ABSTRACT
This chapter provides Saudi Arabia profiles, including key information about the relevant corporate sustainability and responsibility (CSR) history, country-specific issues, trends, research, education and leading organizations. Between the old notion of corporate charity and the emergent expectations of greater business accountability to stakeholders, CSR is a confusing term to many Saudi companies. Most Saudi exports are related to hydrocarbons, mainly sold to governments and large business consumers. Saudi Arabia is in a similar position to other Gulf countries of the region with regard to dwindling water resources, rapid urbanisation and increasing pollution. As the country is striving to improve the overall business climate and enhance Saudi's competitive position globally, a number of priorities have been highlighted in the report from the general investment authority with regard to the role of business. Saudi Arabia seems to lag behind other countries of the region in terms of the role governments can play in creating appropriate incentives and drivers for CSR.
