A survey by a US pollster of about 1,000 respondents shows that Saudis are also concerned by the economic crisis. Younger Saudis are more optimistic and see the future favourably. There is little interest in democracy but moderate support for reforms.

Riyadh (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Corruption, unemployment, inflation and religious extremism are the main issues that concern Saudis, this according to a survey on Saudi Arabia’s social and political situation carried out in November 2009 by the Princeton-based Pechter Middle East Polls, which polled a representative sample of 1,000 Saudis in the three major urban areas of Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam/al-Khobar. The findings also indicate moderate satisfaction with the quality of life in the kingdom but also concern over the economic crisis.

On economic issues, the survey showed that in November of last year, Saudis were divided over whether the country was moving in the right (54 per cent) or the wrong direction (39 per cent).  The poll indicated however that Saudis were significantly more pessimistic about their individual situations: 40 per cent said their personal economic prospects had declined over the past year, compared with 36 per cent who said they had improved; 23 per cent saw no change. Looking ahead, only a quarter expected economic improvements over the next year, whilst on personal security, just under half of the respondents said they felt "more secure".

Respondents 18-24 years old (a group that comprises nearly a quarter of the kingdom's total adult population) were somewhat more positive about the country: 59 per cent of the younger group believed that Saudi Arabia was moving in the right direction, compared to 51 per cent for the over 55 group.

In Riyadh and Dammam/al-Khobar, solid majorities viewed the kingdom's current course favourably, not so in Jeddah, where responses indicated more popular discontent.

Overall, a majority (63 per cent) of the respondents said that corruption is a serious issue in Saudi Arabia, followed by unemployment and inflation. In Jeddah, however, fewer than half (42 per cent) of the respondents saw corruption as a major problem, compared to large majorities in both Riyadh (74 per cent) and Dammam/al-Khobar (85 per cent).

Just over half (54 per cent) of respondents identified religious extremism as a serious problem, with one-quarter subscribing "strongly" to that view.

These responses should be considered in the context of another survey finding, which indicated that one-fifth of urban Saudis expressed some support for al-Qaeda.

Gender, however, provided an interesting demographic variation: 48 per cent of male respondents believe that religious extremism is a serious problem, but among women that figure rose to 59 per cent.

In an open-ended question about the nation’s top priorities, no respondent named elections or democracy.

Asked about their country's Majlis al-Shura, the appointed national consultative council, 70 per cent said that they were aware of it, recognising in different degrees its role and functions.

Many respondents did voice support for domestic reform, hoping to see moderate steps taken towards change.

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