Government Initiatives: The Missing Key for E-commerce Growth in KSA
This paper explores the issues that influence online retailing in Saudi Arabia. Retailers in Saudi Arabia have been reserved in their adoption of electronically delivered aspects of their business. Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia has the largest and fastest growth of ICT marketplaces in the Arab region, e-commerce activities are not progressing at the same speed. Only very few Saudi companies, mostly medium and large companies from the manufacturing sector, are involved in e-commerce implementation. Based on qualitative data collected by conducting interviews with 16 retailers and 16 potential customers in Saudi Arabia, several factors influencing online retailing diffusion in Saudi Arabia are identified. However, government support comes the highest and most influencing factor for online retailing growth as identified by both parties; retailers and potential customers in Saudi Arabia.
[1] Laudon, K.C. and C.G. Traver, E-commerce: business, technology,
society. 3 ed. 2007, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
[2] CIA (Central Inelegance Agency). The World Fact Book: Saudi Arabia.
2009 [cited 2010 20 Oct]; Available from:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/
geos/sa.html.
[3] Information Centre - Saudi Ministry of Commerce, E-commerce in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Arab Organization for Industrial
Development Conference 2006: Tunisia. p. 1-27.
[4] Saudi Ministry of Commerce, E-commerce in the kingdom:
Breakthrough for the future. 2001, Rayadh.
[5] Al-Otaibi, M.B. and R.M. Al-Zahrani, E-commerce Adoption in Saudi
Arabia: An Evaluation of Commercial Organizations' Web Sites. 2003,
King Saud University: Riyadh.
[6] U.S. Department of Commerce, Doing Business In Saudi Arabia: A
Country Commercial Guide for U.S. Companies. 2008, U.S. & Foreign
Commercial Service and U.S. Department of State.
[7] Alfuraih, S. E-commerce and E-commerce Fraud in Saudi Arabia: A
Case Study. in 2nd International Conference on Information Security
and Assurance 2008. Busan, Korea: Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
[8] Albadr, B.H., E-commerce. Science and Technology, 2003(65): p. 14-
19.
[9] Aladwani, A.M., Key Internet characteristics and e-commerce issues in
Arab countries. Information and Management, 2003. 16(1): p. 9-20.
[10] CITC (Communications and Information Technology Commission),
Internet Usage Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2007,
Communications and Information Technology Commission: Riyadh.
[11] Agamdi, A e-Commerce Implementation Challenges and Success
Factors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in 19th National Computer
Conference: the digital economy and ICT industry. 2008: Riyadh.
[12] CITC (Communications and Information Technology Commission) ,
Marketplace of Telecommunications and Information Technology in
KSA 2006, Communications and Information Technology Commission:
Riyadh, p. 1-57.
[13] Al-Solbi, A. and P.J. Mayhew, Measuring E-Readiness Assessment in
Saudi Organisations Preliminary Results From A Survey Study, in
From e-government to m-government, I. Kushchu and M.H. Kuscu,
Editors. 2005, Mobile Government Consortium International LLC:
Brighton, UK. p. 467-475.
[14] Saudi Post. Saudi Post: Establishment and Development. 2008 [cited
2009 21 Nov]; Available from:
http://www.sp.com.sa/Arabic/SaudiPost/aboutus/Pages/establishmentan
ddevelopment.aspx.
[15] Alrawi, K.W. and K.A. Sabry, E-commerce evolution: a Gulf region
review. Int. J. Business Information Systems, 2009. 4(5): p. 509-526.
[16] Neuman, W.L., Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
Approaches. 6th ed. 2006, Boston, MA: Pearson Education.
[17] Rogers, E.M., Diffusion of Innovations. Fifth ed. 2003, New York:
Simon & Schuster. 551.
[18] Suadi Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, The
National Communications and Information Technology Plan. 2006,
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology: Riyadh. p.
91.
[19] Saudi Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, The
Annual Report for the National Communications and Information
Technology Plan. 2009, Ministry of Communication and Information
Technology: Riyadh
[20] Saudi Post. Production and Services. 2010 [cited 2010 14 Dec];
Available from:
http://www.sp.com.sa/English/SaudiPost/ProductsServices/Pages/Wase
l1.aspx.
[21] Alriyadh. No E-government without the application of mailing
Addressing System 2010 [cited 2010 14 Dec]; Available from:
http://www.sp.com.sa/arabic/news/pages/newsdetails.aspx?ItemID=419
[22] AlGhamdi, R & Drew, S 2011, 'Seven Key Drivers to Online Retailing
in KSA', in P Kommers & P Isaías (eds), Proceedings of the IADIS
International Conference on e-Society 2011, Avila, Spain, pp. 237-44.
[23] AlGhamdi, R., E-commerce in the Kingdom and the missing hope!, in
Alriyadh. 2010: Riyadh; Available from:
http://www.alriyadh.com/2010/12/23/article588081.html
[24] Kamaruzaman, KN, Handrich, YM & Sullivan, F 2010, 'e-Commerce
Adoption in Malaysia: Trends, Issues and Opportunities', in R
Ramasamy & S Ng (eds), ICT Strategic Review 2010/11 E-commerce
for Global Reach PIKOM (The National ICT Association of Malaysia),
Putrajaya, Malaysia, pp. 89-134.
[1] Laudon, K.C. and C.G. Traver, E-commerce: business, technology,
society. 3 ed. 2007, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
[2] CIA (Central Inelegance Agency). The World Fact Book: Saudi Arabia.
2009 [cited 2010 20 Oct]; Available from:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/
geos/sa.html.
[3] Information Centre - Saudi Ministry of Commerce, E-commerce in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Arab Organization for Industrial
Development Conference 2006: Tunisia. p. 1-27.
[4] Saudi Ministry of Commerce, E-commerce in the kingdom:
Breakthrough for the future. 2001, Rayadh.
[5] Al-Otaibi, M.B. and R.M. Al-Zahrani, E-commerce Adoption in Saudi
Arabia: An Evaluation of Commercial Organizations' Web Sites. 2003,
King Saud University: Riyadh.
[6] U.S. Department of Commerce, Doing Business In Saudi Arabia: A
Country Commercial Guide for U.S. Companies. 2008, U.S. & Foreign
Commercial Service and U.S. Department of State.
[7] Alfuraih, S. E-commerce and E-commerce Fraud in Saudi Arabia: A
Case Study. in 2nd International Conference on Information Security
and Assurance 2008. Busan, Korea: Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
[8] Albadr, B.H., E-commerce. Science and Technology, 2003(65): p. 14-
19.
[9] Aladwani, A.M., Key Internet characteristics and e-commerce issues in
Arab countries. Information and Management, 2003. 16(1): p. 9-20.
[10] CITC (Communications and Information Technology Commission),
Internet Usage Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2007,
Communications and Information Technology Commission: Riyadh.
[11] Agamdi, A e-Commerce Implementation Challenges and Success
Factors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in 19th National Computer
Conference: the digital economy and ICT industry. 2008: Riyadh.
[12] CITC (Communications and Information Technology Commission) ,
Marketplace of Telecommunications and Information Technology in
KSA 2006, Communications and Information Technology Commission:
Riyadh, p. 1-57.
[13] Al-Solbi, A. and P.J. Mayhew, Measuring E-Readiness Assessment in
Saudi Organisations Preliminary Results From A Survey Study, in
From e-government to m-government, I. Kushchu and M.H. Kuscu,
Editors. 2005, Mobile Government Consortium International LLC:
Brighton, UK. p. 467-475.
[14] Saudi Post. Saudi Post: Establishment and Development. 2008 [cited
2009 21 Nov]; Available from:
http://www.sp.com.sa/Arabic/SaudiPost/aboutus/Pages/establishmentan
ddevelopment.aspx.
[15] Alrawi, K.W. and K.A. Sabry, E-commerce evolution: a Gulf region
review. Int. J. Business Information Systems, 2009. 4(5): p. 509-526.
[16] Neuman, W.L., Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
Approaches. 6th ed. 2006, Boston, MA: Pearson Education.
[17] Rogers, E.M., Diffusion of Innovations. Fifth ed. 2003, New York:
Simon & Schuster. 551.
[18] Suadi Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, The
National Communications and Information Technology Plan. 2006,
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology: Riyadh. p.
91.
[19] Saudi Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, The
Annual Report for the National Communications and Information
Technology Plan. 2009, Ministry of Communication and Information
Technology: Riyadh
[20] Saudi Post. Production and Services. 2010 [cited 2010 14 Dec];
Available from:
http://www.sp.com.sa/English/SaudiPost/ProductsServices/Pages/Wase
l1.aspx.
[21] Alriyadh. No E-government without the application of mailing
Addressing System 2010 [cited 2010 14 Dec]; Available from:
http://www.sp.com.sa/arabic/news/pages/newsdetails.aspx?ItemID=419
[22] AlGhamdi, R & Drew, S 2011, 'Seven Key Drivers to Online Retailing
in KSA', in P Kommers & P Isaías (eds), Proceedings of the IADIS
International Conference on e-Society 2011, Avila, Spain, pp. 237-44.
[23] AlGhamdi, R., E-commerce in the Kingdom and the missing hope!, in
Alriyadh. 2010: Riyadh; Available from:
http://www.alriyadh.com/2010/12/23/article588081.html
[24] Kamaruzaman, KN, Handrich, YM & Sullivan, F 2010, 'e-Commerce
Adoption in Malaysia: Trends, Issues and Opportunities', in R
Ramasamy & S Ng (eds), ICT Strategic Review 2010/11 E-commerce
for Global Reach PIKOM (The National ICT Association of Malaysia),
Putrajaya, Malaysia, pp. 89-134.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:62462", author = "R. AlGhamdi and S. Drew and S. Alkhalaf", title = "Government Initiatives: The Missing Key for E-commerce Growth in KSA", abstract = "This paper explores the issues that influence online retailing in Saudi Arabia. Retailers in Saudi Arabia have been reserved in their adoption of electronically delivered aspects of their business. Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia has the largest and fastest growth of ICT marketplaces in the Arab region, e-commerce activities are not progressing at the same speed. Only very few Saudi companies, mostly medium and large companies from the manufacturing sector, are involved in e-commerce implementation. Based on qualitative data collected by conducting interviews with 16 retailers and 16 potential customers in Saudi Arabia, several factors influencing online retailing diffusion in Saudi Arabia are identified. However, government support comes the highest and most influencing factor for online retailing growth as identified by both parties; retailers and potential customers in Saudi Arabia.
", keywords = "government support, key factor, online retailing
growth, Saudi Arabia", volume = "5", number = "5", pages = "759-4", }
