DUBAI: Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the top five countries in the world that Arab youth would most like their own nation to emulate, according to the 15th annual ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey.
The survey, which is the largest of its kind, gathered the opinions of young men and women aged 18 to 24 across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), including South Sudan for the first time this year.
Titled “Living a New Reality,” this year’s report focuses on the views of Generation Z, who did not experience significant regional events such as the Arab Spring and the rise and fall of Daesh. The survey reflects the evolving perspectives of Arab youth in a changing world.
In a notable shift since 2017, Saudi Arabia ranked alongside the United Kingdom as a country that Arab youth most desire their own nation to be like, with both receiving 11 percent of the responses. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) topped the list with 22 percent, followed by the United States (19 percent), Canada (16 percent), and Qatar (15 percent). This is the first time since 2014 that three Gulf countries have made it to the top five, reflecting the influence of significant events such as the UAE’s Expo 2020 and Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Support of Arab Youth for Saudi Arabia’s Economic and Social Reforms
The survey also highlighted the support of Arab youth for Saudi Arabia’s economic and social reforms. Approximately 90 percent of respondents endorsed policies encouraging more Saudi graduates and school-leavers to pursue careers in the private sector, while 91 percent expressed support for a larger role of the private sector in the overall economy. Furthermore, 96 percent approved of the various tourism and leisure “giga-projects” in the Kingdom, aimed at stimulating economic diversification and job creation.
Saudi youth also showed strong support for women-oriented initiatives, with 89 percent endorsing policies that encourage women to play a more active role in society, including the right to drive and participate in the performing arts. Additionally, 86 percent expressed favorability towards women joining the workforce.
The survey shed light on Arab youth’s opinions on international and regional politics. Nearly two-thirds of respondents believed that tensions between Iran, Israel, and the West would lead to military conflict, with the number rising to 72 percent in the Levant region. A significant majority of Arab youth opposed the normalization of ties with Israel, except for UAE nationals, of whom 75 percent supported their government’s decision. Turkiye and China replaced the US and the UK as allies of countries in the Arab world, with the US dropping to seventh place.
Sunil John, founder and president of ASDA’A BCW, emphasized the growing optimism among Saudi youth and the improved perception of Saudi Arabia outside the Kingdom. He stated that the changes underway in Saudi Arabia are seen by the region’s youth as a successful model for their nations to follow.
