The Congress ACI Arab Youth Pulse Survey 2025 reveals a dichotomy in the relevance of Arabic to MENA youth, finding it dominant in social and cultural contexts but less prevalent in education, work, and digital environments. The survey of 4,092 respondents across 10 MENA countries highlights a "utility gap" in Arabic's educational, professional, and digital utility, with 77% of respondents reporting that English is essential for achieving their goals. Key findings include:
- Arabic's dominance: 91% use Arabic at home and 85% with friends; 76% connect it to their roots.
- Digital disconnect: Only 0.6% of websites are in Arabic, with 67% of youth feeling Arabic content is outdated compared to English.
- Opportunity areas: Youth prioritize investment in technology/AI platforms, schools/universities, government services, and media/entertainment.
- Actionable recommendations: Five key actions to close the utility gap:
- Connect Arabic education to real-world applications and professional use.
- Build shared Arabic language technology with high-quality datasets and models.
- Turn Arabic digital standards into measurable user outcomes.
- Build modern Arabic content ecosystems and sustainable creative career pathways.
- Assign clear ownership, measure outcomes, and scale successful interventions.
The report concludes that Arabic can thrive as a language of opportunity if policymakers, educators, and digital producers enhance its utility in AI, education, content production, and digital interfaces, ensuring it remains relevant in the digital economy alongside its cultural significance.
