There is strong trust in the UAE’s leadership, with the government emerging once again as the most trusted institution, ahead of business and NGOs, according to new research.

The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer revealed that trust in the government at 80 percent – a double-digit lead over business and NGOs – represents a four-point increase since last year.

It reinforces the UAE’s position as one of the most trusted governments in the world, behind only Saudi Arabia and China, both at 82 percent.

Government also ranked by far the highest in competence and ethics and was the only societal leader to gain trust since last year, with more than seven in 10 respondents saying they trust government leaders to do what is right, while all other societal leaders have fallen behind.

Scientists remain the most trusted, at 79 per cent, but they have also seen a four-point decrease in trust.

Research also revealed that the pandemic has added to personal and societal fears, with job loss (88 percent) and the fear of contracting Covid-19 (63 percent) emerging as the main concern.

74 percent of respondents said they have witnessed layoffs or reductions in the workforce of the company they work for as a result of the pandemic and more than half (56 percent) worry that the pandemic will lead to increased job losses due to automation.

Omar Qirem, CEO, Edelman Middle East, said: “Accelerated fears due to the pandemic have led to a major change in people’s priorities and a shift in expectations, with an increased sense of urgency to find solutions for critical societal problems.

Omar Qirem, CEO, Edelman Middle East

“While the UAE population’s trust in the government to do so has increased, 71 percent of respondents also believe CEOs, as societal leaders, should step in; with six in 10 agreeing that they should take the lead on change.”

The effects of the pandemic have also resulted in a shift in expectations for employers, with a dramatic net gain for attributes like job skills training programmes (+51 points), and worker/customer safety (+49 points), along with a diverse and representative workforce (+48 points) and regular employee communications (+46 points).

Qirem added: “The past year was no doubt marked by uncertainty and a decline in trust in information sources, with one in two people citing their employer communications as the most believable source of information above traditional media, and just after government communications.

The research, conducted by Edelman Data & Intelligence (DxI), surveyed a sample of more than 33,000 respondents in 28 markets this year.

The research, conducted by Edelman Data & Intelligence (DxI), surveyed a sample of more than 33,000 respondents in 28 markets this year

Other key findings from the 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer: UAE included that 87 percent expect CEOs to speak out publicly about societal challenges, such as the pandemic impact, job automation, societal issues, as well as local community issues.

It also showed that 64 percent believe that CEOs should hold themselves accountable to the public, not just to a board of directors and stakeholders while 64 percent also agree that consumers have the power to force corporations to change.

Activism is also on the rise in the workplace, with one in two of those who are employed agreeing that they are more likely today, than a year ago, to engage in workplace protests if they strongly disagree with a company action or policy.