services. This efficiency enhances supply chains and attracts greater foreign direct investment, ultimately supporting technological development and boosting the economy....

Background: This study examines the degree to which cognitive supply chain management (CSCM) indirectly enhances supply chain risk management (SCRM), addressing the lack of specific empirical research concerning the underlying mechanisms of this relationship. Specifically, this study tests the...

Since 2016, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms have improved governance, business regulations, capital markets, the labor market, and the external sector, narrowing structural gaps with frontier economies and improving economic performance. This paper summarizes progress, estimates the output...

Five of the world’s most active and largest sovereign wealth funds are to be found in the Gulf Region: the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and the United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Mubadala and ADQ. These funds not only...

The political, social and economic reforms spearheaded by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman serve the goal of consolidating his rule in the long term. Bin Salman has centralised decision-making in his own hands and is in full control of the country’s politics. Authoritarianism under the...

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the World Bank (WB) have been closely collaborating on disability-assessment reforms and adapting the Holistic Disability Assessment Approach to Best Fit the KSA context. The collaboration was...

This case study examines Saudi Arabia’s bold commitment to reimagining education and training through digital transformation, with FutureX as its flagship initiative. Across the globe, countries are working to equip their populations with skills needed for a rapidly changing world shaped by...

This report offers fresh insights into Saudi Arabia’s labor market transformation over the past decade, highlighting some of the accomplishments in reshaping employment outcomes achieved after implementation of Vision 2030 and the National Labor Market Strategy. Leveraging a rich dataset...

The rapid growth of the gig economy is reshaping traditional employment structures, creating new pathways for entrepreneurial activities, especially for women. Female entrepreneurship has always been a trending issue worldwide, particularly in developing conservative societies where females face...

Female labor force participation (FLFP) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) remains the lowest globally, averaging just 19% in 2023 compared to a global average of 48%. Persistent gender unequal social norms, disproportionate unpaid care responsibilities, restrictive legal frameworks,...

Female labor force participation (FLFP) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) remains the lowest globally, averaging just 19% in 2023 compared to a global average of 48%. Social norms, care responsibilities, restrictive legal frameworks, skills mismatches, and limited access to supportive...

The rapid acceleration of digital transformation in the 21st century presents a dual-edged sword for global sustainability efforts. While digital technologies can significantly advance progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), their unchecked proliferation can...

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become one of the most aggressive external actors in African conflicts, from Ethiopia, Libya and Somalia to Sudan. The leadership in Abu Dhabi obstinately denies its support for belligerents, yet it has maintained it even during the US-Israeli war against Iran...

Saudi Arabia has mixed expectations ahead of Donald Trump’s imminent second presidency. On the one hand, the royal family maintains close business relations with the president-elect and his entourage, which could lead to privileged access to the White House. On the other hand, Trump’s Middle...

Central Asian economies, particularly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, are pursuing increasingly ambitious goals for renewable energy. Apart from China - an established player in the market - it has increasingly been Gulf countries that have been implementing respective projects, particularly Saudi...

On 8 December 2024, the Assad regime in Syria was overthrown by a rebel alliance led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The transitional government under Ahmad al-Sharaa now faces enormous economic, social and political challenges. It has yet to establish control over the country as a whole; and...

This study examines the emergence of international hidden entrepreneurs (IHEs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through an institutional theory lens. An international hidden entrepreneur arises when local regulations impose high costs on an international entrepreneur operating as the legal head of...

A Bonus-Malus System (BMS) is a ratemaking mechanism used in insurance to adjust premiums based on a policyholder's claim history, with the goal of segmenting risk profiles more accurately. A BMS typically comprises three key components: the number of BMS levels, the transition rules dictating...

Although the Middle East is often perceived as politically, economically, and socially unstable, Saudi Arabia offers a different narrative. Inspired by the country's vision (Vision 2030) and the growing body of research exploring its socio-economic transformation, this article examines how...