JEDDAH: While Saudi doctoral holders have called on Saudi universities to hire them instead of non-Saudis, a recent report showed that Saudi Ph.D. holders are specialized in 104 different areas with 95% of those being non-scientific. Education and psychology doctoral degrees make up 71 percent of the total Ph.D. holders, while 55 percent of degrees are from Jordanian universities.

Badi Al-Shokra said Shariah, Islamic studies and Arabic language posts are mostly held by non-Saudis from Arab countries, although many Saudis with degrees in those specialties are denied employment. He questioned the motives of universities and their tendency to favor non-Saudi degree holders.