The Impact on, and the Required Financial Transformations for, a firm operating in the Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas Sector: A Case Study of Response to Industrial National Economic Transition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70301/Keywords:
Economic restructuring, economic transition, Saudi Arabian Oil and Gas Sector, renewable energy, Government vision, financial transformations, financial diversification, business strategy, business sustainabilityAbstract
As Saudi Arabia adopts strategies to transition into a non-oil economy, the fate of the affected companies remains unclear. The present research utilized a mixed method to explore the impact of economic restructuring and the necessary financial adjustments that firms in the Saudi Arabian oil sector can adopt. The existing literature uncovered several economic restructuring initiatives, including the government vision, renewable energy, and expansion of non-oil sectors. While most of the existing literature focused on the general implications of the transition to a non-oil sector, few studies concentrated on the actual impact on the oil sector. Therefore, the present study explored the impact of this transition on the business sustainability and business strategy of firms in the Saudi oil and gas sector and the financial strategies they can adopt to maneuver the changing economic landscape. This is significant as it delves into the necessity for firms within the Saudi Arabian oil sector to adjust their operational strategies and financial frameworks amid transformative shifts in the oil sector, safeguarding their future resilience and market relevance. The main findings show that economic restructuring initiatives, such as the government’s 2030 vision and renewable energy, negatively impact the firms’ strategy and sustainability capabilities. Hence, some financial initiatives required include additional investments, technology and innovation, and financial diversification. The study makes significant contributions by revealing practical strategies that firms, policymakers, and stakeholders in the Saudi Arabian oil sector and other sectors facing similar challenges can integrate into their business operations.
References
Abdelkareem, M. A., Elsaid, K., Obaideen, K., Abdelkareem, M. A., Rezk, H., Wilberforce, T., Maghrabie, H. M., & Sayed, E. T. (2023). Renewable Energy Systems: Comparisons, Challenges and Barriers, Sustainability Indicators, and the Contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goals. International Journal of Thermofluids, 20(1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100498
Abdelsalam, M. A. M. (2020). Oil price fluctuations and economic growth: the case of MENA countries. Review of Economics and Political Science, 8(5), 353–379. https://doi.org/10.1108/reps-12-2019-0162
Abid, M., & Alotaibi, M. N. (2020). Crude oil price and private sector of Saudi Arabia: Do globalization and financial development matter? New evidence from combined cointegration test. Resources Policy, 69(1), 101774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101774
Abid, M., sakrafi, H., Gheraia, Z., & Abdelli, H. (2022). Does renewable energy consumption affect ecological footprints in Saudi Arabia? A bootstrap causality test. Renewable Energy, 189, 813–821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.03.043
Al-Homoud, M. S., & Krarti, M. (2021). Energy Efficiency of Residential Buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Review of Status and Future Roadmap. Journal of Building Engineering, 36, 102143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.102143
Al-Khalidi Al-Maliki, S. Q. (2021). Increasing non-oil revenue potentiality through digital commerce: the case study in KSA. Journal of Money and Business, 1(2), 65–83. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmb-07-2021-0022
Al-Saidi, M. (2022). Energy transition in Saudi Arabia: Giant leap or necessary adjustment for a large carbon economy? Energy Reports, 8, 312–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.01.015
Al-Sarihi, A. (2019). Climate Change and Economic Diversification in Saudi Arabia: Integrity, Challenges, and Opportunities. https://agsiw.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Al-Sarihi_Climate-Change_ONLINE-1.pdf
Alajmi, R. G. (2021). Carbon emissions and electricity generation modeling in Saudi Arabia. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(16), 23169–23179. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17354-0
Alam, F., Alam, S., Asif, M., Hani, U., & Khan, M. N. (2023). An Investigation of Saudi Arabia’s Ambitious Reform Programme with Vision 2030 to Incentivise Investment in the Country’s Non-Oil Industries. Sustainability, 15(6), 5357. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065357
Alghamdi, J., & Holland, C. (2020). A comparative analysis of policies, strategies and programmes for information and communication technology integration in education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the republic of Ireland. Education and Information Technologies, 25(6), 4721–4745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10169-5
Almulhim, A. I. (2022). Raising environmental public awareness of renewable energy in Saudi Arabia. Renewable Energy, 192(1), 572–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.04.122
Alnaim, M., & Kouaib, A. (2023). Inventory Turnover and Firm Profitability: A Saudi Arabian Investigation. Processes, 11(3), 716. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11030716
AlOtaibi, Z. S., Khonkar, H. I., AlAmoudi, A. O., & Alqahtani, S. H. (2020). Current status and future perspectives for localizing the solar photovoltaic industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Energy Transitions, 4(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41825-019-00020-y
Alqahtany, A., & Aravindakshan, S. (2021). Urbanization in Saudi Arabia and sustainability challenges of cities and heritage sites: heuristical insights. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, 12(4), 408–425. https://doi.org/10.1108/jchmsd-07-2020-0108
Alswedani, S., Mehmood, R., & Katib, I. (2022). Sustainable Participatory Governance: Data-Driven Discovery of Parameters for Planning Online and In-Class Education in Saudi Arabia During COVID-19. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2022.871171
Ames, H., Glenton, C., & Lewin, S. (2019). Purposive Sampling in a Qualitative Evidence synthesis: a Worked Example from a Synthesis on Parental Perceptions of Vaccination Communication. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 19(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-019-0665-4
Aramco. (2018). Saudi Aramco highlights its contributions to the realization of Saudi Vision 2030 at Future Investment Initiative, signs 15 MOUs with business partners worth US$ 34 billion. Www.aramco.com.
Archibald, M. M., Ambagtsheer, R. C., Casey, M. G., & Lawless, M. (2019). Using Zoom Videoconferencing for Qualitative Data Collection: Perceptions and Experiences of Researchers and Participants. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 18(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919874596
Arifin, S. R. M. (2018). Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Study. International Journal of Care Scholars, 1(2), 30–33. researchgate. https://doi.org/10.31436/ijcs.v1i2.82
Aspers, P., & Corte, U. (2019). What Is Qualitative in Qualitative Research. Qualitative Sociology, 42(2), 139–160. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11133-019-9413-7
Barroga, E., & Matanguihan, G. J. (2022). A Practical Guide to Writing Quantitative and Qualitative Research Questions and Hypotheses in Scholarly Articles. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 37(16). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9039193/
Blazquez, J., Galeotti, M., Manzano, B., Pierru, A., & Pradhan, S. (2021). Effects of Saudi Arabia’s economic reforms: Insights from a DSGE model. Economic Modelling, 95, 145–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2020.12.004
Borgstede, M., & Scholz, M. (2021). Quantitative and qualitative approaches to generalization and replication–A Representationalist View. Frontiers in Psychology, 12(1), 1–9. NCBI. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.605191
Busetto, L., Wick, W., & Gumbinger, C. (2020). How to use and assess qualitative research methods. Neurological Research and Practice, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-020-00059-z
Cacciattolo, M. (2015). Ethical Considerations in Research. The Praxis of English Language Teaching and Learning (PELT), 61–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-112-0_4
Campbell, S., Greenwood, M., Prior, S., Shearer, T., Walkem, K., Young, S., Bywaters, D., & Walker, K. (2020). Purposive sampling: Complex or simple? research case examples. Journal of Research in Nursing, 25(8), 652–661. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987120927206
Castleberry, A., & Nolen, A. (2018). Thematic analysis of qualitative research data: Is it as easy as it sounds? Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 10(6), 807–815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2018.03.019
El Anshasy, A. A., & Khalid, U. (2023). From diversification resistance to sustainable diversification: lessons from the UAE’s public policy shift. Management & Sustainability: An Arab Review, 2(1), 47-66.
El-Chaarani, H. (2019). The impact of oil prices on the financial performance of banking sector in Middle East region. El-CHAARANI H.,(2019), The Impact of Oil Prices on Stocks Markets: New Evidence During and After the Arab Spring in Gulf Cooperation Council Economies, International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 9(4). https://ssrn.com/abstract=3845192
England, A. (2021). Quantitative and qualitative research methods. Research for Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 71–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79956-4_5
Fattouh, B. (2021). Saudi oil policy: continuity and change in the era of the energy transition (No. 81). OIES Paper: WPM. https://hdl.handle.net/10419/246567
Frei-Landau, R., Muchnik-Rozanov, Y., & Avidov-Ungar, O. (2022). Using Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory to conceptualize the mobile-learning adoption process in teacher education in the COVID-19 era. Education and Information Technologies, 27(9). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11148-8
Ghaemi-Zadeh, N., & Eghbali-Zarch, M. (2024). Evaluation of business strategies based on the financial performance of the corporation and investors’ behavior using D-CRITIC and fuzzy MULTI-MOORA techniques: A real case study. Expert Systems with Applications, 247(123183), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2024.123183
Hall, S., & Ryan, H. (2021). The neglected “R”: Replicability, replication, and Writing Center Research. Writing Center Journal, 39(1), 211–232. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27172220
Hamed, A., & Manaf Bohari, A. (2022). Adoption of big data analytics in medium-large supply chain firms in Saudi Arabia. Knowledge and Performance Management, 6(1), 62–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/kpm.06(1).2022.06
Hasan, N., Rana, R.U., Chowdhury, S., Dola, J. & Rony, M.K.K. (2021). 'Ethical considerations in research.' Journal of Nursing Research, Patient Safety and Practise (JNRPSP) 2799–1210, 1(01), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.55529/jnrpsp11.1.4
Hasanov, F. J., & Razek, N. (2023). Oil and non-oil determinants of Saudi Arabia’s international competitiveness: Historical Analysis and Policy Simulations. Sustainability, 15(11), 9011. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15119011
Husband, G. (2020) ‘Ethical data collection and recognizing the impact of semi-structured interviews on research respondents.’ Education Sciences, 10(8), p.206. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci10080206
Javid, M., Hasanov, F. J., Bollino, C. A., & Galeotti, M. (2022). Sectoral investment analysis for Saudi Arabia. Applied Economics, 54(38), 4486-4500. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2022.2030856
Komarova, A. V., Filimonova, I. V., & Kartashevich, A. A. (2022). Energy consumption of the countries in the context of economic development and energy transition. Energy Reports, 8, 683-690. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.07.072
Liu, H., Khan, I., Zakari, A., & Alharthi, M. (2022). Roles of trilemma in the world oil sector and transition towards sustainable energy: A Study of economic growth and the environment. Energy Policy, 170, 113238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113238
Mati, A., & Rehman, S. (2023, September 28). Saudi Arabia’s economy grows as it diversifies. IMF. https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2023/09/28/cf-saudi-arabias-economy-grows-as-it-diversifies
McGregor, S. L. T. (2023). Ethical considerations in research about organizations: Compendium of strategies. Ethics in Progress, 14(2). 4-23. https://doi.org/10.14746/eip.2023.2.1
Menzli, L. J., Smirani, L. K., Boulahia, J. A., & Hadjouni, M. (2022). Investigation of open educational resources adoption in higher education using Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory. Heliyon, 8(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09885
Miller, S. R., Moore, F., & Eden, L. (2023). Ethics and international business research: Considerations and best practices. International Business Review, 33(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2023.102207
Mohammed, J. I., Karimu, A., Fiador, V. O., & Abor, J. Y. (2020). Oil revenues and economic growth in oil-producing countries: The role of domestic financial markets. Resources Policy, 69, 101832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101832
Mohammed N., A. A., Xianhui, G., & Shah, S. A. (2021). Non-oil economic transition for economic and environmental sustainability in Saudi Arabia: A multi-factor analysis under Fuzzy Environment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(40), 56219–56233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14304-8
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2020). Saudi Arabia - overview of the education system (EAG 2023)-OECD. https://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=SAU&treshold=10&topic=EO
Pearson, K., League, R., Kent, M., McDevitt, R., Fuller, M., Jiang, R., Melton, S., Krishnamoorthy, V., Ohnuma, T., Bartz, R., Cobert, J., & Raghunathan, K. (2023).
Rogers’ Diffusion Theory of innovation applied to the adoption of sugammadex in a nationwide sample of US Hospitals. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 131(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2023.06.061
Pietilä, A.M., Nurmi, S.M., Halkoaho, A. and Kyngäs, H. (2020). 'Qualitative research: Ethical considerations.' The application of content analysis in nursing science research, pp.49–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30199-6_6
Pilcher, N., & Cortazzi, M. (2023). “Qualitative” and “quantitative” methods and approaches across subject fields: Implications for research values, assumptions, and practices. Quality & Quantity.
Porath, U. (2023). Advancing managerial evolution and resource management in contemporary business landscapes. Modern Economy, 14(10), 1404-1420. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=128338
Razek, N. H., & McQuinn, B. (2021). Saudi Arabia's currency misalignment and international competitiveness, accounting for geopolitical risks and the super-contango oil market. Resources Policy, 72, 102057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102057
Rogers, E. M. (1962). Diffusion of innovations. Free Press of Glencoe.
Salam, M. A., & Khan, S. A. (2017). Transition towards sustainable energy production – A review of the progress for solar energy in Saudi Arabia. Energy Exploration & Exploitation, 36(1), 3–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0144598717737442
Samargandi, N., Monirul Islam, Md., & Sohag, K. (2023). Towards realizing Vision 2030: Input demand for renewable energy production in Saudi Arabia. Gondwana Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2023.05.019
Sardana, N., Shekoohi, S., Cornett, E. M., & Kaye, A. D. (2023). Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods. Substance Use and Addiction Research, 65–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-98814-8.00008-1
Shehri, T. A., Braun, J. F., Howarth, N., Lanza, A., & Luomi, M. (2023). Saudi Arabia’s climate change policy and the circular carbon economy approach. Climate Policy, 23(2), 151-167. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2022.2070118
Smith, R. A., Kim, Y., Zhu, X., Doudou, D. T., Sternberg, E. D., & Thomas, M. B. (2018). Integrating models of diffusion and behavior to predict innovation adoption, maintenance, and social diffusion. Journal of Health Communication, 23(3), 264–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2018.1434259
Taquette, S. R., & Souza, L. M. B. da M. (2022). Ethical Dilemmas in Qualitative research: a
Critical Literature Review. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 21(21), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221078731
Uniacke, R. (2022). Digital Repression for Authoritarian Evolution in Saudi Arabia. New Authoritarian Practices in The Middle East and, 228. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474489430-015
Van Der Duin, P., Ortt, R., & Kok, M. (2007). The Cyclic Innovation Model: A New Challenge for a Regional Approach to Innovation Systems? European Planning Studies, 15(2), 195–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654310601078689
Waheed, R., Sarwar, S., & Dignah, A. (2020). The role of non-oil exports, tourism and renewable energy to achieve sustainable economic growth: What we learn from the experience of Saudi Arabia. Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 55(1), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strueco.2020.06.005
Xiao, D., & Su, J. (2022). Role of Technological Innovation in Achieving Social and Environmental Sustainability: Mediating Roles of Organizational Innovation and Digital Entrepreneurship. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.850172
Yusuf, N., & Lytras, M. D. (2023). Competitive Sustainability of Saudi Companies through Digitalization and the Circular Carbon Economy Model: A Bold Contribution to the Vision 2030 Agenda in Saudi Arabia. Sustainability, 15(3), 2616. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032616
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 gomaa adam (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Publication Agreement
This Publication Agreement ("Agreement") is made between the author(s) ("Author") and the SBS Journal of Applied Business Research ("Journal"). By submitting a manuscript for publication, the Author agrees to the following terms:
1. Grant of License
The Author retains full copyright ownership of the submitted and published work. The Author grants the Journal a non-exclusive license to publish, distribute, and archive the article in any format or medium, including but not limited to online and print versions.
2. Open Access and Licensing
All articles published in the Journal are fully open access under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This means that:
• The work can be freely used, shared, and adapted by anyone, provided that proper attribution is given to the original Author.
• The full license terms can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
• No additional restrictions are placed on the use of published articles.
3. Author Responsibilities and Warranties
The Author guarantees that:
• The submitted work is original and has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere.
• The work does not infringe on any third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, or proprietary rights.
• All necessary permissions for copyrighted materials used in the manuscript (e.g., figures, tables) have been obtained.
• The manuscript complies with ethical research standards and does not contain any form of plagiarism or falsified data.
4. Editorial and Publication Process
• The Journal reserves the right to perform editorial revisions for clarity, formatting, and consistency while maintaining the integrity of the Author’s work.
• The publication of an article is subject to peer review, and acceptance is not guaranteed upon submission.
5. Retraction and Corrections
• The Journal follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and reserves the right to retract, correct, or withdraw an article in cases of misconduct, errors, or ethical concerns.
6. Governing Law
This Agreement is governed by the laws of Switzerland. Any disputes arising under this Agreement shall be resolved in the courts of Zurich, Switzerland.
7. Agreement Acceptance
By submitting a manuscript, the Author acknowledges and agrees to the terms outlined in this Agreement.
Editor-In-Chief
Prof. Dr. Milos Petkovic