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Saudi women entrepreneurs: A growing economic segment

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  • Welsh, Dianne H.B.
  • Memili, Esra
  • Kaciak, Eugene
  • Al Sadoon, Aliyah

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the sources of knowledge and support for Saudi Arabian women entrepreneurs when starting or operating a new venture. The study examines factors relevant to knowledge base, family support, and external support from outside sources that may influence venture creation. The findings reveal that women are the principal in the majority (55%) of women-owned businesses. A total of 70% of the women own more than 51% of the business and 42% started the business by themselves. Saudi Arabian businesswomen are highly educated, receive strong support from family and friends, and rate themselves as excellent in people skills and innovation. Further research should focus on qualities that contribute to successful women-owned firms in Saudi Arabia. The current study contributes to the literature by focusing on Saudi women entrepreneurs. The understanding of entrepreneurship around the world grows through these findings from a Saudi Arabian context. The results show that Chang, Memili, Chrisman, Kellermanns, and Chua's (2009) model of venture creation is applicable to the broader entrepreneurial and family business population. A discussion of the implications relevant to the business environment, challenges, and opportunities in Saudi Arabian women's entrepreneurship brings this paper to a close.

Suggested Citation

  • Welsh, Dianne H.B. & Memili, Esra & Kaciak, Eugene & Al Sadoon, Aliyah, 2014. "Saudi women entrepreneurs: A growing economic segment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 758-762.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:67:y:2014:i:5:p:758-762
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.11.040
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    7. Gift Donga & Tendai Chimucheka, 2024. "Challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic on women entrepreneurs operating in the informal food sector: A post COVID-19 analyses," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 13(2), pages 216-228, March.
    8. Bettina Lynda Bastian & Beverly Dawn Metcalfe & Mohammad Reza Zali, 2019. "Gender Inequality: Entrepreneurship Development in the MENA Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-26, November.
    9. Welsh, Dianne H.B. & Kaciak, Eugene & Shamah, Rania, 2018. "Determinants of women entrepreneurs' firm performance in a hostile environment," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 481-491.
    10. Sophie Alkhaled, 2021. "Women's entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Feminist solidarity and political activism in disguise?," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 950-972, May.
    11. Dianne H. B. Welsh & Eugene Kaciak & Caroline Minialai, 2017. "The influence of perceived management skills and perceived gender discrimination in launch decisions by women entrepreneurs," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-33, March.
    12. Md. Mazharul Islam & Abla Abdul Hameed Bokhari & Turki Shjaan Abalala, 2018. "Perceptions to Start up Business as a Career Choice among Saudi Female Higher Education Students," Societies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-22, May.
    13. Yyes Robichaud & Jean-Charles Cachon & Egbert Mcgraw, 2018. "Gender Comparisons In Success Evaluation And Sme Performance In Canada," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(01), pages 1-26, March.
    14. Maura McAdam & Caren Crowley & Richard T. Harrison, 2020. "Digital girl: cyberfeminism and the emancipatory potential of digital entrepreneurship in emerging economies," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 349-362, August.
    15. Nisreen Ameen & Nnamdi O. Madichie & Amitabh Anand, 2023. "Between Handholding and Hand-held Devices: Marketing Through Smartphone Innovation and Women’s Entrepreneurship in Post Conflict Economies in Times of Crisis," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 401-423, February.
    16. Alfawzan, Amal & Tamvada, Jagannadha Pawan & Aldhehayan, Abdualaziz & Temouri, Yama & Pereira, Vijay, 2024. "The impact of Islamic religiosity on innovation propensity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    17. Sharon Yong Yee Ong & Nurul Fadly Habidin & Mad Ithnin Salleh & Nursyazwani Mohd Fuzi, 2016. "Relationship of Entrepreneurship Practice and Business Performance of Women Entrepreneur in Malaysia," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 6(11), pages 95-109, November.
    18. Hani EL-Chaarani & Zouhour EL-Abiad, 2019. "The Determinants of Using Bank Loans by Women Entrepreneurs: Comparative Study Between Middle East and Western Europe Countries," Asian Social Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(12), pages 114-114, December.
    19. Daniela Giménez & Andrea Calabrò, 2018. "The salient role of institutions in Women’s entrepreneurship: a critical review and agenda for future research," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 857-882, December.

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