Title: Corporate social responsibility practices and their impact on sustainable development in Saudi Arabia

Authors: Mahmoud Abdelaziz Touny; Khaled Alsaeed Qamar; Mahmoud M. Hussein Alayis

Addresses: Faculty of Applied Studies and Community Service, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, P.O. Box 1982, Saudi Arabia ' Faculty of Applied Studies and Community Service, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, P.O. Box 1982, Saudi Arabia ' Faculty of Applied Studies and Community Service, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, P.O. Box 1982, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The importance of CSR has increased in recent years and its role in achieving sustainable development in the societies in which it operates. The current study aims to identify practices of CSR in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia and their impact on sustainable development indicators. Using qualitative and quantitative analysis of data collected by a questionnaire from 54 companies, the outcomes indicate that the social side and relationship with society represent the most important practices of CSR. The results also point out that the ethical motivation of senior management and enhancing the mental image of the company are the most important reasons that drive the company to adopt social responsibility practices. In addition, the results of the regression models show little impact of social responsibility practices on the dimensions of sustainable development in the region where the significant impact of social responsibility practices was limited to the social and voluntary side. The study provides some suggestions and recommendations that can enhance CSR in Saudi Arabia and so increase its impact on sustainable development.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility; CSR; sustainable development; poverty reduction; conservation of environment; healthcare; education; biodiversity; infrastructure; Saudi Arabia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSEM.2021.117235

International Journal of Services, Economics and Management, 2021 Vol.12 No.2, pp.185 - 209

Received: 20 Apr 2020
Accepted: 07 Nov 2020
Published online: 24 Aug 2021 *

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