The private sector in Saudi Arabia is at a critical inflection point. As national priorities shift under Vision 2030, businesses are no longer evaluated solely by profits or market share, but by their contribution to society, sustainability, and inclusive economic growth. This new landscape demands a bold rethink: What role should companies play in shaping a better future for the Kingdom? And how can they build lasting value that extends beyond shareholders?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can increase innovation, resilience, and trust in a brand, with research showing that 77 percent of consumers are willing to pay more for products from companies committed to making the world a better place. Moreover, evidence suggests CSR can improve financial performance—in 92 percent of studies, CSR initiatives generated a net financial benefit. Each year, large companies worldwide spend tens of billions of dollars on CSR programs.
In Saudi Arabia, business spending on CSR—the idea that a company should help society and the environment as well as make profits—and on ESG initiatives is accelerating, but remains less established than in economies with a longer track record of integrating CSR and ESG into corporate strategy and regulatory frameworks.
We take a closer look at the evolving career landscape in CSR—examining the types of roles emerging in the field, the skill sets increasingly in demand, and the educational pathways professionals are pursuing. Through real-life examples from Saudi Arabia, we explore how individuals are entering CSR (often from unexpected backgrounds) and how the function is gaining recognition as a meaningful and dynamic area of practice.
