UAE and for the ninth year, has seen as a model nation for young Arabs
According to the 12th Annual ASDA’A BCW Arab Youth Survey released today, UAE and for the ninth year, has appeared as a model nation for young Arabs, it seems for them as the country that they would like to live in, even more than the US and Canada,
When asked about the country in the world that they would like to live in, almost half (46 per cent) of all young Arabs called UAE as their country of choice, followed by the US (33 per cent), Canada (27 per cent), UK (27 per cent) and Germany (22 per cent).
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said in a series of tweets today about the survey that it was painful that almost half of Arab youth want to emigrate from their countries because they don’t find safety and livelihood in their own homeland. According to the survey, which covered 4,000 youth in 17 Arab countries, when compared to their counterparts in 16 other Arab nations, young Emiratis are least likely to consider moving to another country. Only three per cent of Emiratis aged 18 to 24 answered that they were either actively trying to emigrate or have considered emigrating. In the same age group, the next least likely to emigrate are Saudis (six per cent) and Omanis (12 per cent).
On their perception about the spread of government corruption in their countries, Shaikh Mohammad reported that if a government is corrupt, the country will be ruined, adding that every official is responsible before God. In the UAE, when asked about what was closer to your view about your government, just one per cent of youth selected the statement there is widespread government corruption in my country.
In his speech about the UAE’s place as the most preferred country, Shaikh Mohammad declared that the UAE is a country for everyone, and he added that the UAE has built a successful model and its doors will remain open to all.
It was reported that the survey is a largest one in the region’s biggest demographic with its youth. The survey this year that covering 4,000 young Arabs aged 18 to 24 was lead in two parts: The first Main Survey before the coronavirus outbreak and the second COVID-19 Pulse Survey after the crisis.
Why UAE is a top choice?
The main survey was covered 17 Arab countries, among them, the UAE rises to the top with over half (52 per cent) of respondents said that their country should emulate the Emirates. The US is in the second position with 30 per cent, followed by Germany (23 per cent), Canada (21 per cent) and Japan (20 per cent). When asked about what they associate most with the UAE, young Arabs responded by factors including safety and security (44 per cent), wide range of work opportunities (36 per cent), generous salary packages (32 per cent), a growing economy (31 per cent) and a good place to raise a family (25 per cent) as the best five reasons.
Emphasizing the robust reputation of the UAE across the Arab world, a large majority (89 per cent) of Arab youth look at it as an ally of their country, besides to being regarded as one of the top three rising powers that have most increased their influence in the Arab world, next to Saudi Arabia and the US.
The results of the study, directed for leading PR consultancy ASDA’A BCW by PSB, which is a global strategic research and analytics consultancy, indicates that the opinions of young Arabs on a range of subjects including the anti-government protests that started on some parts of the region during the past year, gender rights, personal identity, employment, personal debt, foreign relations and media consumption.
Historical year
Sunil John, President – Middle East of BCW and Founder of ASDA’A BCW, reported that for years, the UAE has served as a beacon of hope in the region. The unique model of the nation, celebrating social, religious and cultural pluralism, continues to gain the admiration of young Arabs, who see the UAE as the top nation in the world, over Western and Eastern counterparts, to live in and emulate. This is a powerful statement on the positivity and progressive outlook of the UAE leadership and people.
He also said: In a defining year that witnessed the UAE marking historic firsts, including the first interplanetary mission from the Arab world to Mars with the successful launch of the Hope Probe, and signing the Peace Accord with Israel, the national pride of young Emiratis is surging, as our survey findings show. This also reflects in other key findings of the survey in which Emirati youth express an almost diametrically opposed view to the majority – especially in relation to their confidence in their government’s ability, desire to emigrate, and their nationality defines their personal identity, rather than religion.
With the presence of 65 per cent of the Arab population under the age of 30, the survey presents insights based on evidence about the attitudes of the over 200 million Arab youth, and providing public and private sector organizations with data and analysis to tell their about making the decision and policy creation.
