UAE leads world in levels of public satisfaction, survey reports

Nearly one-third of people in the UAE say they are satisfied and do not have problems or concerns related to the economy, jobs, government performance, safety or security, according to a new global survey released on Wednesday.

The findings were published by Gallup on the second day of the World Government Summit. The survey found that people in the UAE report higher levels of satisfaction than respondents in any other country, followed by Kuwait and Bahrain.

Titled 'The World’s Most Important Problem: What People Need Leaders to Hear in 2026', the study analysed responses from adults in 107 countries. It examined what people identify as the most important issue facing their country and what they want leaders to prioritise. While concerns were grouped into 12 broad categories, four themes dominated globally: economic issues, work and employment, politics and government, and safety and security.

“People don’t feel progress through GDP charts. They feel it through safety, dignity and opportunity in their daily lives. Leaders who ignore that risk solve the wrong problems”, said Jon Clifton, chief executive of Gallup.

In the UAE, the survey found that environmental issues ranked as the top concern at 19 per cent, followed by work and employment at 12 per cent, infrastructure at 12 per cent and the economy at 7 per cent.

The findings suggest strong confidence among citizens and expatriates in the country’s direction. This aligns with the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer released last month, which ranked the UAE highest globally for trust in government.

Globally, nearly 32 per cent of respondents said they believe the next generation will be better off on its own. In the UAE, that figure stands at 63 per cent, according to the Edelman index.

Gallup said the research shows that daily experiences and personal perceptions shape national concerns more strongly than external indicators alone.

On global trends, the economy was cited as the most important national issue in 71 of the 107 countries surveyed. Economic concern was highest among young adults aged 15 to 34, and women were more likely than men to name economic issues as their country’s top problem.

Work-related concerns ranked second worldwide. While higher unemployment was linked to increased concern, the study found that dissatisfaction was more closely tied to people’s sense of connection to work rather than employment status alone.

In wealthier and more stable countries, concerns were more likely to focus on politics and governance, particularly where trust in institutions is low. People with less confidence in government, courts, elections, the military and financial institutions were more likely to identify politics as their country’s main problem.

In countries affected by war, violence or instability, concerns about physical safety and security outweighed all others, including economic and political issues. Gallup said that in post-conflict and conflict-affected states, peace and security dominate public priorities, while in more stable countries, other concerns are more likely to surface.