What is it about?
We examined how people in four Arab countries—Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—felt about common COVID-19 “nudges.” Nudges are gentle prompts that make healthy choices easier without removing options (for example, floor markers for distancing, making fruits and vegetables more prominent in grocery apps, or clear public messages). We surveyed 698 university students and staff and asked how much they approved of eight specific nudges and why. Approval varied by the type of nudge and by personal factors such as age, gender, and level of concern about COVID-19.
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Why is it important?
Public health measures work best when people accept them. Our results show generally high approval for low-intrusion, practical nudges that inform, guide, and preserve choice (with approval rates ranging roughly from 50% to 95%). More intrusive tactics—like public shaming—were less popular. These insights can help health authorities and communicators in the region design culturally sensitive messages that people are more likely to support during fast-moving health crises.
Perspectives
This study offers a baseline for how Arab university communities perceive different behavioral tools in emergencies. It suggests starting with informational and choice-supportive nudges and building trust to increase acceptance. Because our sample comes from universities, future research should include broader community groups and test nudges in real-world settings beyond surveys. Policymakers can also adapt the approach to other health issues—such as vaccination uptake or chronic disease prevention—by favoring respectful, low-intrusion designs that fit local norms.
Hana Fakhoury
Alfaisal University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Perceptions of COVID-19-related nudges in the Arab world: A cross-country analysis of approval rates and associated factors, PLOS Global Public Health, October 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004692.
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