RECREATING URBAN SPACE IN SAUDI ARABIA: PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN ESTABLISHING CREATIVE CITIES THROUGH LEISURE, SPORTS, AND RECREATION

Abstract

There is growing evidence that leisure satisfaction is important to the health and welfare of any population. This study shows the current level of leisure satisfaction among the residents in the city of Riyadh (as representative of the population of Saudi Arabia), the factors that influenced satisfaction, the role of private industry in improving leisure satisfaction, and suggested ways to increase the awareness of the importance of leisure satisfaction to the Saudi population and, therefore, improve their quality of life. This study showed that Leisure involvement among Saudi nationals has been low and so has leisure satisfaction, mainly because many leisure activities are considered to be incompatible with Islamic faith. Furthermore, the limited number of leisure facilities in Riyadh is mostly enjoyed by expatriates and their families. It is argued that it is important to engage the private sector in planning policies in order to affect the social change necessary to encourage more opportunities for, and participation in, leisure activity among Saudi nationals.