LONDON: Donald Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia significantly boosted support for the US president among residents of the Kingdom, a YouGov poll shows.
More than half of the 507 people questioned said the trip in May improved bilateral ties.
Trump’s visit, during which a raft of business and arms deals was signed, was seen as a hugely significant show of support for Saudi Arabia. It was his first trip abroad since taking office in January.
Around a quarter of residents in the Kingdom questioned by YouGov said the visit positively affected their impression of Trump, compared to 38 percent who said the visit made no difference.
Only 10 percent said the visit had a negative impact on their impression of him, while 29 percent said they did not know or were not sure.
A survey by Arab News and YouGov conducted before the US election found extremely low levels of support for Trump in Saudi Arabia.
The previous poll, dating back to October, found that only 8 percent of people in the Kingdom would have voted for Trump in the US election if given the chance, compared to 41 percent for Hillary Clinton.
But public opinion of Trump in Saudi Arabia has now improved, with 23 percent of those polled in May saying they would vote for him, compared to 22 percent for Clinton, and 55 percent saying they would not vote if given the chance.
The latest poll, conducted on May 25-29, found that 57 percent of residents believe Trump’s visit to the Kingdom has had a positive impact on US-Saudi ties and will strengthen them going forward.
Only 4 percent said it would weaken relations, while 14 percent said it would have “no impact.” A quarter said they did not know or were not sure.
Commenting on the findings, Faisal J. Abbas, editor in chief of Arab News, said: “The results prove what we have always argued, that in politics actions speak louder than words. While Mr. Trump had a bumpy ride with public opinion during the campaign period, his actions when it comes to the Middle East have been incredibly spot on, particularly when he took immediate action when the Syrian regime used chemical weapons.”
Abbas added: “The excellent speech President Trump gave in Riyadh at the Arab-Islamic-American Summit — where he spoke of partnership, of a joint enemy in terrorism that threatens everyone — and his statement that the US is not there to dictate a way of life but to offer a helping hand have done a lot to boost his image in the region, to the extent that people barely remember his pre-election rhetoric.”
Kailash Nagdev, managing director for YouGov in the Middle East and North Africa, agreed that Trump’s visit had clearly boosted public opinion of him in Saudi Arabia.
The visit to the region “is seen as a big step forward in bridging the divide that was created during the divisive presidential campaign,” Nagdev told Arab News.
“The media campaign in Saudi Arabia during and post his visit seems to have worked, improving his overall image.”
Nagdev pointed to a previous Economist/YouGov poll, conducted last week among US residents, which found that 44 percent of Americans consider Saudi Arabia an “ally” or “friendly” toward the US, an improvement on the same study conducted two weeks prior to Trump’s visit.
The latest YouGov poll found that respondents in Saudi Arabia were generally undecided as to what was the most important announcement made during Trump’s visit.
But they ranked the $110 billion US-Saudi arms deals first, followed by the raft of corporate deals signed, and the launch of the global center to combat terrorism.
“Given the economic diversification agenda related to Saudi Vision 2030, US support to these initiatives is considered important,” said Nagdev.
“Hence it is not surprising that the announcements related to the economy were considered most important by 39 percent of residents, while the announcements related to terrorism and on (the) warning to Iran were rated high by 26 percent of residents.”
Arab News, the Middle East’s leading international English-language daily, recently entered an exclusive partnership with the globally acclaimed online polling firm YouGov.
The deal will see YouGov conduct regular polls relating to the Middle East and North Africa, which will help shed light on regional sentiment toward international events, as well as producing credible research on international opinion of Arab affairs.
Trump’s popularity surging in Saudi Arabia: YouGov poll
Trump’s popularity surging in Saudi Arabia: YouGov poll
Saudi Arabia witnessing comprehensive cultural development, says expert
- Clotilde Entrecanales of Acciona hails pace of change in Kingdom
JEDDAH: Museums, exhibitions and art centers play a crucial role in the development of free and educated societies such as the one now burgeoning in Saudi Arabia, an expert has told Arab News.
Clotilde Entrecanales, the Spanish art historian and cultural executive who heads Acciona Living & Culture, a leading creator of technology-driven interactive museums, exhibits and events, said the Kingdom is making efforts to expand the role of culture development to show the world the greatest possible cultural offer.
She added that the Kingdom has quickly infused new energy into the region, and is rapidly establishing itself as a global cultural hub through massive investment in world-class museums, public art and international events, aligning with its 2030 vision.
She said: “With around 70 percent of the population under 30, cultural consumption looks very different than in Europe or the US. These spaces can’t feel like quiet, isolated institutions … they need to be fast, dynamic, brave and deeply connected to the city, blending into everyday urban life rather than sitting apart from it.”
Asked about the role of these sites in the evolving global cultural landscape, particularly in emerging cultural hubs like Saudi Arabia, Entrecanales said: “Our vision is to be a purpose-led partner for cultural and entertainment institutions, helping them be more relevant, connected, inclusive and sustainable.”
She added: “In emerging cultural hubs like Saudi Arabia, that approach feels especially relevant. The cultural transformation underway is moving fast — with major heritage and cultural destinations being developed and opened to the world.”
Speaking about her impression of the Kingdom’s approach to blending heritage with modernity face, Entrecanales said: “Others who attempt to achieve this balance often end up turning heritage into a theme, a layer of storytelling or a cultural program. What feels different about Saudi’s approach is how much pressure there is to treat heritage as the foundation, not just the surface.
“When you’re building at this speed and scale, there’s always a risk that history becomes a backdrop instead of a backbone. The projects that work best are the ones that slow down just enough to let the past set the rhythm for the present.”
Regarding opportunities and challenges, she said: “The opportunity is nothing less than positioning Saudi Arabia as a global cultural center. The challenge, as always, lies in balancing the speed and scale of that ambition with long-term sustainability and a sense of authenticity that remains credible and rooted.”
She added: “You can really feel this in places like the Islamic Arts Biennale, which shows hundreds of historical artefacts of the Islamic world, while re-framing them through contemporary scenography and designs by some of the best design studios in the world; or in AlUla, a world-class heritage site that hosts a major contemporary platform like Desert X, allowing ancient context and present-day artistic practice to coexist in a way that feels genuine.”
Under her guidance, ACCIONA Cultura aspires to create museums and cultural experiences that function as landmarks while fostering sustainable, inclusive and immersive interactions.
She elaborated on how the company is integrating technology, culture, and sustainability to preserve and promote the region’s cultural heritage: “We always start with human connection and storytelling: what’s the story, what should people leave with? Tech comes later.”
Recently, ACCIONA Cultura has been involved in significant projects in Saudi Arabia and is looking forward for more.
She said: “Right now, for example, we’re designing and curating a museum gallery where the entire space is shaped by the practice of a Saudi artist. Another example is the Net Zero exhibition at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), where we brought together Saudi and international artists to explore sustainability and our relationship with the planet, including voices like Dina Haddadin, Mohammed Al-Faraj, and Zahrah Al-Ghamdi.”
She added: “One of the projects I’m most proud of isn’t a museum, but our NEXT IN Summit, which we’ve hosted in two editions in our ACCIONA Campus in Madrid, highlighting the Kingdom’s unprecedented cultural momentum as it builds future-facing institutions with a startup mindset.”
About further collaboration with Saudi Arabia, she said: “Let’s just say … something’s definitely simmering in the kitchen.”
Commenting on being recognized among the Blooloop 50 Museum Influencers for 2025, she said: “It means a lot. More than anything, it feels like a nod to the years of teamwork and dedication behind Acciona Cultura, rather than to me personally.”
