Arab youth are becoming less optimistic, survey finds

Optimism is waning among youth throughout the Arab world, particularly in the Levant region and Yemen, according to a newly released survey.

The results of the 9th annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey were revealed early on Wednesday during the survey's launch event in Dubai.

The study is considered one of the most important pieces of research produced in the Middle East.

The results from this year's survey are based on 3,500 face-to-face interviews that were conducted in sixteen Arab states between February and March, 2017.

The Arab states covered include countries in the GCC, North Africa, the Levant, and Yemen. (Syria was not included due to the civil unrest that continues in the country).

The annual study offers insight into the attitudes and aspirations of the region's largest demographic: people under the age of 30.

According to the survey's website, 60 percent of the Arab population are under the age of 30, and over one-third of them, more than 100 million, are aged 15 to 29.

Topics covered in this year's study ranged from political to personal, and included questions on the economy and foreign affairs, unemployment, the election of U.S. president Donald Trump and its implications on the region, attitudes towards the Arabic language and media consumption habits.

The study is revealing and reflects many of the fears, concerns and hopes of young people in the region.

According to the findings, "optimism is waning among Arab youth," especially in the Levant and Yemen where 2 in 3 young individuals said that "their best days are behind them."

A regional split is evident in this category because while young people in the GCC feel that their governments are insistent on implementing youth-focused policies, "most young Arabs in Levant and Yemen think they are being overlooked."

Unemployment ranks as a top concern for Arab youths in many countries across the region and is seen as a factor that holds them back.

Other concerns include the so-called Islamic State (Daech) and other terrorist threats. 

The research reveals that a "few outside the GCC believe that the education they receive prepares them for future employment," while 39 percent of Arab youths are concerned about the quality of education in their respective countries.

According to the latest figures, "58 percent of Arab youth" surveyed have confidence in the ability of their governments in combating IS. 

Arab youths have their eyes set on the UAE, which comes first and ahead of previous preferences including the U.S.

The country topped the listing and was also named "a model country for others to emulate."  

On the U.S. election, the numbers reveal that 64 percent of those surveyed are either concerned, angry or scared of U.S. president Donald Trump's rise to power.

The majority of Arab youths consider the UAE or Saudi Arabia as major allies to their countries.

As for who they view as an enemy, the majority of young people in eight Arab countries consider the U.S. an enemy - a number that has risen across four countries since last year.

The number of Arab youths who believe that the Arabic language is losing its value has sharply risen from 47 percent in 2015 to 60 percent in 2017.

This year's report also concludes that 54 percent of Arab youths use the English language more than Arabic in their daily lives.

The survey results reflect an increase in the use of alternative media when it comes to news browsing.

It also reveals that "Facebook and Whatsapp are the most popular social media platforms," while Instagram is showing an extremely strong surge.