Corporate Governance - Essay Example

In an age when countries compete in a global economy, compliance with corporate governance standards has become crucial to businesses’ survival. Especially in the Middle East, which is culturally and politically distance from the rest of the world, compliance with the internationally accepted principles of corporate governance has become a challenge. This thesis aims to examine how a specific aspect of corporate governance—disclosure and transparency is viewed and applied in the Saudi Arabian context.

The results of this study are important primarily for Saudi Arabian businesses positioned to play a significant role in the global economy. These companies could benefit greatly from the financial strength provided by international investments, the technical and strategic advantages offered by partnerships and joint ventures with foreign companies and the market leadership obtained by gaining the trust and confidence of consumers in the global market. Achieving these benefits becomes feasible only if Saudi firms can comply with the minimum disclosure and transparency requirements.

The thesis employs critical and comparative analysis. It explores the academic literature on corporate disclosure and discusses the theories and principles espoused in the context of the Saudi Arabian legal and regulatory framework. Also discussed is the vital role of the Islamic principles in Sharia law, which forms the basis of the Saudi legal system. This study proposes corporate disclosure practices as the basis for comprehensive reform of Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority. The study offers recommendations for increasing transparency, disclosure and the associated principles in the Saudi Arabia stock market and better protecting minority shareholders.

These recommendations follow the United Kingdom’s corporate governance approach but reflect the interests, culture, treaties, Sharia principles and legislative reforms of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The