Guest Lecture by Dr. Shatha Ismaeel (College of Law, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA)
The Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Gdańsk, is pleased to invite you to a Guest Lecture by Dr. Shatha Ismaeel from College of Law, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
📖 Lecture Topic: "The role of environmental law and enforcement in advancing sustainable development in Saudi Arabia”
📅 Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:15 – 13:45 CET
💻 Format: Online
The aim of the lecture is to analyze the impact of environmental law on progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on Saudi Arabia’s transition from a hydrocarbon-based economy. Using a 2022 cross-sectional design and multivariate OLS regression, the study assesses how regulatory density, enforcement capacity, and international commitments affect SDG performance. Results indicate a significant interaction, suggesting that the benefits of environmental laws depend on effective enforcement. Despite positive global trends, Saudi Arabia faces a notable enforcement gap , highlighting that implementation, rather than legislation, is the primary challenge. The study concludes that resource dependent economies should prioritize strengthening institutions over creating additional regulations. Recommendations include improving compliance systems, leveraging market incentives, and establishing specialized courts. These findings provide practical guidance for aligning Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 with global SDG objectives.
Join us to gain valuable insights into The role of environmental law and enforcement in advancing sustainable development in Saudi Arabia, presented by an experienced academic with a global perspective.
How to Participate:
If you wish to attend, please contact us at siapl@ug.edu.pl to receive the event link.
We warmly welcome all members and friends of our Faculty community to this engaging and thought-provoking session!
Dr. Shatha Ismaeel is a Bahraini national and an Assistant Professor at the College of Law, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She teaches General Criminal Law, Private Criminal Law, and Criminal Procedure, and her academic expertise primarily encompasses Criminal Law, International Criminal Law, and International Humanitarian Law. In recent years, Dr. Shatha has expanded her research interests beyond traditional criminal law to include Environmental Law, environmental policy, and legal policy drafting, with particular emphasis on the role of law in advancing sustainable development and contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Shatha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law, graduating with distinction and First-Class Honours, and a Master’s degree in Public Law, also with distinction and First-Class Honours, from the University of Bahrain. She obtained her Ph.D. in Law from Cairo University, Arab Republic of Egypt. She is a licensed attorney and legal expert in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with more than 18 years of academic and professional legal experience. Her professional background includes work in law firms, private-sector legal departments, legal consultancy and expertise, as well as participation as a member of assessment teams within international organizations. Her combined academic and professional experience enables her to approach contemporary legal issues from both scholarly and practical perspectives.