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The purpose of this paper is to find out whether profit‐and‐loss‐sharing (PLS) modes of finance have become viable financial alternatives for entrepreneurship and enterprise development or whether they are still merely an academic endeavour.

The method employed in this study is a combination of extensive examination of existing literature and critical analysis of the outcomes of several relevant studies in order to establish the convergent/divergent relationship between theory and practice in Islamic finance.

Based on available bank level and country level data, the paper presents evidence that the divergence between the theoretical perspective and the practical implementation of PLS modes of finance is widening to an alarming level. The paper argues that this divergence by no means can be attributed to the construct and the disposition of the PLS instruments; it is rather the product of the negative attitude and the lack of proper infrastructure of the majority of Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) – and their (reluctance) to accommodate entrepreneurship through the genuine implementation of PLS instruments.

The findings of this study draw attention to the visible shortage in practical research pertaining to the application of the principles of PLS modes in financing entrepreneurial activities. The study suggests that the relevance, the direction and the resilience of future research undertakings should be focused on bridging the increasing gap between the prescribed role of PLS instruments and the actual performance of IFIs in promoting socio‐economic development through the creation of a vibrant entrepreneurship sector.

The paper points out that while PLS models dominate the theoretical literature on Islamic finance, and whereas the majority of mainstream Muslim scholars and financial authorities overwhelmingly judge PLS models as being compelling financial options and practical developmental tools, the reality of Islamic finance paints a different picture. The paper emphasizes the need for IFIs to conform to their own charters and assume a leading developmental role in order to realize al‐Shariah objectives (maqasid al Shariah). The paper identifies key research areas that warrant the attention of keen researchers with interest in the field of Islamic finance and entrepreneurship development.

The purpose of this paper is to critically review some of the existing literature relevant to Saudi Arabia's quest for development in order to build the argument for the viability of entrepreneurship to Saudi Arabia's development process.

The method employed in this study is a combination of critical examination of existing literature and the authors' personal experience with the developmental and entrepreneurial process.

The successive five‐year developmental plans failed to include an entrepreneurship sector, thus failing to address the most pressing unemployment problem facing the economy.

The authors critically examined the issue of Saudi Arabia's economic development using secondary data coupled with field experience of the authors. This is a case study, so it did not employ any empirical analysis.

The findings of this paper will reinforce the importance of entrepreneurship as a diversification strategy among the policy‐making bodies in Saudi Arabia. Although Saudi Arabia advocates the policy of development maintaining Islamic values, the paper makes a case that such Islamic values should be implemented fully to achieve socio‐economic justice.

The paper comprises derived research based on country analysis coupled with the authors' practical experience with Saudi Arabia's economic development and entrepreneurial activities. It is original in the sense that the authors provide reasoned interpretations of Saudi Arabia's economic development and the role that an entrepreneurial sector can play in achieving balanced socio‐economic justice.