Results of the "Arab Youth Pulse" survey, conducted by Ipsos and the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, were presented today at the fifth Congress of Arabic and Creative Industries at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi. The survey polled 4,092 young people aged 18 to 25 across ten Arab countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria.
The findings show 71 per cent of respondents prefer consuming media in Arabic, yet 67 per cent said Arabic content feels outdated compared with English alternatives. At the same time, 91 per cent said they use Arabic at home and 85 per cent with friends, while 77 per cent said they feel proud when encountering Arabic in modern contexts.
Separately, 76 per cent said they feel more confident expressing themselves in Arabic, and 74 per cent believe the language needs to evolve to keep pace with contemporary education and work demands.
Ali bin Tamim, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said creating new opportunities is the foundation of a vibrant environment that renews the language. Egyptian screenwriter and producer Mohamed Hefzy pointed to financing gaps in Arabic content production, saying the investment market in this field has yet to mature.