Majority of Arab youth prefer to live in the UAE: Survey
DUBAI: A survey of Arab youth in the region revealed that 57% of young Arab men and women preferred to live and start a live in the UAE, according to ASDA’A BCW’S 14th Arab Youth Survey.
The 14th Arab Youth Survey, the most comprehensive survey of its kind of the largest population in the Arab world, which included more than 200 million young men and women, revealed that Arab youth, for the eleventh year in a row, chose the UAE as a country they aspire to live in, and want their countries to imitate it.
The survey found that the UAE is the preferred country for nearly two-thirds (57%) of young Arab men and women between the ages of 18 and 24, outperforming the United States (24%), Canada (20%), France (15%) and Germany (15%).
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, praised the Youth Survey.
Sheikh Mohammed said on Twiter, “I looked at a survey of Arab youth conducted by ASDA’A BCW and covering 50 Arab cities in 17 countries. More than half of Arab youth believe that their countries’ economy is not going in the right direction, and 45% of respondents confirmed that they are trying or seriously considering emigrating from their countries. Economy is above all and it is everything.
“In the same poll, the UAE ranked first in the world in which Arab youth want to live... The movement of people away from you or towards you is the biggest and most sincere vote on the success of your experience... This is my message to all governments.”
The popularity of the UAE this year as a preferred place to live reached its highest levels since the survey began asking a question in this regard in 2012, 37% of respondents chose the UAE as their preferred country to live, followed by France and the United States.
The atractiveness of the UAE spreads across the Middle East and North Africa, with its selection by 51% of the youth of North African countries. Next comes the United States (24%).
The UAE was also the first choice for youth in Eastern Mediterranean countries (57%), followed by Canada (31%), and the preferred country to live for 63% of citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, followed by the United States (19%).
For the eleventh year in a row, the UAE has remained the country that most Arab youth want their countries to emulate.
As the model country for 27% of Arab youth in general, the UAE outperformed the United States (22%), Canada (18%), Germany (14%), France (11%), and Turkey (11%).
The booming UAE economy is an important atraction for Arab youth.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, met separately with a number of foreign ministers of countries participating in the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Sheikhabdullahmetdemekemekonnen,deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia; Dr. Fuad Hussein, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq; Ilia Darchiashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; Naglaa Al-manqoush, Minister of Foreign Affairsof Libya; Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada; Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland; Vladimir Norov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan; Livia Agosti, State Secretary of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs; and Mohamed Salem Ould Marzouk, Mauritanian Foreign Minister.
During the meetings, the parties reviewed bilateral cooperation and partnership between the UAE and these countries in several sectors, including energy, renewable energy, food security, economic, educational, tourism, investment and culture.
The meetings reviewed bilateral relations and
During meetings, par t ies r eviewed bilat er al cooper at ion and par t ner ship bet ween UAE and these countriesin sever al sect or s; UAE delegat ion holds second day of meet ings on sidelines of 77t h session of UNGA
strategic partnerships in all sectors, including economic, investment, financial, renewable energy, food security, cultural, educational and tourism, between the UAE and these countries.
The meetings also reviewed the global efforts made to combat climate, especially with the UAE hosting the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023.
The Ministers also discussed several issues on the agenda of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and exchanged views on regional and international developments.
In a related context, the UAE Foreign Minister met with David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).
Sheikh Abdullah and Beasley discussed joint cooperation between the UAE and the World Food Programme as part of the country’s commitment to multilateral action in the face of emergency humanitarian crises and working to Provide the necessarysupporttothemostaffectedcommunities.
Meanwhile, the UAE delegation held its second day of meetings on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, participated in a roundtable ministerial meeting on regional stability and cooperation in the Middle East.
Al Marar also delivered a speech during the joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United Kingdom and atended a closed ministerial roundtable on pathways for sustainable peace and security 20 years ater the Arab Peace Initiative.
For her part, Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, met with Vuk Jeremi , former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia.
She also met with Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, and Denis Ronaldo Moncada Colindres, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Nicaragua.
In addition, Al Hashemy met with Melinda Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, wherein they discussed the close partnership between the UAE and the Gates Foundation and reviewed joint efforts in global health and the empowerment of women and girls.
For his part, Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, met with Wavel Ramkalawan, President of the Republic of Seychelles, to discuss bilateral ties, particularly in the trade, tourism, and investment fields. Al Nahyan also met with Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabonese Republic, to discuss strengthening the bilateral relationship and ongoing coordination on the Security Council.
Sheikh Shakboot bin Nahyan then met with Mohamed Bazoum, President of Niger, and other officials, including Sylvie Baïpo-temon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic; Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guinea; Aissata Tall Sall, Foreign Minister of Senegal; Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cameroon; Rui Figueiredo Soares, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cabo Verde, as well as Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh, Special Representative of the Secretary-general and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel.