Saudi Arabia tops Snapchat’s global friendship survey

People in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have “more” best friends than those in any other countries surveyed, according to "The Friendship Report” released by Snapchat Inc.

On average, those living in Saudi Arabia said they have 6.6 best friends, followed by the UAE at 6.4 best friends on average compared to adults in the UK who have an average of 2.6 people they consider to be their best friends, photo messaging app said.

Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of Saudi respondents and more than half (55 percent) of those living in the UAE said they would like to expand their social circle, compared to just 40 percent of respondents in the US, Europe and Australia.

As the UAE and Saudi Arabia are home to people of many different nationalities and backgrounds, people living in the two Gulf countries are also more likely to turn to technology to maintain their friendships. 

Thirty-six percent of respondents in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia said they like to talk to friends online or through apps because it means they can talk to their friends faster and more easily compared to 27 percent in the US, Europe and Australia.

Meanwhile, nearly half of those living in Saudi Arabia (49 percent) and the UAE (43 percent) said they use Snapchat daily to communicate with their best friends. Furthermore, 30 percent of those surveyed in Saudi Arabia said they use Snapchat “all day, every day” to communicate with their closest friends.

Approximately two in three (69 percent in Saudi Arabia and 63 percent in the UAE) said videos and photos help them express what they want to say in a way that words do not allow.

"The Friendship Report" has been compiled by engaging 10,000 people in Australia, France, Germany, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK, and the US.