Young Arabs want more Arabic content – but say much of it feels outdated
Young Arabs find much of the Arabic content available to them dated compared with its English-language equivalent, according to new research examining how the language is used across the region. The Congress ACI Arab Youth Pulse Survey 2025 found that 71 per cent of respondents prefer media in Arabic, while 67 per cent believe Arabic content feels outdated. Selected findings were discussed during…
A new survey of young Arabs reveals a preference for Arabic media, yet concerns that much of it feels outdated when compared to English-language content. Conducted by Ipsos and the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, the Congress ACI Arab Youth Pulse Survey 2025 questioned 4,092 individuals aged 18-25 in ten Arab nations. The findings show 91% use Arabic at home and 85% with friends, while 64% do so in academic settings and 60% when studying online.
English use rises in those contexts, with 77% of respondents stating it is essential to achieving their goals.
Ali Bin Tamim, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, suggests this reflects a lack of perceived professional opportunities for Arabic. The survey also found that while 77% feel proud encountering Arabic in modern settings and 76% feel more confident using it, 74% believe the language needs to evolve to fit contemporary learning, creation, and work methods.
Egyptian screenwriter Mohamed Hefzy attributes the shortage of contemporary Arabic content partly to a lack of financing infrastructure, citing the need for bridge financing, equity, tax credits, and a mature market. Noor Sweid, founder of Dubai's Global Ventures, advises emerging companies to explore alternative revenue models beyond traditional advertising.
Ultimately, Al Mubarak asserts the onus lies with young Arabs to define the future of Arabic content, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating demand and taking calculated risks to innovate the language.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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