Saudi Arabia tops global trust rankings with 87pc confidence in government

RIYADH: According to the recently published 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, Saudi Arabia has emerged as the most trusted government globally, boasting an impressive trust rate of 87 percent, as reported by the Saudi Gazette on Wednesday.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also achieved notable success in the rankings, securing the third spot worldwide with a government trust rate of 74 percent, placing it behind Saudi Arabia and China. This trend underscores a broader pattern of high institutional trust within Gulf monarchies, which have significantly invested in citizen well-being and economic development initiatives.

In contrast, the two Gulf nations surpassed developed Western democracies by substantial margins, with the United States recording a trust rate of 47 percent, the United Kingdom at 43 percent, and Germany at 41 percent, all reflecting considerably lower public confidence in their governments.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia vow to enhance economic cooperation at AlUla Conference

This accomplishment aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious Vision 2030 initiative, aimed at diversifying the kingdom’s economy away from oil reliance while facilitating social reforms. Recent years have seen significant momentum in Saudi Arabia’s economic reforms, driven by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is backing extensive development projects, including NEOM, a cutting-edge city being constructed in the north-western region of the country.

The annual Edelman survey, which evaluates trust across various institutions globally, also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s leading position in terms of future outlook. An impressive 69 percent of citizens expressed the belief that the next generation will be better off, a sharp contrast to the sentiments in many developed nations, where less than half of the respondents shared similar optimism.

Experts attribute the high trust ratings to the focus on institutional stability and governance emphasized in Vision 2030. The Saudi government has introduced a range of reforms in recent years, including granting women the right to drive, welcoming international tourism, and hosting significant global entertainment and sports events.

The Edelman Trust Barometer, now in its 25th edition, conducted its survey among over 33,000 participants across 28 countries during the period from October to November 2024.