The Arab Opinion Index 2024–25 finds that Israel and the US are widely viewed as the greatest threats to Arab security
The New Arab Staff
06 January, 2026
The findings were presented at the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies on Tuesday [The New Arab/Hussien Beydoun]
Israel and the US are viewed as the greatest threats to Arab security, according to a major public opinion survey that found deep concern across the West Asia and North Africa region over stability, war, and foreign intervention.
The Arab Opinion Index 2024–25, released by the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies on Tuesday, reveals that 44 percent of respondents across the Arab world identified Israel as the main threat to security in the region, while 21 percent pointed to the United States. Iran ranked a distant third at six percent, followed by other global and regional powers.
The findings, which were presented on Tuesday, were based on face-to-face interviews with 40,130 respondents across 15 Arab states, conducted between October 2024 and August 2025. The survey, the ninth in a series launched in 2011, is the largest of its kind in the region, with an overall margin of error of plus or minus two to three percent.
Beyond naming specific states, the poll found near consensus that Israeli and US policies pose a direct threat to regional stability. Some 84 percent of respondents said Israeli policies threaten the security and stability of the Arab region, while 77 percent said the same of US policies. A smaller majority also viewed Iranian, Russian and French policies as destabilising.
Despite these security concerns, the survey recorded a general sense of cautious optimism about domestic trajectories. Overall, 57 percent of respondents said their countries were "headed in the right direction", compared with 37 percent who said they were heading in "the wrong direction".
Economic pressure, however, remains widespread, as 41 percent of respondents said their household income covered basic needs but had left no room for savings, while 28 percent said their income did not cover necessities at all. Only a small minority reported being able to save, a pattern that was far more common in Gulf states than in the Mashreq (Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Syria) and Nile Valley (Egypt and Sudan).
Economic hardship drives public frustration
Among those who said their countries were on the wrong path, 40 percent blamed economic conditions, while others cited political instability, weak governance, and poor state management. Those expressing optimism most often pointed to improved living conditions, security, and governance, with smaller numbers citing economic improvement or political stability.
Assessments of political conditions varied sharply by region, with 55 percent of respondents across the Arab world describing the political situation in their countries as "good", this figure rose to 86 percent in Gulf states and fell to just 37 percent in the Mashreq.
Confidence in state institutions followed clear patterns across the region, with respondents expressing the highest levels of trust in the military, public security forces and the judiciary, while executive and legislative bodies lagged behind.
Parliaments recorded the lowest levels of confidence, with just over half of respondents saying they trusted them.
Perceptions of corruption remain deeply entrenched across the region, with 84 percent of respondents saying financial and administrative corruption is prevalent in their countries, a figure that has changed little since the survey series began more than a decade ago.
Respondents in the Mashreq were the most likely to view corruption as widespread, while those in Gulf countries were the least likely.
Democracy preferred, but participation remains limited
On governance, the survey found strong and consistent support for democracy alongside widespread political disengagement. Nearly seven in 10 respondents said they support a democratic system, and two-thirds said democracy is the most suitable form of governance for their country.
Most were able to define democracy in substantive terms, including political freedoms, separation of powers and accountability.
Yet respondents rated the level of democracy in their countries at just 6.2 out of 10. Ratings dropped further when assessing their ability to criticise governments freely.
Formal political participation remains limited, with only six percent of respondents reporting membership in political parties and around half saying they do not intend to vote in upcoming elections.
War shapes daily life in the Mashreq
The index also devoted special sections to countries affected by war and conflict. In Gaza, a field survey conducted in March 2025 found that 93 percent of respondents had been displaced at least once during the war.
Severe shortages were reported across basic services, with the vast majority lacking reliable access to electricity, medicine, food and clean water.
Most respondents said they or a family member had experienced hunger, and many reported witnessing people forced to beg for food or water.
In Lebanon, 76 percent of respondents in areas targeted by Israeli attacks said they were forced to flee their homes. While most said the communities they fled to were welcoming, many reported difficulty accessing food, healthcare and medicine.
In Sudan, nearly half of respondents said they had been displaced since the outbreak of fighting in April 2023, with many reporting theft, home raids, and lack of access to healthcare and essential services.
In Syria, surveyed for the first time after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, most respondents expressed relief and hope, tempered by anxiety, economic hardship and weak access to basic services.
Related
The Palestinian cause remains a collective Arab cause
On Palestine, the survey found Arab public opinion remains firmly aligned, with 80 percent of respondents saying the Palestinian cause was a collective Arab cause, not solely a Palestinian issue.
Opposition to recognising Israel was overwhelming, at 87 percent, with respondents citing Israel's occupation, expansionism and treatment of Palestinians rather than cultural or religious reasons.
Asked about international responses to the war on Gaza, respondents ranked South Africa as having taken the most positive stance, followed by Spain and Iran.
More than 80 percent said South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice boosted their morale.
06 January, 2026
The findings were presented at the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies on Tuesday [The New Arab/Hussien Beydoun]Israel and the US are viewed as the greatest threats to Arab security, according to a major public opinion survey that found deep concern across the West Asia and North Africa region over stability, war, and foreign intervention.
The Arab Opinion Index 2024–25, released by the Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies on Tuesday, reveals that 44 percent of respondents across the Arab world identified Israel as the main threat to security in the region, while 21 percent pointed to the United States. Iran ranked a distant third at six percent, followed by other global and regional powers.
The findings, which were presented on Tuesday, were based on face-to-face interviews with 40,130 respondents across 15 Arab states, conducted between October 2024 and August 2025. The survey, the ninth in a series launched in 2011, is the largest of its kind in the region, with an overall margin of error of plus or minus two to three percent.
Beyond naming specific states, the poll found near consensus that Israeli and US policies pose a direct threat to regional stability. Some 84 percent of respondents said Israeli policies threaten the security and stability of the Arab region, while 77 percent said the same of US policies. A smaller majority also viewed Iranian, Russian and French policies as destabilising.
Despite these security concerns, the survey recorded a general sense of cautious optimism about domestic trajectories. Overall, 57 percent of respondents said their countries were "headed in the right direction", compared with 37 percent who said they were heading in "the wrong direction".
Economic pressure, however, remains widespread, as 41 percent of respondents said their household income covered basic needs but had left no room for savings, while 28 percent said their income did not cover necessities at all. Only a small minority reported being able to save, a pattern that was far more common in Gulf states than in the Mashreq (Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Syria) and Nile Valley (Egypt and Sudan).
Economic hardship drives public frustration
Among those who said their countries were on the wrong path, 40 percent blamed economic conditions, while others cited political instability, weak governance, and poor state management. Those expressing optimism most often pointed to improved living conditions, security, and governance, with smaller numbers citing economic improvement or political stability.
Assessments of political conditions varied sharply by region, with 55 percent of respondents across the Arab world describing the political situation in their countries as "good", this figure rose to 86 percent in Gulf states and fell to just 37 percent in the Mashreq.
Confidence in state institutions followed clear patterns across the region, with respondents expressing the highest levels of trust in the military, public security forces and the judiciary, while executive and legislative bodies lagged behind.
Parliaments recorded the lowest levels of confidence, with just over half of respondents saying they trusted them.
Perceptions of corruption remain deeply entrenched across the region, with 84 percent of respondents saying financial and administrative corruption is prevalent in their countries, a figure that has changed little since the survey series began more than a decade ago.
Respondents in the Mashreq were the most likely to view corruption as widespread, while those in Gulf countries were the least likely.
Democracy preferred, but participation remains limited
On governance, the survey found strong and consistent support for democracy alongside widespread political disengagement. Nearly seven in 10 respondents said they support a democratic system, and two-thirds said democracy is the most suitable form of governance for their country.
Most were able to define democracy in substantive terms, including political freedoms, separation of powers and accountability.
Yet respondents rated the level of democracy in their countries at just 6.2 out of 10. Ratings dropped further when assessing their ability to criticise governments freely.
Formal political participation remains limited, with only six percent of respondents reporting membership in political parties and around half saying they do not intend to vote in upcoming elections.
War shapes daily life in the Mashreq
The index also devoted special sections to countries affected by war and conflict. In Gaza, a field survey conducted in March 2025 found that 93 percent of respondents had been displaced at least once during the war.
Severe shortages were reported across basic services, with the vast majority lacking reliable access to electricity, medicine, food and clean water.
Most respondents said they or a family member had experienced hunger, and many reported witnessing people forced to beg for food or water.
In Lebanon, 76 percent of respondents in areas targeted by Israeli attacks said they were forced to flee their homes. While most said the communities they fled to were welcoming, many reported difficulty accessing food, healthcare and medicine.
In Sudan, nearly half of respondents said they had been displaced since the outbreak of fighting in April 2023, with many reporting theft, home raids, and lack of access to healthcare and essential services.
In Syria, surveyed for the first time after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, most respondents expressed relief and hope, tempered by anxiety, economic hardship and weak access to basic services.
Related
The Palestinian cause remains a collective Arab cause
On Palestine, the survey found Arab public opinion remains firmly aligned, with 80 percent of respondents saying the Palestinian cause was a collective Arab cause, not solely a Palestinian issue.
Opposition to recognising Israel was overwhelming, at 87 percent, with respondents citing Israel's occupation, expansionism and treatment of Palestinians rather than cultural or religious reasons.
Asked about international responses to the war on Gaza, respondents ranked South Africa as having taken the most positive stance, followed by Spain and Iran.
More than 80 percent said South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice boosted their morale.
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