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Copyright of Journal of Economic Administrative & Legal Sciences is the property of Arab Journal of Sciences & Research Publishing (AJSRP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Though there is an existence of writings on human capital and its relationship to growth, but it has missed the economic impact of universities. It is known that the knowledge of economy has a positive role in achieving economic development. So my paper focuses on the role of education expenditure in achieving economic development. The human resource is the basis for growth and development because it is able to achieve the appropriate scientific achievement and its future economic performance which is a positive return. The improvement in performance of skilled workers will be affected if Saudi government increases the education expenditure in addition to the investment in human capital. From here we can say that the human resources and the universities (government education expenditure) are two sides of a single coin whose basic and sole objective is economic growth. Therefore, this paper will test the relationship between education expenditure and economic development during the period from 2003 to 2019 through a theoretical analysis of the relationship of higher education to economic development. To explore the relationship between spending on education and economic development the author used econometric technique to analyze the study by using multi regression model depending on weighted least square (WLS). The study results show that there is a significant relationship between Saudi education expenditure and economic development, but regarding to R & D expenditure it is not significant. So the author excluded it from the model due to lack of data. Furthermore, the model WLS is effective to explore results and relations between dependent and independent variable in the case of Saudi Arabia.

Energy-exporting countries have always been isolated when it comes to energy security since according to the traditional definition of energy security, it is believed that there are no energy security-associated problems in these countries. Over the recent years, exporting countries have encountered the issue of single-product economy on a much larger scale, due to large oil revenues; they are facing more and more problems in the field of energy security every day. In this regard, the present paper primarily identified the challenges and factors affecting energy security and sustainable development related to energy in these countries. Afterwards, this information was employed for the construction of a composite index to measure the energy security and sustainability in these countries using the fuzzy BWM method. This composite index was utilized for a period of 14 years in five energy-exporting countries, namely Iran, Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. The results obtained herein were fully consistent with the process of the changes in energy security in the mentioned countries and indicated the weaknesses and obstacles of these countries in the field of oil and oil economy. The results of a 14-year evaluation of the composite index show that Saudi Arabia, followed by Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela, displays the best performance in the field of energy security and sustainability and has an ascending trend and significant progress in the index value. Although Russia is in second place, it represents a descending trend. Iran, which is in third place on the slope of changes, has a falling but gentler trend. Iraq has a rising trend in the index value despite being in fourth place. The lowest level of energy security belongs to Venezuela with a sharp descending trend and naturally the worst performance in the field of energy security and sustainability. Examining these obstacles, it was observed that the economic-technological issues were a heavier burden than the social and environmental ones. In the economic-technological sector, oil-free per capita GDP, the share of non-energy exports in total exports, and the share of investment in the energy sector in total investment were the biggest obstacles, indicating the urgent need to change macro policies, exit the single-product economy, and adopt policies to increase the value added and reduce the sale of raw energy., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This paper provides an analysis of the literature on transnational education to identify the key challenges and success factors for the sustainable operation of transnational higher education (TNE) programmes as perceived by key stakeholders. Probing the stakeholders' perspectives and applying a systematic approach, this study analyses 227 English-written articles retrieved from the Web of Science database published from 2000 to 2021. Key challenges identified include difficulties in managing the TNE programmes, ensuring quality assurance, adapting the curricula to the local contexts, accommodating offshore students' learning styles, creating studying environments for TNE students equivalent to those in the home institutions, ensuring preparedness of the academic staff, and facilitating the knowledge transfer in the host countries. The analysis also highlights six factors for the sustainable development of TNE programmes, including the effectiveness of the operations, the internationalization of the curricula, the transnational experience of the students, the development of the transnational staff, the existence of a proper regulatory framework in the host countries, and the development of a global systematic data collection for quality assurance. In addition, the evidence collected suggests that while the transition from domestic into a foreign programme can be rewarding, it demands appropriate planning and implementation.

While Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have launched a number of economic and education reforms to align their education and training systems with macroeconomic policies to develop diversified, knowledge-based economies, female technical and vocational education and training (TVET) faces an identity crisis. The Gulf States are struggling with increasing the enrollment and employment of women in TVET fields. While some GCC countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, have viewed TVET as a key element of educational policy for many years, other GCC nations have only relatively recently focused their attention on improving TVET systems. In light of empirical gaps surrounding female enrollment and employment, this paper examines trends across the Gulf States to understand what factors affect women's educational and labor market decisions. In line with the framework for action of GCC countries towards attaining Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4 on quality of education and based on common TVET education and employment reform challenges faced by GCC countries, this paper suggests a number of possible reforms to support GCC countries in increasing female TVET enrollment and employment in technical fields.

Saudi Arabian citizens, including university students, are in an interesting and precarious situation -- they care for sustainability, but their economy thrives because of oil production. This study used an author-developed instrument to briefly explore 135 Saudi university students' (nine disciplines) knowledge, awareness, evaluation and convictions of how to facilitate the nation to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) per "Vision 2030" despite living in an oil-based economy. Within this context, the paper then reports 31 female Saudi pre-service teachers' (also university students) experience with and reaction to using inquiry-based learning (IBL) to teach sustainability. Their feedback as emergent educators is invaluable for Saudi initiatives concerned with Education for Sustainability (EfS). Study participants were from Saudi's Eastern Province (convenience and snowball sampling) with data collected in fall 2019. Recommendations include integrating IBL into teacher education, supporting IBL with Saudi cultural and religious practices, and communicating anthropogenic impact to Saudi citizens.

Using interview data, this paper explores issues which head teachers and teachers in a sample of Saudi kindergartens in Makkah face in implementing an adapted curriculum and pedagogy which appear to conflict with the local culture. The Saudi Self-Learning Curriculum for Kindergarten has been developed from Western models of child-centered education as a result of frameworks developed by the UNCRC, Education for ALL and UNESCO's 2015 Sustainable Development Goals program 2015-2030. The Saudi Government's 10th national development plan, entitled Vision 2030, aims to develop and diversify the country's human resources and reduce dependency on oil reserves by creating a knowledge economy. The curriculum reforms are a response to the demand for classroom pedagogies that are based on the principle of respecting children's rights. Consequently, the core objective of preschool learning environments is to work with children in ways that maximize "autonomy." This leads to a conundrum in local implementation since many of the central principles of Western early childhood education are contrary to fundamental Islamic positions. Yet equipping children with the skills they need to meet the demands of the twenty-first century is part of the government's stated aims for its educational reforms.

This research paper investigates the significance of financial accessibility for social entrepreneurship (SE) in fostering sustainable development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). It commences with an exploration of the importance of SE, followed by a discussion on the obstacles social entrepreneurs encounter in securing financial resources. This paper delves into various financing avenues: government initiatives, venture capital, angel investment, crowdfunding, investor collaborations, and corporate social responsibility. Data were gathered from 300 respondents representing social entrepreneurs across diverse regions in the KSA to prioritize the factors and challenges that impede financial access for social entrepreneurs. The findings, utilizing descriptive data analysis, reveal that the primary constraint is insufficient financial infrastructure, with 25% of respondents identifying this as a significant factor. In contrast, a mere 5% of respondents cited the lack of a regulatory framework, and only 12% pointed to the dearth of field expertise as a contributing factor. In addition, 19% of respondents reported that limited awareness of opportunities is another significant obstacle. This study evaluates the critical factors affecting Saudi social entrepreneurs and provides recommendations to enhance financial accessibility, drawing on examples from leading countries in the SE domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a pillar of United Nations, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pursues to greener its economy and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. The green economy represents a catalyzer for sustainable development in its three dimensions -economic, social and environmental- aiming to improve human well-being and social equity and reduce environmental risks. However, the relevant previous studies lacked the role of green economy on sustainable development for the Saudi Arabia. For this purpose, this paper aims to explore how green is the kingdom and analyze its performance toward sustainable development from 2015 to 2020. To do so, we adopt the EEPSE Green Economy Index that combines educational, economic, political, societal and environmental indicators associated with the pillars of the Quintuple Helix Innovation Model. In this study, this index is composed of 42 indicators related to the green economy and the sustainable development. The empirical results suggest that the Saudi Arabia witnessed a significant progress of EEPSE GEI score. In addition, the findings support that the performance of the kingdom regarding the green economy is affected after the COVID-19 crisis. Thus, the paper provides original visions for policy makers to encourage the transition to green economy which constitutes the main locomotive to attain the economic, social and environment sustainability for the kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper examines the adoption of solar energy in residential buildings throughout Saudi Arabia, with a specific emphasis on Makkah. Despite the immense global demand for energy and growing environmental concerns, the adoption of solar energy in Saudi housing remains relatively low. While previous studies have examined the potential, feasibility, and policy support for solar energy, this research uniquely approaches the issue from the perspective of customers on a national scale. The study aims to identify the factors that influence customers' intentions to use solar energy in Saudi Arabia, contributing to the development of a sustainable circular supply chain for renewable energy. To achieve this, the research integrates the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2). An online questionnaire was distributed, garnering responses from a total of 250 participants. A regression analysis was employed to analyze the data and examine the relationships between the proposed hypotheses. The study's findings reveal that four critical factors wield significant influence over consumer behavior and their decisions regarding the adoption of solar PV technology. These factors are: Social Influence (SI), Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), and Facilitating Conditions (FC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aspects, i.e. open trade (OT), foreign direct investment (FDI), capital formation, and information and communication technology (ICT) exports, are fundamental for any nation's sustainable Economic Development (ED). The paper seeks to examine the effect of those aspects on the ED of Saudi Arabia and other Middle East nations which participate in BRI. The study uses the yearly cross-sectional time-series data from 2013 to 2022. The dual-stage Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) is employed in the sample because the sum of parameters is smaller than the sum of moment clauses. The findings reveal that capital formation and FDI significantly and positively affect the ED, while OT and ICT exports negatively and insignificantly affect it. The general findings show that China's external FDI has increased the ED in Saudi Arabia and other Middle East nations whereas OT shows an insignificance as the majority of emerging nations should capitalize industrial development and hearten export expansion. This study is an initial effort to examine the relationships among BRI aspects and sustainable ED in Middle East Nations using the GMM method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to discuss the theory of new urbanism and the possibility of adopting this theory in future urban development projects in Saudi Arabia within the framework of Vision 2030. Saudi cities suffer from a clear disparity in the levels of urban development. One of the most important problems that decision-makers face in the field of urban planning is the absence of a balanced hierarchy of urban agglomerations at the regional level, and the continuous flows of migration from the countryside to urban areas because of the rapid pace of urbanization for multiple economic and social reasons. Hence, the question remains about how to form a suitable growth model for urban development in Saudi Arabia and how to adopt and support effective policies for sustainable urban growth. The paper assumes that following the principles of the new urban theory will contribute to solving the problem of the disparate urban development between Saudi cities. Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah was chosen as a local case study to apply these principles and criteria for the theory while reviewing the experiences of three global cities that adopted the theory and benefit from the results drawn from it. The methodology of comparative analysis of the study model was used and compared with the principles and theories of the new urbanization to prove the validity of the hypothesis. The paper reached some results based on the analysis of the city's urbanization and its urban fabric, and a mechanism for dealing with the existing urban situation. The research was concluded with the results and a suggestion of recommendations within the Saudi Vision 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the online discourses on "sustainability" and explores how environmental sustainability has been constructed within the Saudi online discourse. In doing so, the study focuses on the potential of the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), along with Green Riyadh and King Salman Park, to promote sustainability awareness in the kingdom. The corpus of the study comprises news articles and Twitter hashtags. In addition, the study uses corpus-based discourse analysis to examine the keyness and intertextuality. The results of the study convey a contextualized national identity while communicating internationally within discursive circles. It is also identified that interdiscursivity is central in the corpus, although the discourse of action especially dominated other smaller discourses, such as consequences/risks, economy, and tourism. The results also indicate the prominent construction of officials, which could be linked to the dynamics of change in the Saudi scene. Finally, the study emphasizes the action-oriented nature of such discourse while drawing attention to some of the challenging issues to long-term advocacy in the country., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2022 Shrouq Almaghlouth. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Amidst the growing emphasis on sustainable development, there is an emerging trend of companies actively pursuing the transition towards sustainability. This shift is driven by various factors, including heightened societal scrutiny and a greater focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. As a result, companies are increasingly acknowledging the significance of incorporating sustainable practices into their operations to align with the expectations of the capital market. This paper investigates the association between ESG disclosures and stock price crash moderated by corporate governance (board size, independence, and gender diversity) for Saudi firms. Using a fixed effects regression method, we find that the coefficient of ESG is significant and negative (−0.0043 for NCSKEW and − 0.0006 for DUVOL) indicating a positive influence of ESG in diminishing stock price crash. The results also show that corporate governance positively and significantly moderate the ESG‐stock price crash risk. As additional analyses, we find a significant negative relationship between each aspect of ESG including social responsibility, environmental activities and governance practices and stock price crash risk. Moreover, the pandemic COVID‐19 has a dampening effect on the ESG‐stock price crash association. To ensure the validity of these conclusions, dynamic GMM models were employed to tackle any potential endogeneity issues, making the results even more robust. Our findings highlight that improving corporate sustainability positively impacts the stability of companies' stock prices. This study provides valuable insights and perspectives from the context of Saudi Arabia and offers theoretical and managerial implications that are relevant for policymakers and investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims at better understanding of the opportunities and potentials of the deployment of clean energy in the region of highest fossil fuel reserves in the world, the gulf cooperation council (GCC) states, by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the seventh sustainable development goal (SDG7) in the GCC states context including a detailed description of its targets, indicators as well as interrelatedness with the other SDGs. In line with that, the paper evaluated the renewable energy potential in the GCC states, its readiness to deploy and the constrains still to overcome. Analysis showed that GCC region has got a high potential of solar and wind energy, and good readiness for its deployment. The potential of solar energy resources in GCC states varies between 5.1 to 5.9 kWh/m² year. The average wind speed in GCC countries is between 3.5 -6 m/s, with the highest average of 6 m/s in Qatar and lowest average of 3.5 in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal 17 of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) attracted attention to the importance of partnerships between governments, the private sector, and nonprofit organizations (NPOs) for sustainable development. This paper aims to analyze the processes of establishing and operating the partnerships between NPOs and other actors in terms of governance. The best practices for partnership governance were examined according to the partnering life cycle framework. A simple random sample of 184 NPOs in six regions of Saudi Arabia was selected for data collection. These organizations were analyzed according to their governance practices in 937 partnerships established during 2016-2018. The findings showed that the organizations had strongly implemented the phases of building and scoping and managing and maintaining, while their governance practices regarding phases of reviewing and revising and sustaining outcomes ranged between moderate and low levels. The results also revealed significant differences between the overall implementation of the partnering life cycle practices and the NPO's year of establishment. It was concluded that analyzing the current situation of implementing the best practices of partnership governance is useful to explore the efficiency and effectiveness of partnerships between NPOs and other actors, as well as the existing policy gaps, so as to create and implement sustainable-oriented partnerships., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Purpose: This paper examines the determinants of long-term economic growth and sustainable development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a chosen one-resource economy that relies on massive oil production. Methodology is based on the econometric methods of multiple regression analysis and the multicollinearity test for the period from 2010 to 2020. The research was conducted on the basis of a model of 13 variables, where the dependent variable is the annual rate of GDP, and the independent variables are inflation, budget deficit, oil exports, imports, unemployment rate, foreign direct investment, labour productivity, public debt, labour force, GDP per capita, HDI index, total rent of natural resources and adjusted net savings. Results indicate a strong connection between gross domestic product and the selected variables and the existence of factors that are of strategic importance for the growth of the Saudi economy, but on the other hand, the negative effects of certain factors on sustainable development. Conclusion: Based on the results, it is suggested that investment in human capital is an urgent step to achieve long-term sustainability and reduce reliance on natural resource operations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is an ambitious country that is intensively investing in building a competitive knowledge-based economy toward the achievement of sustainable development. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is the main government funding institution focusing on national knowledge development. KACST contributes to the setting up and supports the execution of a national program of science and technology (NPST). This paper is concerned with one of the most promising KACST supported NPST initiative referred as Technology Innovation Centers (TICs). The latter is concerned with industry-relevant knowledge development through universityindustry collaboration and synergy. This paper introduces the Saudi NPST that initiated TICs. It provides a generic view of TICs using the structured Strategy, Technology, Organization, People, and Environment approach. It emphasizes the TIC on Radio Frequency and Phonetics for the e-Society located at King Saud University, the main higher education institution in the country. It is hoped that the paper would provide a leading example of the development efforts in KSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Global Journal of Economics & Business is the property of Refaad for Studies, Research & Development and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper inquires: can sustainable urbanization be realized in Saudi Arabian cities? It addresses this question by (i) analyzing the relationship between sustainable development and urbanization in the Global South, (ii) examining the urbanization–urban planning collision in Saudi Arabian cities, and (iii) assessing the situational impediments to and enablers of sustainable urbanization in Saudi Arabia. Using critical literature review, findings show that rapid urbanization, amidst urban planning inadequacy, fundamentally remains a threat to sustainable urbanization in Global South countries. In addition, urbanization in Saudi Arabian cities is characterized by socio-spatial, land use planning and environmental vulnerabilities, producing more costs than benefits. A key contribution from this paper relates to the embeddedness of socio-spatial factors and land use planning systems in the production of environmental vulnerabilities. The paper deeply engaged with sustainable urbanization from an urban planning perspective in the Arabian context to demonstrate the limited framing of sustainable development. Recommendations to strengthen resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainable development are proffered. [Display omitted] • This article questions sustainable urbanization in Saudi Arabian cities. • It analyzes the relationship between sustainable development and urbanization. • It examines the urbanization–urban planning collision in Saudi Arabian cities. • It assesses the situational impediments to and enablers of sustainable urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a macroeconomic framework for creating a competitive and sustainable Saudi Arabian economy, taking into account the interrelationships among social, environmental, and economic factors. The objective of the research is to build a model that will allow for evaluating the effects of a wide range of emissions abatement policies on economic growth and development. The research methodology is grounded in econometric modeling of the Saudi economy over the period 1980–2010. The estimated parameters of the model were used to project long-term gross domestic product (GDP) growth paths based on three environmental degradation abatement scenarios. The results suggest that the sustainability of economic growth in Saudi Arabia critically depends on aggressive emissions-reduction policies since policy scenarios corresponding to higher pollution cuts yielded higher, sustained long-term GDP. The results also broadly reject the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, implying that a turning point in the relationship between CO2emissions and per capita GDP is yet to be attained. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study explores the relationship between Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and environmental performance improvement within the Saudi chemical industry. Against the backdrop of global sustainability imperatives and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which promotes sustainability for economic diversification, this research aims to assess the effectiveness of KPIs in driving environmental sustainability practices. The motivation for this study stems from the identified gaps in the systematic implementation and utilisation of KPIs and the lack of awareness regarding certain aspects of environmental impact management within the industry in the Kingdom. The methodology involved a structured survey administered to a diverse range of chemical manufacturing companies, followed by rigorous data analysis using descriptive evaluation, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), reliability analysis, and t-tests. The results revealed insights into pollution areas, KPI utilisation, methods for pollution assessment, alignment with strategic goals, and governance regulations. Descriptive analysis highlighted air quality management as a priority, with notable attention to water and land pollution, while quantitative analysis confirmed the significance of KPIs in driving environmental performance improvement in the area. However, it also unveiled the absence of a systematic approach to implementing and utilising KPIs effectively, coupled with a lack of awareness regarding certain aspects of environmental impact management, consequently leading to uncertainty. Overall, this study contributes to advancing sustainability efforts within the Saudi chemical sector, providing actionable insights for industry stakeholders and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global economy has reported an unprecedented increase in growth rates over the last 2 decades, due to rapid evolution in transportation and communications. The rapid growth of international trade has increased the demand for fossil fuel, leading to exacerbated environmental risks. Air transportation is an essential operational practice in trade openness and has many economic benefits. However, its effect on CO2 emissions is not well understood. Studies on the causal relationships between air transportation, trade openness, economic growth, and CO2 emissions are lacking, especially across Middle Eastern countries. This study targets Saudi Arabia, one of the largest countries in the Middle East region in terms of economic capabilities and geographical area, to investigate the impact of air transportation, trade openness, and economic growth on CO2 emissions. To this end, data was derived from the World Development Indicators (WDI) established by the World Bank for the period 1991-2023. An autoregressive, distributed lag autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model was used to analyze associations among the study variables; the empirical findings confirm that air transportation, trade openness, and economic growth have positive and statistically significant effects on CO2 emissions in both long- and short-run scenarios. However, the results illustrate that economic growth alone is unable to sufficiently reduce CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia, indicating a lack of connection between economic policies and environmental goals. Thus, these results indicate that the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is not valid for Saudi Arabia. In addition, this study provides useful insights for policymakers to mitigate CO2 emissions. Suggestions include attracting foreign investment, modifying the structure of trade, mitigating the reliance on imports and enhancing exports, while focusing on green strategies for economic growth, replacing fossil fuels with clean and renewable sources, subsidizing environmentally friendly technologies, and enacting decarbonizing regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era of global interdependence, universities play a crucial role in promoting social responsibility and sustainable development. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities emphasizes the empowerment of individuals with disabilities, a key aspect of inclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity of digital platforms to ensure equitable opportunities, particularly for those with disabilities. It highlighted challenges in transitioning to remote operations and stressed the importance of accessible digital tools in maintaining inclusivity during disruptions. This study investigates how university websites promote social responsibility and empower individuals with disabilities in Saudi Arabia, the UK, and the US. It also examines how these websites foster inclusivity, advocate for disability rights, and contribute to societal change. Using a qualitative case study design, the study evaluated university websites focusing on accessibility services, inclusive policies, and academic accommodations. Qualitative content and thematic analyses identified recurring themes and variations. The findings reveal diverse strategies in empowerment initiatives, website maintenance practices, community engagement approaches, the accessibility of support services, and the presentation of success stories. Despite differences among websites, this study underscores their significance in empowering individuals with disabilities. Recommendations aim to guide universities worldwide in enhancing their digital platforms, ensuring inclusivity, especially during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the interrelationship between community attachment in AlUla Heritage City (located in Saudi Arabia) and tourists' green consumption practices, testing support for green tourism development as a mediator. The old historical city of AlUla, a significant city experiencing ongoing preservation and tourism development, represents an adequate context for exploring the link between community attachment and green tourism practices. This study employs a quantitative approach, including surveys with 328 local residents of AlUla. A structural equation modeling partial least square (PLS-SEM) analysis is conducted to explore the indirect influence of community attachment on tourists' green consumption through the mediating role of support for green tourism development. The findings indicated a positive path from community attachment in AlUla to tourists' tendencies toward green consumption behavior. Moreover, the mediating effects of support for green tourism development suggested that a deep sense of community attachment improves tourists' support for green practices in the tourism sector. This study adds to the extended body of the literature on place attachment and green tourism by emphasizing the significance of community place attachment in stimulating tourists' green consumption practices. Several practical implications for policymakers seeking to promote green tourism practices in heritage cities like AlUla are explored from the study results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Educational & Psychological Studies / Magallat Al-Dirasat Al-Tarbawiyyat Wa-Al-Bafsiyyat is the property of Sultan Qaboos University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper applies an integrated approach to assessing urban sustainability in Dammam City, Saudi Arabia. The approach, based on geographic information systems (GIS), involves the evaluation of the planning process, the master plan and the land use activities resulting from planning. It concludes that some aspects of sustainability are not addressed by the planning process and the plan document. The planning process and the plan document addressed economic sustainability issues more than social and environmental issues. The result of the GIS-based sustainability assessment of the study area produces similar findings. The paper develops a sustainable planning guidance and makes some recommendations based on the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saudi Arabia has recently begun to implement its General Environmental Regulations. The main purpose is to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account at all levels of planning with an emphasis on incorporating EIA (Environ- mental Impact Assessment) into development activities. However, there is a need to develop a broad framework of SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) for the proper integration of sustainability into decision-making processes. This paper reviews and discusses a framework for ensuring sustainability in Saudi Arabia, particularly at the local level. The paper develops guidelines and a framework for implementing the principles of sustainability in Saudi municipalities through SEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic security of each country is determined by array of different factors. Some factors seem obvious and are measurable, while other factors, such as entrepreneurship and, especially social entrepreneurship, are tacit and hard to measure. Anyway, social entrepreneurship is accepted globally as a bridge between business and benevolence. It attempts to find solution to local sustainability issues that are normally not addressed by traditional organizations. The problems faced by the Middle East society in general and Saudi Arabia in particular is unique in nature. Most of such problems cannot be addressed by the Government or the traditional organisations. The utility of social entrepreneurship arises here. There are many social enterprises in Saudi Arabia that have succeeded in nurturing a band of new leaders who are attempting to enhance the region's global competitiveness, with a social touch. The present paper presents a few social entrepreneurs who have made their mark in Saudi society, and provides suggestions for nurturing and sustaining social entrepreneurships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy production plays a major role in the Saudi Arabian economy, but energy production can lead to an increase in environmental pollution. This study investigated the impact of energy production and trade openness on Saudi Arabia's economic growth and environmental pollution using annual data from 1970 to 2020. The fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and the dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) methods were employed to develop two models, including an economic growth model and an environmental Sustainability or pollution model. The results of the two tests ensured that both expanding trade openness and increasing energy production led to faster economic growth. Nevertheless, the expansion of trade openness and energy production also led to environmental pollution; hence, the increase in energy production did not support sustainable development. Thus, policymakers should develop a green economy strategy to reduce the use of fossil fuels and increase renewable energy in energy production to reduce environmental pollution. Moreover, the Saudi Arabian government should highly promote investment in renewable energy production through trade openness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to highlight the shortcoming of the standard macroeconomic framework when environment is ignored in the implementation of traditional policy practices. Many studies have identified pollution by commenting on the damages inflicted on the environment. In response, regulatory policies have been proposed to rectify and address the economic and health impacts. However, there have been very few studies centred on valuing environmental degradation and internalizing the cost of degradation to selected macroeconomic frameworks. The empirical illustration in this paper seeks to demonstrate the ease with which environmental degradation is internalized in a simple Keynesian framework with reference to a leading Gulf State - Saudi Arabia. The analysis of environmental degradation is confined to air shed depreciation in terms of carbon dioxide emissions from greenhouse gases and data is from World Development Indicators for the years 1980 to 2012. By utilizing the Keynesian framework, two income levels can be identified that is, the standard income (Y*) and sustainable income (Y**) which takes into consideration environmental depreciation. It is observed that the Kingdom's environmental depreciation is rising for the time period on a trend basis. One important observation is the clear divergence of Y* and Y** where Y* is overstated relative to Y**. This supports the observation that Saudi Arabia's standard income (Y*) may not be sustainable for future economic development and the Kingdom should employ sustainable income (Y**) to measure economic progress for the formulation of sustainable development policies. There are two key policy implications for the Kingdom from this study. Firstly, the Kingdom should shift away from non-renewables to renewables and whilst the renewables are being assessed for their reliability and feasibility as sources of energy; the immediate priority should focus on enhancing non-renewables efficiency and minimizing environmental degradation. Secondly, environmental capital should be maintained by investing in environmental technologies and reviewing energy options as these could potentially expand the Kingdom's capacity through aggregated expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our built environment is responsible for some of the most serious global and local environmental change. The construction industry, therefore, faces pressure to increase the sustainability of its practices reflected in the development of stringent regulations and environmental assessment methods, designed to mitigate such negative impacts. However, these well-known methods (e.g., BREEAM, LEED, SBTool, and CASBEE) have not originally been designed to suit developing countries (including Saudi Arabia). This paper proposes to customize an adapted weighting system that prioritizes Saudi environmental assessment method (SEAM) categories. The research methodology involves the use of analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Expert choice software was the main tool to analyze the input data. This research instrument involves the participation of a number of leading, global experts in the field of environmental and sustainable development, as well as professionals and highly informed local experts from government, academia, and industry. The results reveal that well-known environmental assessment methods are not fully applicable to the Saudi Arabia built environment, as reflected in the resulting categories, criteria and weighting system of SEAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation into tectonics and erosion reveals that they play an important role in causing uplifting, valley incision, and soil erosion. The analysis of drainage basins at different scales is irreplaceable in the development of sustainable plans, particularly in arid regions. Morphotectonics and morphometric characterization analyses are very effective methods for defining the evolution of different landforms, current-day tectonic activity, and hydrological and morphological signatures of basins under investigation. The reorganization of critical drainage basins and sub-basin risk priority ranking are essential for effective and accurate sustainable plans for drainage basin management and water resources. In this study, the coupling of geospatial techniques and statistical strategies was used to examine the tectonic activity and priorities in terms of soil erosion for 15 sub-basins of Wadi Al-Lith along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Two effective models, namely, the relative tectonic activity model and the weighted sum analysis model, were applied for examining each geomorphological and hydrological characteristic based on an analysis of the morphotectonics and morphometric parameters. Regarding the relative tectonic activity model, the 15 sub-basins were classified into three classes of tectonic activity: low, moderate, and high. Sub-basins 5, 6, 13, and 15 were considered to be in class 1 (high relative tectonic activity). On the other hand, the weighted sum analysis model assigned the sub-basins into three different ranks: low-, moderate-, and high-soil-erosion priorities. The current study's results suggest that sub-basins 5, 6, 10, 13, and 15 were recorded within the high-soil-erosion zone and highly relative tectonic activity, covering approximately 53.52% of the total sub-basin areas. The relative tectonic activity and weighted sum analysis models proved their validity in the risk studies, which will be very useful for decision makers in various fields, including natural resources and agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green financing represents a great untapped opportunity, especially in Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which are characterized by their developed capital markets, attracting investors from all over the world to pump their capital into projects that have an environmental and social impact, in addition to activating strong governance processes. The study aimed to examine the impact of the dimensions of sustainable development: environmental, social, and economic on green finance in Saudi national banks and fill the gap in sustainability and green finance research in Arabian countries, specifically in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study population covered the national banks in Riyadh city. The data was collected through a questionnaire and the sample size was 125 participants. The study applied linear regression models and the result revealed that the environmental dimension of sustainable development, the social dimension of sustainable development, and the economic dimension have a positive impact on green finance in Saudi banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of studies analyzed show a positive and statistically significant impact of renewable energy consumption on economic growth. Nevertheless, some studies suggest a limited effect, while others find no statistically significant effect. Faced with this problem, we conducted a study aimed at analyzing the impact of renewable energy consumption on economic growth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the period 1990–2020. To determine the integration properties of the variables, we utilized the sharp and smooth structural breaks unit root test developed by Shahbaz, Omay and Roubaud (SOR). We also used the bootstrap approach of testing ARDL limits to examine the cointegration between variables. Using the VECM model, we studied the causal relationship between economic growth and its determinants. The results show, in the short and long run, the existence of a bidirectional causality between renewable energy consumption and economic growth (Feedback Hypothesis). Thus, there is a bidirectional relationship between GDP and capital and also between GDP and labor, in the long run. Therefore, an important policy implication resulting from this analysis is that renewable energy can be considered as an important factor for sustainable economic development in Saudi Arabia. The findings for Saudi Arabia may also be relevant for oil exporting countries to achieve efficiency and promote the renewable energy sector beyond oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research endeavours to examine the influence of sustainable operational practices on sustainable operational performance, incorporating the moderating influence of green technology adoption within the Saudi Arabian textile industry. Through the utilization of a self-administered questionnaire, data were acquired from a sample of 250 employees affiliated with textile companies in Saudi Arabia. Employing a cross-sectional study design and quantitative methodology, this investigation employed Partial Least Square (PLS)-Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) for statistical analysis. The outcomes of this analysis revealed that internal lean practices, quality management, customer and supplier integration, and internal business processes exerted positive and statistically significant effects on operational performance. Furthermore, the study disclosed that green technology adoption functioned as a substantive moderator, amplifying the impact of sustainable practices on operational performance. The theoretical contributions of this study lie in its emphasis on the pivotal role of technology in advancing sustainability practices within the Saudi Arabian textile industry. Moreover, the practical implications extend to managerial and stakeholder considerations, advocating for the strategic utilization of technology to enhance operational efficiency while mitigating environmental impact. The research also underscores essential directions for future investigations, proposing a broader industry inclusion for comparative analyses and endorsing a mixed-method approach to deepen insights into technology adoption and sustainability practices across diverse business landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports sea level rise (SLR) scenarios causing land loss, environmental degradation and destruction of infrastructure in the Saudi coast of the Arabian Gulf. Human development structures such as, sea ports, desalination plants, industrial establishments, commercial buildings, fish farms etc. will be impacted, leading to great economic losses. A systematic analysis on the current environmental setting of east coast of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) versus the existing infrastructure assets indicates that a 1 m sea level rise in Arabian Gulf affects approximately 650 km land area, along the Saudi coastline of ~1,800 km in 1:50,000 scale. Three simulation scenarios were created with respect to 1 m, 2 m and 3 m rises from the present mean sea level and its impacts were assessed. Maps depicting major infrastructure assets, ecologically sensitive elements, historical locations, anthropogenic zones, and Environmental Sensitivity Indices (ESI) were used for overlaying the sea level change map, in a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. In general, the Jubail Marine Park area will have serious impact due to SLR. The inundation of low-lying lands will affect the mangroves species of Dawhat Ad Dafi, coral reefs, coastal salt marshes, groundwater aquifers, and fish stocks. The risk of inundation on the Abu Ali Island, given their status as marine sanctuary of international importance, is particularly high. As an adaptation strategy, it is proposed that the KSA should implement Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP) for the Arabian Gulf coast without further delay for the protection of its vulnerable resources and for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aims of this paper are to review the current practices of car parking standards in the UK, the USA, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); to draw the main lessons learned from experiences of the UK and the USA; and to suggest suitable improvements in the standards of car parking requirements in the KSA. The paper follows a comparative approach in reviewing car parking standard requirements according to different types of land use in the UK, the USA, and the KSA. The article illustrates that transportation planners in the UK and the USA use parking policies, especially the application of car parking standards, along with other planning and transport measures to promote sustainable transport choices, to reduce reliance on cars, and to reduce traffic and air pollution. Local authorities in the UK and the USA have moved from requiring minimum standards for car parking to maximum standards. The aim of maximum parking standards is to decrease the number of trips made by private cars whilst seeking to maintain and enhance the viability of economic centres and support sustainable development. In the KSA, authorities still adhere to minimum car parking standards. Moreover, the car parking requirements are not correlated with city zoning systems. The paper concludes with some thoughts on how to improve the current parking requirements in KSA cities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In recent decades, smart technology has been one of the major thought-provoking research subjects in the quest to meet the needs of society in ways that do not damage or deplete the environment and that conserve natural resources. Augmented reality is an emerging technology that blends three-dimensional virtual objects with reality. Technologies such as Augmented Reality can be useful tools to promote sustainable development in higher education in terms of various economic, social and environmental considerations. This paper aims to investigate faculty members' awareness of the potential benefits of incorporating Augmented Reality technology in Saudi Arabian universities in terms of its economic and environmental sustainability. For this study, quantitative data was collected by means of a survey questionnaire where participants responded to statements on a five-point Likert scale that ranged from "totally agree" to "totally disagree". The study was conducted with a sample comprising 228 academic and e-learning department staff from Saudi universities. The exploratory factor analysis technique was utilised to identify factors related to awareness of advantages of using Augmented Reality in education, particularly in relation to sustainability. Two factors were identified, namely environmental and economic factors. Study findings indicated that academic and e-learning department staff believe that the use of Augmented Reality in higher education has positional environmental and economic sustainability benefits. The findings from this study provide insights that will assist further studies regarding AR in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Image 10 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on transformation in sustainable urban governance by examining the prospect of fostering sustainable development through top-down urban governance. It takes a case study of urban development in Saudi Arabia, which had been administered through a centralized framework devoid of the environmental assessment of policies and plans. Urban planning documents made limited references to the environment. Consequently, Saudi cities have been ranked low on environmental sustainability. However, recently, due to the political imperative of addressing the problems, low oil prices, and the Arab Spring, there has been a remarkable transformation in urban governance. The planning of some of the major cities has been decentralized and some policies implemented to curb unsustainable development. This article reviews these changes to investigate how top-down approaches might still be relevant in promoting sustainable development. It concludes that there is a need to implement a framework of legislation and administrative procedures integrated with strategic environmental assessment (SEA) to ensure proper sustainable institutionalised urban governance. The findings could serve as lessons for those operating under similar political contexts especially in developing countries. • Examines the prospect of fostering sustainable development through top-down urban governance • Examines urban governance in Saudi Arabia as a case study • Highlights the transformation in sustainable urban governance in Saudi Arabia • Top-down approach is relevant in promoting sustainable urban governance in some contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religion and tourism share a close relationship in which the former motivates travel and is a source of assorted visitor attractions. Pilgrimage is one expression of the ties between the two and the paper identifies key pilgrimage tourism issues pertaining to demand and provision that are discussed within the context of the contemporary hajj. The hajj by Muslims to the cities they deem holy in Saudi Arabia is a distinctive illustration that involves the mass movement of pilgrims every year. Numbers are strictly controlled, but set to rise as the government pursues a policy of expanding space at certain holy sites and encouraging an increase in the supply of accommodation and other amenities as well as enhancing supporting infrastructure. Some projects are very ambitious, leading to questions about whether the pace of development is sustainable. The purpose of the study is to improve understanding of the uniqueness and significance of the hajj phenomenon and illuminate the challenges of managing large-scale religious tourism events in the changing world of the twenty-first century. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tries to shed some light on the Disi-Amman pipeline project, which is still under study in the current water-policy literature. Our first finding is that Disi plays an important role in the national water discourse even though it is not sustainable and it is not clear for how long it will be exploitable. Second, we argue that Jordan's approach to the Disi is basically to silence the whole issue, and that a “quiet pumping race” between Jordan and Saudi Arabia is currently going on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Saudi government has made some efforts in incorporating the principles of sustainable development into the planning process by establishing a framework for considering environmental consequences of development activities. The framework is guided by the General Environmental Code. The Ministerial Committee on the Environment (MCE) coordinates the environmental assessment of plans, policies and programmes prior to approval. However, the framework tends to focus on plans and programmes at the national level with little or no explicit provision for ensuring the assessment of municipal plans, policies and programmes. This paper evaluates the integration of environmental assessment into the municipal planning process and the plan documents. The findings indicate that the implementation of environmental assessment at the municipal planning level is minimal. Inadequate institutional framework and lack of effective environment assessment legislation are the main barriers to the implementation. Overall, the assessment shows that there is the need to improve sustainability planning practice in the Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable economic growth and environmental degradation are two concerns confronting humanity. Saudi Arabia has seen a dramatic rise in its atmospheric carbon emissions during the last three decades. From 1995 to 2020, this research uses the decoupling index and vector error correction model technique to reveal the variables influencing CO2 emissions in Saudi Arabia. This research aims to empirically analyze the causal factors that link carbon emissions, energy use, economic growth, and internet usage. The big priority of this research is to use various techniques and methodologies to examine the cointegration and long- and short-run relationships between macroeconomic variables and stock price. According to the augmented Dickey–Fuller unit root test results, the main series is stationary in the first difference but non-stationary at the level. According to Johansen's cointegration study, both relations between the variables exist in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The VEC model's outcome shows that internet use significantly contributes to rising greenhouse gas emissions. When creating strategies for economic growth to achieve sustainable development, policymakers must consider climate change. This may be accomplished by implementing a new policy to switch from conventional to renewable energy sources, emphasizing increased energy efficiency, or reorganizing the energy sector to influence the rise in greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to highlight the obstacles to green buildings and reveal the factors that can help in reducing these obstacles. It uses a qualitative approach and collects data from previous studies. The results highlight that the literature on green buildings mentions barriers and obstacles in different categories, including financial, governmental, organizational, management, operational, technical, and socio-cultural barriers. Most of these barriers, directly and indirectly, affect the development of green buildings. To overcome these barriers, there are some important factors to be considered, including the introduction of new government rules and regulations, offering incentives to industry to encourage businesses, creating a collaborative culture among stakeholders to spread awareness and knowledge, information regarding green building, ensuring the sharing of success factors, and sharing of critical cases to add knowledge to others. Emphasis on these factors or strategies can help in the development of green buildings, which will lead to sustainable development in Saudi Arabia. Project managers can consider these results as guidelines to ensure sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marked development of renewable energy has been able to offer in the GCC market the possibility to pave the road for a sustainable energy development in the area. In particular recent tariffs of 2.5–3 cents/kWh achieved in recent PV tenders in the UAE and the record tariff of 1.75 cents/kWh achieved in the tender of Sakaka project in Saudi Arabia underpins a continuous development of renewable energy technology and tariff that are more competitive than conventional energy supply [1]. One of the aspects that often is at odds with installing more renewable energy and in particular PV systems in the GCC is the objective difficulty in the energy storage and in harmonizing the energy production with the energy demand pattern and stabilizing the grid operation. In the UAE where the weather conditions are stable and predictable for the great part of the time, photo voltaic power generation operates practically at base load. This poses several objective difficulties for instance during the winter months there may not be sufficient electricity generation at co-generation stations to maintain water production of the existing thermal plants. Moreover the peak energy production from PV plants does not correspond with the peak energy consumption from the grid and daily peak load remains still to be catered by peaking stations operating inefficiently and with large CO2 emissions [3]. This paper aims at demonstrating how judicious use of SWRO technology can offer a great contribution to energy savings and peak load reduction as well as in the stability of the grid operation when a large PV capacity is installed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global water scarcity is an imminent problem caused by the increasing water demand arising from population and economic growth. Against this background, technologies for water resource management and treatment have been developed steadily to meet the water demand targets. However, further advances are necessary for securing environmental and economic sustainability. The management of saline water and wastewater is one of the focus areas to tackle the problems of water scarcity and sustainability in the context of water desalination. Hybrid desalination is one of the most practical and efficient technologies that can afford environmental and economic sustainability. Hybridization of multiple processes maximizes the advantages of individual technologies and minimizes their drawbacks. The overall research on desalination and research on hybrid desalination, in particular, increased by a compound annual growth rate of 16.6% and 21.8%, respectively, from 2011 to 2020. Meanwhile, in 2020, 10.7% of scientific articles and reviews dealt with hybrid technologies. Moreover, the advances in hybrid technology are not limited to academic research; they have been widely implemented in the desalination industry. Reverse osmosis-multistage flash (RO-MSF) hybrid technology has been adopted for the largest desalination plant in the world, with a total water production of 1,036,000 m3/d in Ras Al-Khair, Saudi Arabia. The synergetic impacts of hybridization have various benefits depending on the desalination processes selected. In an RO-MSF system, the hybridization leads to additional water production with higher water recovery compared to a standalone RO system. Improvement in energy efficiency is another advantage of hybrid technologies as observed in the case of membrane distillation-adsorption (MD-AD) hybrid system. However, the challenges of hybrid desalination technologies are the complexity of process design, optimization, and operations. In this paper, the case of a forward osmosis-membrane distillation (FO-MD) hybrid system is presented to identify the challenges and potential solutions for hybrid desalination technologies. An FO process is driven by the osmotic pressure difference between two streams and produces water across a hydrophilic polymeric membrane. By using a saline solution, known as the draw solution, freshwater may be recovered from a targeted feed solution stream with relatively lower salinity. MD is a thermal membrane process that makes use of the difference in vapor pressure between hot and cold streams to transport water vapor across the membrane to a cold permeate solution. These two membrane processes (FO and MD) are selected to treat the produced water, which is a by-product in the oil and gas industry; produced water has extremely high salinity and complex organic composition and hence is one of the most challenging wastewater streams for water treatment. Since FO and MD employ two different energy potentials (i.e., osmotic and thermal energies, respectively), hybridization allows maximizing the use of available energy in target streams (i.e., produced water). To solve the challenge of complexity of hybridization, a novel integrated membrane module was developed for an FO-MD hybrid system. To evaluate the performance of the FO-MD hybrid system for produced water treatment, synthetic produced water streams were prepared according to water quality references from a conventional oil and gas production facility. Separate FO and MD experiments were conducted to study the membrane-fouling phenomena of different produced water qualities. In addition, the FO-MD hybrid system is operated with varied combinations of produced water streams for sustainability evaluation. The experimental results demonstrate the great potential of the FO-MD hybrid system for sustainable produced water treatment. Long-term operation of the hybrid system and experiments with real produced water samples are necessary for scaling up and optimizing the technology. Investigating the water-energy nexus related to the desalination technologies integrated with renewable energy is one approach to broaden the applications of hybrid desalination technologies. Such a study will emphasize the advantages of hybridization despite the complex challenges. The benefits of hybrid technologies in terms of greater water production, higher recovery, and cleaner water quality will be synergized with less energy consumption by their integration with renewable energy. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI)-based process design, optimization, and control will be an important tool to address the complexity of hybrid desalination technologies and will provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges, for which the conventional experimental and theoretical studies are still limited. AI algorithms, such as machine learning and artificial neural network algorithms, are the leading approaches to the advancement of AI-assisted smart desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the potential and feasibility of using solar thermal cooling systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The performance of a desiccant cooling system has been determined based on climatic data of 32 cities spread all over the territory of the country. The investigation has been carried out keeping in view the high energy consumption for cooling applications in the country. The analysis has been done using the overall performance of the system, sensible energy ratio, and cooling and regeneration loads. The main objective of this study is to encourage the implementation of solar thermal cooling systems in the country for the development of sustainable buildings. The economic analysis shows that thermal cooling technology can reduce the cost of cooling units, remarkably. Furthermore, the utilization of the proposed system will decrease the dependence on primary energy resources. The saving factor of the proposed system with 1 ton capacity in comparison to the conventional vapor compression unit is found to be 34.6%. The present study also recommends that the government subsidies and incentives can further improve the development and utilization of solar air conditioning technology in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]