a survey has revealed that Saudi Arabia is in the top five countries that Arab youth would like their countries to emulate, a clear affirmation of confidence in the Saudi Vision 2030 economic and social reform agenda.

Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia top the list

In Asdaa BCW's annual youth survey, Saudi Arabia appeared in the top five countries that young Arabs would like to emulate for the first time since 2017. It is also notable that three GCC countries appear in the top five ideal countries for the first time since 2014. This can be attributed to the successful economic diversification efforts launched by the three countries in recent years, the positive sentiment generated by Qatar's hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Expo 2020 Dubai, and Saudi Arabia's emergence as an international destination for investment, tourism and leisure.

Also notable is the fact that three GCC countries appear in the top five list for the first time since 2014.

Arab youth

prefer to emulate Saudi Arabia <When young Arabs were asked “Which country would you like your country to emulate?”, 11% of young Arabs aged 18-24 in 18 Arab countries chose Saudi Arabia, in equal proportion to the United Kingdom. The UAE ranked first (22%), followed by the United States (19%), Canada (16%), and Qatar (15%). These were some of the key findings from this year's “New Reality, Changing Outlook” survey, the most comprehensive survey of its kind of the region's largest population of more than 200 million young people.

These are some of the key findings from this year's survey.

Saudi Arabia an Arab ally

<In other findings, 86% of young Arabs ranked Saudi Arabia among their country's most important allies, with 54% calling it a “real ally” and 32% calling it “somewhat of an ally.” More than 9 out of 10 said Qatar is a “real or somewhat ally” of their country, followed by Kuwait (91%), Egypt (89%) and the UAE (88%).

Saudi youth support economic and social reforms

<In a question about Saudi Arabia's economic and social reforms, the survey found that young Saudi men and women strongly support these changes, with 9 out of 10 (90%) saying they support policies to encourage more Saudi graduates or those who have not completed their education to work in the private sector, while 91% said they support strengthening the role of the private sector in the overall economy. 96% of respondents also supported the massive tourism and entertainment projects that the Kingdom is developing to spur economic diversification and boost employment opportunities. More than 8 out of 10 young Saudis said they support the strategy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas, as well as encouraging foreign companies to relocate their headquarters to the Kingdom.

More than 8 out of 10 young Saudis said they support the strategy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas.

Support for laws and regulations

<89% of Saudi respondents supported their country's policies that promote women's role in society, such as laws that allow them to drive and participate in the performing arts. 86% of young Saudis also said they support women entering the labor market.

86% of young Saudis said they support women entering the labor market.

3600 respondents

The survey was conducted from March 27-April 12, 2023, and included 3,600 in-person interviews conducted by experienced interviewers from consulting firm Sixth Factor with young Arab men and women between the ages of 18 and 24.

The survey was conducted from March 27-April 12, 2023, and included 3,600 in-person interviews conducted by experienced interviewers from Sixth Factor Consulting. <The sample of participants, the largest in the survey's history, was evenly distributed by gender across 53 cities in 18 Arab countries, including South Sudan for the first time. Interviews were conducted in-person rather than online to ensure research rigor and to capture as much nuance as possible in the views of young Arabs across the region.