The results of a public opinion poll conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center show that Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Saudi Arabia remain largely neutral, though with a slight decline in positive assessments and a gradual increase in negative sentiment. This forms a perception profile characteristic of some Middle Eastern countries—low polarization with a high degree of uncertainty.
The overall level of positive attitudes toward Saudi Arabia stands at 28.0%. Of these, 8.4% of respondents view the country “entirely positively,” while another 19.6% view it “mostly positively.” At the same time, negative assessments reach 8.2% (5.6% — “mostly negative,” 2.6% — “completely negative”). As in previous waves of the survey, the largest share is held by neutral attitudes — 58.7%, while another 5.1% of respondents were unable to determine their position.
Compared to August 2025, positive attitudes decreased from 33.3% to 28.0%, while negative assessments rose slightly—from 7.7% to 8.2%. This trend indicates a gradual shift in the balance of assessments toward a more critical perception, although the changes remain moderate and do not go beyond the general neutral pattern.
The high proportion of neutral responses indicates that Saudi Arabia does not occupy a clearly defined place in the consciousness of Ukrainian society. Perceptions of the country are formed in a fragmented manner, without a systematic information presence or intensive contacts that could shift the balance toward more defined assessments. Under such conditions, even minor informational or political signals can influence the dynamics of public opinion.
“When we see that a country remains predominantly in the zone of neutral perception, it means that it effectively lacks sufficient ‘weight’ in the everyday information landscape of Ukrainians. In such a situation, even small changes in the information landscape can shift the balance of assessments in one direction or another. That is why, for such countries, it is crucial not only to increase their presence but also to shape a clear and positive image,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
Thus, Saudi Arabia remains in the group of countries with a predominantly neutral image in Ukraine, where the level of positive perception is gradually declining, while the negative segment is slowly growing. The further evolution of this balance will depend on the intensity of economic, political, and informational contacts between the countries, as well as on how actively Saudi Arabia can shape its own image in the perception of Ukrainian society.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Saudi Arabia ranks 34th in total trade volume with Ukraine, amounting to $530.8 million. At the same time, Ukraine has a trade surplus with this country, as exports exceed imports by more than 1.6 times.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SAUDI ARABIA, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
