Between Islamists and Liberals: Saudi Arabia's New “Islamo-Liberal” Reformists

2004 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Lacroix
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Royal Family ◽  
Religious Reform ◽  
Religious Doctrine ◽  
Democratic Change ◽  
The Government

The last few years in Saudi Arabia have witnessed the rise of a new trend made up of former Islamists and liberals, Sunnis and Shi'ites, calling for democratic change within an Islamic framework through a revision of the official Wahhabi religious doctrine. These intellectuals have managed to gain visibility on the local scene, notably through a series of manifestos and petitions, and their project has even received support from among the Royal Family. Indeed, the government has since then taken a number of preliminary steps towards political and religious reform. But does this mean that Saudi Arabia is about to enter the era of Post-Wahhabism?

scholarly journals The Islamic Utopia

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-136
Author(s):  
Amr Sabet
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Royal Family ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽  
Religious Reform ◽  
Window Dressing ◽  
Opening Up

This book is an interesting exposition of the reform discourse and reformironies in the desert kingdom of Saudi Arabia ... a country ambivalent in itssense of security and insecurity, content in its presumed “orthodoxy,” uncertainabout where it fits in this world and about its future, and unsure as to whatextent it can continue to linger in its self-imposed cocoon – and yet, by thesame token, how far it can go in opening up to a perceived threatening world.All of this ambivalence, as one senses while reading the book, hinders, obstructs,and consequently undermines King Abdullah’s alleged attempts at reform.In fact, as Hammond points out, many of these reforms have beennothing but “window dressing … driven entirely by the desire to protect theextraordinary powers of the Saudi royal family,” as well as by a felt necessityto appease the Americans (p. 150).Despite the king’s efforts to project the image of himself as a reformist,one “religious reform” (ṣaḥwah) figure describes him as simply being “outof the arena” (p. 137). Reforms, particularly judicial reforms, which Hammonddescribes as Abdullah’s “central plank,” are defined by a Najdi contextas well as in Najdi terms (Najd is the central region of the Arabian Peninsula).The result has been a polity “trapped” within a pre-modern framework and ...

Motivations and attitudes toward domestic tourism in Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-37
Author(s):  
Mourad Mansour ◽  
Alhassan G Mumuni
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Domestic Environment ◽  
Domestic Tourism ◽  
Tourism Destinations ◽  
Tourism Information ◽  
The Government ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Tourism Organization ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

AbstractBeginning with the establishment of a Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities’ (SCTA) in 2000, there have been official attempts by the government of Saudi Arabia to encourage domestic tourism in order to tap into the huge amounts that Saudis spend annually on vacations. This paper examines the motivations and attitudes of consumers toward tourism destinations and activities within the country (domestic tourism). Using data collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire, the study finds that familiarity and trust of the local environment, perceptions of the safer domestic environment, and limitations imposed by respondents’ vacation timing are the primary motives for choosing to spend their vacations locally, while lack of quality domestic tourist sites and services (including entertainment facilities), lack of tourism information, insufficient tourism organization services, and the harsh local environmental conditions during summer are factors that ‘push’ people from spending the vacations locally. Attitudes toward domestic tourism are generally negative, although there are significant differences in attitudes between respondents who prefer domestic destinations and those who prefer to travel out of Kingdom. Implications of the findings are outlined and discussed.

Current Status of Knowledge and Awareness of Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asirvatham Alwin Robert ◽  
Ahmad Dakeel Al Awad ◽  
Mohamed Abdulaziz Al Dawish
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Management Training ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
The Government

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease, and the complications may be life-threatening; however, with proper treatment and control measures, it can be very well-managed. Self-management training and education of diabetes are critical in diabetes care and management. It is essential that patients with diabetes must have a comprehensive understanding of the nature of the disease, risk factors, complications, and possible treatment modalities to attenuate the complications. Over the last few years, DM in Saudi Arabia has been rapidly growing at an alarming rate. It has affected around one-fifth of the adult population, and by 2030, the numbers are predicted to rise further and exceed more than double the present number. An estimated tenfold increase has been reported over the past three decades in Saudi Arabia. However, there has not been much research focusing on understanding the knowledge and awareness of DM in Saudi Arabia as compared to developed nations. This review aims to present an overview of the current knowledge and awareness level of DM among the population of Saudi Arabia through an extensive review of the currently available literature. The review findings could be of immense assistance to the government, healthcare systems, educational institutions, and researchers to develop evidence-based programs, policies, and guidelines towards increasing the knowledge and awareness about diabetes and its management, so that early detection and management can be ensured to control the escalating burden of diabetes, in Saudi Arabia.

scholarly journals Parents’ Perceptions of Early Interventions and Related Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Saudi Arabia

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faihan Alotaibi ◽  
Nabil Almalki
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Early Intervention ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Government

<p class="apa">The present study sought to examine parents’ perceptions of early interventions and related services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Saudi Arabia. In this study a survey was distributed to a sample of 80 parents with children who have ASD. Parents also were asked open-ended questions to enable them to provide suggestions. The findings indicate that parents have varying perceptions of early interventions and related services. However, they seem to agree that these services are important in assisting their children. Accordingly, parents have suggested that the government needs to increase these services by providing more centers for children with ASD in Saudi Arabia, providing more specialists to deal with children with ASD, promoting inclusion in regular schools and providing more information on early intervention.</p>

Role of foreign direct investment – As a strategic move towards growth, economic integration and development

2021 ◽  
pp. 002072092199659
Author(s):  
Rima H BinSaeed
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Foreign Investors ◽  
Technological Infrastructure ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Vision 2030 ◽  
International Investors ◽  
The Government

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with its developed economy and advanced technological infrastructure has shown a major progress in business opportunities for overseas investors. Saudi Arabia’s education sector is one of the most attractive investment opportunities for the foreign investors Earlier in 2019, 9 new foreign education enterprises were granted investor licenses, amounting to a total of $141mn of investment deals. The Saudi government introduced Saudi Vision 2030, an aspiring development plan that foresees vital prospects for foreign investors in the regions of education, housing, health and energy, amongst others. In 2016, Saudi Arabia permitted the procurement of 100% of assets by foreign investors in retail and wholesale trade. A privatisation program has also been introduced. The government also attempts to attract FDI in the regions of renewable energy and entertainment. A foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a vital role in local and international economy. Several opportunities and ventures are encouraged by Saudi Arabia to improve the standard of business and economical environments. To accomplish the finances for the projects SAGIA, the lawful authority is there to smooth the progress of investments, which encourages Saudi FDI prospective to grow simultaneously. FDI has a greater scope for diverse businesses and investing in to underdeveloped industrial sectors. FDI plays an important role in boosting the economy of Saudi Arabia by managing international investors who shares the huge portion of 34% in General GDP (Gross domestic product) of Saudi Arabia. This paper aims to review the literature to shed light on the steps taken by the government to increase FDI in the country and what are the current trends that are helping to fulfil VISION 2030.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic determinants and inequalities in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
National Level ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
School Level ◽  
Gulf Region ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Socioeconomic Determinants ◽  
The Government ◽  
Concentration Indices

Abstract Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly becoming a challenge worldwide, causing high mortality and morbidity. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of NCDs globally and the highest in the Arabian Gulf region. Epidemiological data indicate that NCDs are responsible for 70 % of all deaths in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to examine the socioeconomic determinants and inequalities in the prevalence of NCDs in Saudi Arabia. Methods Data from the Saudi Family Health Survey conducted in 2018 by the General Authority for Statistics were used for this study. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the socioeconomic factors associated with the prevalence of NCDs. Moreover, the concentration curve and concentration indices were used to assess inequalities in the prevalence of NCDs. Results Among the 11,527 respondents, the prevalence of NCDs was 32.15 %. The prevalence of NCDs was higher among women and among elderly respondents aged ≥ 60 years. With respect to the determinants of the prevalence of NCDs, the logistic regression results showed that the likelihood of reporting NCDs was lower among people with a higher education (OR: 0.599, 95 % CI: 0.497–0.723, p < 0.01) compared with that of people with an education below the primary school level. Other factors significantly associated with the prevalence of NCDs were age, marital status, nationality, and region of residence. The inequality analysis showed that at the national level, the prevalence of NCDs was concentrated among less educated people (concentration index = − 0.338, p < 0.01), but with significant regional variations. Gender disaggregation showed that both income-based and education-based concentration indices were significantly negative among women, indicating that the prevalence of NCDs is concentrated among women with a lower income level and with less education. Conclusions The findings of this study are important for policymakers to combat both the increasing prevalence of and socio-economic inequalities in NCDs. The government should develop targeted intervention strategies to control NCDs and achieve health equality considering socio-economic status. Future policies should target women and the lower educated population in Saudi Arabia.

scholarly journals Measuring the Efficiency of Health Services Areas in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA): A Comparative Study between the Years 2014 and 2006

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanaa Mohamed Aly Helal ◽  
Haga Abdelrahman Elimam
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Data Envelopment Analysis ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Data Envelopment ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽  
Average Production ◽  
Government Hospitals ◽  
The Government ◽  
Using Data

The study aimed to assess the efficiency of health services provided by the government hospitals in various districts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The number of beds at hospitals, doctors, nursing staff and paramedical categories were used as inputs for the model. The average productivity efficiency of government hospitals in the districts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2014 was 92.3%; whereas, the average internal production efficiency of these districts in the provision of health services through their respective hospitals was 94.7%; and the average external productivity efficiency in the different cities of the districts in Kingdom of the Saudi Arabia was 97.5%. It has been found that the average overall productivity efficiency was 90.2%, concerning the relative efficiency indicators of government hospitals, which were based on the hospitals’ distribution of Saudi Arabian districts in 2006. An analysis of the indicator showed that the average production efficiency of the services provided (internally) by the districts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was 94.7%, and that the average of the external production efficiency for such services was 95.4%. The Data Envelopment Analysis is a successful technique in measuring the performance efficiency of hospitals and it also assists to identify possible improvement and reduction in cost.

scholarly journals Ownership And Firm Performance: The Experience Of Saudi Arabias Emerging Economy

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abuzar M. A. Eljelly
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Stock Market ◽  
Market Performance ◽  
Return On Assets ◽  
Private Companies ◽  
Return On Equity ◽  
Net Profit ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

This study examines the relationship between firm ownership and corporate performance in Saudi Arabia, using a sample of Listed Private Companies (LPCs) and Listed Government Related Companies (LGRCs). The study compares the operating and market performance of the LPCs and LGRCs during the period 2000-2003 and found that, in general, LGRCs outperform or match the performance of LPCs. More specifically, the study finds that LGRCs tend to mostly outperform LPCs in terms of profitability, as measured by Return on equity (ROE) and Net Profit Margin (NPM), operating efficiently, as measured in terms of Return on assets (ROA), and match them in their stock market risk adjusted performance. The study concludes that these results may have implications for the issue of privatization programs which the government has recently started.

scholarly journals Adopting and Implementing a Government Cloud in Saudi Arabia, an Integral Part of Vision 2030

10.29007/848q ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed O. Alannsary ◽  
Yasser M. Hausawi
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Resource Sharing ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Software As A Service ◽  
Government Sector ◽  
Vision 2030 ◽  
The Government ◽  
Cloud Users

Cloud computing is a relatively mature and robust technology that has promised its users with several proven advantages, such as cost reduction, immediate scalability, and resource sharing. The Cloud is built based on providing resources as services, such as providing Infrastructure, Platform, and Software as a Service. Such approach enables Cloud users to access these services based on their demand. In the government sector of Saudi Arabia, adoption and utilization of the Cloud is minimal. Despite being adopted officially, the Cloud has not been yet implemented properly. In our work we introduce how the government sector in Saudi Arabia can adopt and implement a Cloud Solution through utilizing its services and while considering issues related to its security.

scholarly journals The effect of using modern technologies based on communication theory to develop the skills of reciting the Holy Quran among students of the curriculum system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: أثر استخدام التقنيات الحديثة القائمة على النظرية الاتصالية لتنمية مهارات تلاوة القرآن الكريم لدى طلبة نظام المقررات بالمملكة العربية السعودية

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Aied Mohammed Mamdouh, Essa Ahmad Alfaifi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Communication Theory ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Government Schools ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Correct Reading ◽  
Secondary School Curriculum ◽  
The Government

This study aims at identifying the Effect of Using Technology and Modern Techniques (Ayat) that is based on the connectivism theory, in developing Quran recitation skills among curriculum's students of secondary school in Saudi Arabia. In order to achieve the study's objectives, the researcher uses the semi-experimental method. The study examines a sample of (71) students of secondary school curriculum system in the first semester of the academic year 1438H - 1439H in the government schools in Riyadh. They were divided into two equal groups (experimental and control). Students of the experimental group were taught according to the software program based on connectivism theory, and the others were taught in the traditional way. An oral test is used as a study tool to measure the existence of recitation skills (correct reading, smooth reading, recitation, and chanting), and to measure the Effect of Using Technology and Modern Technique in developing these skills. After analyzing the statistical data, the results of the study indicated the Effect of Using of the Modern Techniques, based on the connectivism theory, in the development of recitation skills (correct reading, smooth reading, recitation, and chanting) among curriculum's students of secondary school in Saudi Arabia. The study also showed a statistically significant difference of (0.05) between the average scores of the two groups in the post-measurement of the recitation test in the recitation skills such as (correct reading, smooth reading, recitation, and chanting) after adjusting the pre-measurement.

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