DUBAI // Arab youths in Dubai echoed the findings of the region-wide survey that found the UAE to be the most attractive country for them to live in.
Many said they moved to the UAE because of better job opportunities, and the safety and security the country provides.
“My family moved here in 2012 after my father got a job here as an IT technician,” said Mustafa Mahmoud, 19, from Jordan.
“I’ve been back to Jordan a few times and we still have family and friends back home. The difference between the two countries is huge and it’s a much more modern country than Jordan.”
The Arab Youth Survey found 35 per cent of those questioned would like to live in the UAE – the sixth year in a row that the Emirates topped the list with the tally 13 per cent up on last year’s total.
Opinions were also shared on the reasons why they found the UAE so popular.
Bassam Al Sharif, from Lebanon, agreed that a strong economy and greater job opportunities were key factors in him moving to the country.
“There just aren’t the same jobs available in Lebanon, so that was the main reason I came to Dubai,” said the 21-year-old, who works as a translator.
“Although it is expensive, if you’re careful with your money, it’s not impossible to live well in Dubai.
“I know a lot of Lebanese people who have come over and one of the reasons for that is you can set up businesses here and there is a large market, so you can do well here.
“I also love the fact there are so many people from different countries here and you can learn so much from that as an individual.”
Although an overwhelming majority of young Arabs (80 per cent) feel Arabic is central to their sense of national identity, the survey also found that 60 per cent feel that the language is losing its value.
“I agree with the stats that show more young Arabs are using English more on a daily basis than Arabic,” said Nasser Sayed, 18, from Egypt.
“I would say I speak English far more often than Arabic, even with my Arabic-speaking friends.
“I tend to speak Arabic only with my family but, even then, that’s only with my parents and with older relatives.
“It’s English with most of my younger cousins and siblings.”
According to the survey, 68 per cent of young Arabs in the GCC now speak English more than Arabic on a daily basis.
nhanif@thenational.ae
