Abstract
Responding to the need for historical understanding of context in women entrepreneurship, this study examines its development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia throughout the 20th century. Using a mixed-method approach that integrates (limited) statistical data and historical oral accounts, we highlight the constraining role of gendered traditions shaped by societal values, religion, and entrenched norms, including inheritance laws, male guardianship, and the establishment of the Morality Police. While formal and informal institutions have historically limited Saudi women entrepreneurs' access to business opportunities and essential resources, they have simultaneously navigated these constraints through adaptive strategies and informal networks to sustain their economic endeavours. Drawing on feminist institutionalism and capital theory, this study extends debates on the contextualisation of women’s entrepreneurship by incorporating historical dimensions and examining shifts in institutional frameworks over time.