More than two-thirds of young Arabs see Iran as an enemy, according to a new survey.
The recent strikes on oil installations in Saudi Arabia, an attack that many observers are blaming on Iran, will have done nothing to change the perception of the 3,300 Arabs, aged 18 to 24, who were polled earlier year.
According to the Arab Youth Survey 2019, 67 per cent of young Arabs see Iran as an enemy, while 32 per cent view it as an ally. The remaining 1 per cent were either on the fence or had no opinion.
The same study, conducted by PR agency Asda’a BCW, revealed a huge majority of those polled, 93 per cent, regarded the UAE as their closest ally.
“We’re moving from the power hubs of Baghdad and Cairo to those of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi,” said Sunil John, founder of Asda’a BCW.
“To bring about any progressive change, a dialogue must happen.”
The survey polled young people from the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Oman as well as North African and Levant nations.
The data revealed significant differences in perception based on region. In the GCC, 87 per cent viewed Iran as an enemy, with 13 per cent saw them as an ally. In the Levant, young people are almost equally split, with 51 per cent saying enemy against 49 per cent saying ally. In North Africa, 64 per cent saw Iran as an enemy, with 35 per cent saying ally.
More than half of respondents, 59 per cent, said the US was regarded as an enemy.
There were favourable findings towards European countries as well, with France being seen as an ally by 75 per cent, with Germany (73 per cent) and the UK (68 per cent) also finding favour with many.
Saudi Arabia also polled strongly among respondents, with 80 per cent saying the Kingdom was an ally of their countries.
