What Arabs Think About When They Think About Migration? Insights from the Arab Opinion Index (2011-2022)

Abstract

Based on data from the eight Arab Index surveys conducted annually by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in 14 Arab countries from 2011-2022, this paper examines trends in Arab public opinion on migration. It uses the answers to three main questions, which investigate the desire to migrate, the motives behind migration, and the preferred destination. The paper finds that approximately a quarter of Arab citizens have consistently expressed a desire to migrate over the past twelve years, with a higher percentage among the youth compared to older groups, among men compared to women, and among those who have graduated secondary school compared to those who have not. The paper also demonstrates that economic conditions remain the most important factor motivating Arab citizens to migrate, and that half of those wishing to migrate prefer European and Arab Gulf countries as their primary destinations.