Young Arabs want more Arabic content – but say much of it feels outdated

The Congress ACI Arab Youth Pulse Survey 2025 has revealed that many young Arabs prefer Arabic content, yet 67% of respondents believe that Arabic media feels outdated compared to English-language content. The survey of 4,092 people aged 18-25 across 10 countries also found that 91% of young Arabs use Arabic at home and 85% with friends, while this drops to 64% at school, university or work and 60% when studying online.

English is seen as essential to achieving goals in these settings, used by 77% of respondents. Ali Bin Tamim, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, believes that Arabic should be seen as part of young people's professional future and questions whether they see incentives to engage with Arabic for job opportunities. The survey also suggests that young Arabs feel proud to encounter Arabic in modern settings, confident expressing themselves in the language, and feel a stronger connection to their roots.

However, 74% believe Arabic needs to evolve to suit their learning, creating, and working methods. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, recalls learning Arabic through dubbed animation as a child, emphasizing the need for modern formats to foster the language. Egyptian screenwriter Mohamed Hefzy points out the lack of contemporary Arabic content is linked to financing issues, with investors demanding evidence of commercial success.

This creates barriers for emerging artists, who need consistent incentives, more audience data, and companies capable of producing multiple projects annually. Noor Sweid, founder and managing partner at Dubai's Global Ventures, encourages emerging companies to explore alternative revenue models beyond traditional advertising. While institutions can provide support, Al Mubarak believes the responsibility ultimately lies with young Arabs to determine the next generation of Arabic content.