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Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030 / FATEN ALOTAIBI

Swansea University Author: FATEN ALOTAIBI

  • E-Thesis – open access under embargo until: 30th September 2030

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.70554

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 mediu...

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Published: Swansea, Wales, UK 2025
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Jones, Paul ; Pickernell, David ; Cotterell, Dafydd
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70554
first_indexed 2025-10-01T14:26:33Z
last_indexed 2025-10-02T06:39:36Z
id cronfa70554
recordtype RisThesis
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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&#x2019; 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&#x2019;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. 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spelling 2025-10-01T15:40:18.3621944 v2 70554 2025-10-01 Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030 ecc49399750ee9b40392cf029e176337 FATEN ALOTAIBI FATEN ALOTAIBI true false 2025-10-01 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. E-Thesis Swansea, Wales, UK Female entrepreneurship, Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030, family business, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), resilience, institutional theory, cultural capital, economic diversification, gender and business, entrepreneurship ecosystem 30 9 2025 2025-09-30 10.23889/SUthesis.70554 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Jones, Paul ; Pickernell, David ; Cotterell, Dafydd Doctoral Ph.D King Saud University doctoral sponsorship King Saud University doctoral sponsorship 2025-10-01T15:40:18.3621944 2025-10-01T15:23:17.2709285 Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Management - Business Management FATEN ALOTAIBI 1 Under embargo Under embargo 2025-10-01T15:36:58.1799966 Output 9703084 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true 2030-09-30T00:00:00.0000000 Copyright: The Author, Faten Mohsen Alotaibi, 2025. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No-Derivatives (CC-BY-ND) license. Third party content is excluded for use under the license terms. true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/deed.en
title Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030
spellingShingle Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030
FATEN ALOTAIBI
title_short Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030
title_full Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030
title_fullStr Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030
title_full_unstemmed Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030
title_sort Female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Bricolage, resilience, and sociocultural context under Vision 2030
author_id_str_mv ecc49399750ee9b40392cf029e176337
author_id_fullname_str_mv ecc49399750ee9b40392cf029e176337_***_FATEN ALOTAIBI
author FATEN ALOTAIBI
author2 FATEN ALOTAIBI
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publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUthesis.70554
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 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.
published_date 2025-09-30T14:18:56Z
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