Blue Economy and Sustainable Economic Growth in Saudi Arabia

This study investigates the role of the blue economy in promoting sustainable economic growth in Saudi Arabia, utilizing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework to analyze both short- and long-term dynamics. The findings reveal that key blue economy elements, including fisheries production, aquaculture, and the combined outputs of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, contribute positively to economic growth, while inflation exerts a negative effect. Trade emerges as a significant driver of growth, emphasizing the importance of trade openness in fostering economic development. The study highlights the potential of Saudi Arabia to leverage its marine resources, given its strategic geographic location and abundant blue economy opportunities, to stimulate infrastructure development and generate employment. However, achieving these outcomes requires strong political commitment and investment in research. The study acknowledges limitations related to data availability and the complexity of the blue economy, suggesting that future research should adopt comprehensive data collection methods and consider the social and environmental impacts of blue economy initiatives. By addressing these dimensions, Saudi Arabia can effectively harness its blue resources to advance sustainable economic development and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14.