Factors Constraining Women's Participation in Administrative Contracts Disputes Arbitration: Gender Equality as a Sustainable Development Goal: A Case Study of Saudi Arabia

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the factors that constrain women's participation as arbitrators in administrative contract disputes in Saudi Arabia. Theoretical Framework: Grounded in the women's arbitration theory, the article explores the factors that hinder women from arbitrating administrative contract disputes under Saudi Law to attain equality for women in the arbitration process as a sustainable development goal(SDG). Method: To achieve the study's objective, a questionnaire-based approach was used for data collection, exploring factors such as social constraints, psychological limitations, comparison with judiciary roles, male responsibility in promoting women, support for women in arbitration, and gender equality measures. Regression analysis was conducted to examine the influence of these factors on the evaluation of women’s participation in arbitration. The results showed that while psychological limitations and support for women in arbitration positively affect participation, social constraints present significant barriers. A comparison between men’s and women’s opinions reveals differing perspectives, with men emphasizing institutional support and women highlighting the need for gender equality initiatives. Results and Discussion: The results suggested that improving institutional support, addressing social constraints, and promoting gender equality are critical to advancing women’s participation in arbitration. This study provided valuable insights for policymakers and arbitration bodies, offering practical implications for advancing gender equality in Saudi Arabia, such as the need for targeted policy changes and the importance of promoting gender equality initiatives, empowering and motivating the audience to take action. Research Implications: The study's practical implications are significant, as it seeks to increase women's opportunities to serve as arbitrators in administrative contract disputes. Originality: This study contributes to the literature by its relevance, which lies in its in-depth analysis of the factors that constrain women's participation as arbitrators in administrative contract disputes to reveal their nature and contribute to the current theory in the field to bring attention to the importance of this issue in practice.