An analysis of the operation of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (Ph.D. Thesis)

This thesis examines the operations of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, a development bank founded in 1974 as an effort to expand the Saudi economy and decrease dependence on oil revenues. This program provides private industrial groups with interest free loans and offers managerial and technical assistance to these companies. The study provides framework knowledge regarding Islamic economies in general, then more specifically on the Saudi economy, as well as outlining development bank operations and Islamic investment systems. The thesis then goes into greater detail regarding the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, including an examination of the program's lending procedures and interviews with officials involved in the project. The thesis concludes with policy recommendations.