Toward Unlocking the Potential of the Circular Economy at Municipal Levels: A Study of Expert Perceptions in the Dammam Metropolitan Area

The circular economy (CE) has emerged as a pivotal strategy for cities to reconcile economic growth with environmental sustainability. However, its implementation in resource-dependent Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) contexts remains underexplored. This study investigates expert perceptions of CE readiness, barriers, and opportunities in the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA), Saudi Arabia, a critical industrial hub for Saudi Vision 2030. Through a cross-sectional survey of 230 policymakers, industry leaders, and academics, analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistics (SPSS) and qualitative coding (NVivo), this study identifies renewable energy (mean = 4.10) and municipal waste management (mean = 3.78) as top sectoral priorities. However, systemic challenges, including fragmented governance, limited public awareness (mean = 3.65), and funding gaps (mean = 3.52), underscore the gap between Vision 2030’s ambitious targets and localized capacity. Statistical analyses reveal strong associations between institutional fragmentation and financial inefficiencies (X2 = 23.45, p = 0.010), while mid-career workforce dominance (54.8%) and underrepresentation of policymakers (6.5%) highlight governance gaps. This study advocates for hybrid strategies: stricter waste regulations (40.0% stakeholder priority), CE training programs, and public–private partnerships (PPPs) to scale waste-to-energy infrastructure and industrial symbiosis. Despite pragmatic optimism (48.7% foresee 21–40% recycling by 2030), limitations such as reliance on expert perspectives and exclusion of citizen voices necessitate future interdisciplinary and longitudinal research. By aligning regulatory rigor with inclusive governance, the DMA can model a Gulf-centric CE transition, advancing regional sustainability while contributing actionable insights for resource-dependent economies globally.