New Saudi Poll Shows Iran, Russia, United States, and ISIS Are All Unpopular; Mixed Views on Others

New Saudi Poll Shows Iran, Russia, United States, and ISIS Are All Unpopular; Mixed Views on Others

October 22, 2015 | http://fikraforum.org/?p=7907#.Vi5imGvznap

David Pollock

A rare national survey from Saudi Arabia, completed in September, reveals that the Saudi public holds a very low opinion of various rival regional and outside powers. By contrast, both Egypt and its adversary Hamas enjoy moderately positive ratings, and even the Muslim Brotherhood received favorable reviews from one-third of Saudi citizens.

This poll was conducted by a leading Arab commercial survey company. It comprised personal interviews by local staff, with strict assurances of confidentiality, among a representative geographic probability sample of 1,000 adult Saudi nationals. All areas and demographic segments of the country were sampled in proportion to their share of the total population. For example, half of the respondents are under 35 years old, and just 28 percent have completed high school or higher education.

Geographically, respondents are divided among the major cities and smaller settlements across the country. They hail from Riyadh (23 percent), Mecca/Jeddah (22 percent), Dammam (16 percent), and other provinces (39 percent). The large majority of respondents identify as Sunni Muslim (86 percent), with minorities identifying as “Muslim” (8 percent) or more specifically as “Shiite Muslim” (6 percent). https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=wm#inbox/150a538e3a9bdd31