An Overview of CSR Programs in Saudi Arabia with Reference to Select Organizations

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implies evaluation and taking the responsibility for the organization’s impact on the larger environment and eventually the social welfare aspects. It refers to the promotion of positive social and environmental change. Organizations are crucial players in the community as well as the national economic development because they control huge assets and can invest for socially conscious investments and programs. Moreover, though customers may buy goods and services but ultimately today the level of competition depends on a number of factors like the corporations social programs. A company’s public image is created mostly due to the CSR activities and how well-aware customers are of them. Employees like working for a company that has a good public image and is constantly in the media for positive reasons. This paper discusses the CSR activities of some select Saudi public and private companies and analyses the implications as well as the some of the positive suggestions and criticisms in the context of the kingdom.