For Mena youth, Arabic is the language of identity, but can it also become the language of opportunity?
The first white paper from the Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi has found that young people want Arabic to keep pace with the way they learn, work and create. The thought piece, in partnership with Strategy& and Ipsos, marked the 5th Congress on September 20. For young people across the Middle East and North Africa, Arabic remains overwhelmingly the language of home, family…
A new white paper from the Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi suggests that young people in the Middle East and North Africa see Arabic as vital to their identity, but believe it must also evolve for them to succeed. The report, based on a survey of over 4,000 young Arabs aged 18-25 across 10 countries, finds that while 91% use Arabic at home, only 64% use it in work or education settings.
English dominates, with 33% using it in education and 36% in online learning. Most respondents (74%) want Arabic to adapt to better fit their learning, creating, and working lives. Technology and artificial intelligence emerged as the top priorities, with 50% of respondents seeing it as the most important area for Arabic's future.
The report stresses that young Arabs don't want to give up their cultural roots, but they do want the language to evolve and be present in education, technology, knowledge production, and creative industries.
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