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Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses / AHOOD ALHAGBANI

Swansea University Author: AHOOD ALHAGBANI

  • E-Thesis under embargo until: 18th March 2031

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.71646

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is at the heart of Saudi Vision 2030, with knowledge-intensive businesses (KIBs) expected to play a leading role in driving innovation, economic diversification, and broader social transformation. Despite major policy reforms and investment, uncertainty remains over how the entrepre...

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Published: Swansea 2026
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Jones, P., Ebie, S., and Cotterell, D.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71646
first_indexed 2026-03-19T16:11:10Z
last_indexed 2026-03-20T05:32:08Z
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recordtype RisThesis
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Despite major policy reforms and investment, uncertainty remains over how the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia (KSA) supports or restricts the development of transformational entrepreneurship (TE): the creation of businesses with a mission to be innovative, ethical, and socially impactful. This thesis addresses that gap by examining the opportunities and challenges facing KIBs in the KSA, the influence of EE actors and factors, and the role of digital technology in shaping the adoption of TE.The thesis is underpinned by institutional theory, the triple helix model, and diffusion of innovations theory. A qualitative approach is adopted, drawing on data from 32 semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs and EE representatives. Thematic analysis reveals four major themes: the distinctive nature of KIB entrepreneurship, the enabling and constraining features of the EE, the impact of digitalisation, and the extent of TE adoption.The findings indicate that Saudi Vision 2030 reforms and the increasing prevalence of support mechanism create unprecedented opportunities for KIBs. However, challenges such as regulatory inconsistency, bureaucracy, cultural resistance to risk-taking, and weak coordination between EE actors constrain the realisation of TE&#x2019;s full potential.Digital technology acts as a critical enabler, supporting scalability and visibility for KIBs. However, its full potential is constrained by persistent challenges, including shortages of skilled labour, high operational costs, and limited access to finance.Evidence of TE is visible in socially driven, future-oriented businesses, although its adoption remains fragile in the face of institutional and cultural frictions. This thesis makes a valuable contribution by extending the scope of research on EEs, TE, and digital entrepreneurship to an under-researched emerging economy. It shows that entrepreneurship in the KSA is not only shaped by but also reshapes the EE through visible role models and shifting cultural and institutional practices. 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spelling 2026-03-19T16:20:09.4929794 v2 71646 2026-03-19 Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses c254ddb224309a75af3093d24aaca6d9 AHOOD ALHAGBANI AHOOD ALHAGBANI true false 2026-03-19 Entrepreneurship is at the heart of Saudi Vision 2030, with knowledge-intensive businesses (KIBs) expected to play a leading role in driving innovation, economic diversification, and broader social transformation. Despite major policy reforms and investment, uncertainty remains over how the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia (KSA) supports or restricts the development of transformational entrepreneurship (TE): the creation of businesses with a mission to be innovative, ethical, and socially impactful. This thesis addresses that gap by examining the opportunities and challenges facing KIBs in the KSA, the influence of EE actors and factors, and the role of digital technology in shaping the adoption of TE.The thesis is underpinned by institutional theory, the triple helix model, and diffusion of innovations theory. A qualitative approach is adopted, drawing on data from 32 semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs and EE representatives. Thematic analysis reveals four major themes: the distinctive nature of KIB entrepreneurship, the enabling and constraining features of the EE, the impact of digitalisation, and the extent of TE adoption.The findings indicate that Saudi Vision 2030 reforms and the increasing prevalence of support mechanism create unprecedented opportunities for KIBs. However, challenges such as regulatory inconsistency, bureaucracy, cultural resistance to risk-taking, and weak coordination between EE actors constrain the realisation of TE’s full potential.Digital technology acts as a critical enabler, supporting scalability and visibility for KIBs. However, its full potential is constrained by persistent challenges, including shortages of skilled labour, high operational costs, and limited access to finance.Evidence of TE is visible in socially driven, future-oriented businesses, although its adoption remains fragile in the face of institutional and cultural frictions. This thesis makes a valuable contribution by extending the scope of research on EEs, TE, and digital entrepreneurship to an under-researched emerging economy. It shows that entrepreneurship in the KSA is not only shaped by but also reshapes the EE through visible role models and shifting cultural and institutional practices. The findings offer timely insights for policymakers, universities, investors, and entrepreneurs as they seek to realise the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030. E-Thesis Swansea Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Transformational Entrepreneurship, Knowledge-Intensive Businesses, Digital Technology, Saudi Arabia, Emerging Economies, Innovation, Institutional Theory 19 3 2026 2026-03-19 10.23889/SUThesis.71646 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Jones, P., Ebie, S., and Cotterell, D. Doctoral Ph.D The Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (SACB), London The Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (SACB), London 2026-03-19T16:20:09.4929794 2026-03-19T16:03:45.8910834 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Management - Business Management AHOOD ALHAGBANI 1 Under embargo Under embargo 2026-03-19T16:09:56.6757623 Output 4180167 application/pdf E-Thesis true 2031-03-18T00:00:00.0000000 Copyright: the author, Ahood Alhagbani, 2026 true eng
title Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses
spellingShingle Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses
AHOOD ALHAGBANI
title_short Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses
title_full Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses
title_fullStr Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses
title_sort Evaluating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Role of Digital Technology in Shaping Transformational Entrepreneurship within Knowledge-Intensive Businesses
author_id_str_mv c254ddb224309a75af3093d24aaca6d9
author_id_fullname_str_mv c254ddb224309a75af3093d24aaca6d9_***_AHOOD ALHAGBANI
author AHOOD ALHAGBANI
author2 AHOOD ALHAGBANI
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publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUThesis.71646
college_str Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofhumanitiesandsocialsciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
department_str School of Management - Business Management{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Management - Business Management
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description Entrepreneurship is at the heart of Saudi Vision 2030, with knowledge-intensive businesses (KIBs) expected to play a leading role in driving innovation, economic diversification, and broader social transformation. Despite major policy reforms and investment, uncertainty remains over how the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia (KSA) supports or restricts the development of transformational entrepreneurship (TE): the creation of businesses with a mission to be innovative, ethical, and socially impactful. This thesis addresses that gap by examining the opportunities and challenges facing KIBs in the KSA, the influence of EE actors and factors, and the role of digital technology in shaping the adoption of TE.The thesis is underpinned by institutional theory, the triple helix model, and diffusion of innovations theory. A qualitative approach is adopted, drawing on data from 32 semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs and EE representatives. Thematic analysis reveals four major themes: the distinctive nature of KIB entrepreneurship, the enabling and constraining features of the EE, the impact of digitalisation, and the extent of TE adoption.The findings indicate that Saudi Vision 2030 reforms and the increasing prevalence of support mechanism create unprecedented opportunities for KIBs. However, challenges such as regulatory inconsistency, bureaucracy, cultural resistance to risk-taking, and weak coordination between EE actors constrain the realisation of TE’s full potential.Digital technology acts as a critical enabler, supporting scalability and visibility for KIBs. However, its full potential is constrained by persistent challenges, including shortages of skilled labour, high operational costs, and limited access to finance.Evidence of TE is visible in socially driven, future-oriented businesses, although its adoption remains fragile in the face of institutional and cultural frictions. This thesis makes a valuable contribution by extending the scope of research on EEs, TE, and digital entrepreneurship to an under-researched emerging economy. It shows that entrepreneurship in the KSA is not only shaped by but also reshapes the EE through visible role models and shifting cultural and institutional practices. The findings offer timely insights for policymakers, universities, investors, and entrepreneurs as they seek to realise the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030.
published_date 2026-03-19T05:39:04Z
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