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UAE is Arab youths favourite country

Dubai - It is the country they would like their own to emulate: Survey

The UAE is viewed by most young Arabs as "the country they would like to live in and the country they would most like their own nation to emulate", according to the findings of the 8th Annual Asda'a Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey released on Tuesday.

The survey was conducted by international polling firm Penn Schoen Berland among 3,500 Arab national men and women aged 18-24 in six GCC countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain), Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Yemen from January 11 to February 22, 2016.

When asked to think about "which country in the world" they would like to live in, nearly one in four (22 per cent) of young Arabs chose the UAE, ahead of the United States (15 per cent), Germany (11 per cent), Saudi Arabia (11 per cent) and Canada (10 per cent).

Young Arabs look up to the UAE as the most desired place in which to live for the fifth consecutive year.

Similarly, when asked which country they would most like their own to emulate, 23 per cent cited the UAE, ahead of USA (19 per cent), Germany (12 per cent), France (10 per cent) and the United Kingdom (10 per cent).

"The respondents were asked to give their top three countries," Sunil John, CEO of Asda'a Burson-Marsteller, told Khaleej Times. "The fact that they chose the UAE as the model country or the nation they want their own to emulate is an expression of how they see the UAE as a country that promotes happiness, opportunity, safety and security."

This was echoed by 24-year old Sudanese expat Ahmed Malik. In a phone interview with Khaleej Times, he said, "The top three reasons why my family has been in Dubai since 1984 are security, job opportunity and respect for different cultures."

Egyptian youth Lina Abdelrahman, who was not a respondent to survey, for her part said: "The UAE puts a high value on respect for humanity. Likewise, the mere fact that the UAE has appointed a youth minister is a testament for its trust on the youth and this something that other Arab countries should emulate."

The UAE is also viewed as a model country that is economically secure and is the most favoured nation to set up a business in the Arab world. One in four or 24 per cent of the respondents viewed the country as the top business destination in the Arab world, followed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar with 18 and 13 per cent respectively.

"The UAE's popularity among youth is likely a reflection of its status as a model country and regional political and economic safe haven. The nation has developed a global reputation for its robust and diversified economy, which encourages a "can do" attitude among its residents and is respectful of religious and cultural diversity," according to Asda'a Burson-Marsteller.

Thinking specifically about the UAE, respondents were also asked a series of positive and negative phrases to associate the country. "Safe and Secure" came on top with 36 per cent, followed by "Has a Growing Economy" ,"Wide Range of Work Opportunities" and "Generous Salary Packages", which all scored 29 per cent each. 'Tax-free' and 'Difficult to get a residency visa' came at the bottom two with nine and eight per cent respectively.

Full results of the survey are available on www.arabyouthsurvey.com.

angel@khaleejtimes.com