Returning to Normal: Attitudes Towards the Post-Lockdown Era in KSA

More than half of the people in Saudi Arabia believe that there should be a balance between slowing down the spread of the virus and trying to uphold the economy as best as possible. However, 38% feel that the virus should be stopped completely even if it means fully locking down the country.

31% believe that it will take between 3 to 5 months to feel that things are getting back to normal, while 44% see that it will take between 6 months and a year. Even with things going back to normal, the majority say that they will either make small permanent changes in their lives or change many things about the way that they lived before lockdown.

When it comes to travel and tourism, most people feel uncomfortable carrying out these activities, especially going on an international holiday or staying in a hotel, while most are still not comfortable allowing tourists back into the country.

While people were divided between those who are comfortable going back to work (52%) and those who aren't (48%), the vast majority still did not feel at ease dining out, going to the gym, cinema, or attending live events.

As for shopping, over half felt comfortable going to the supermarket and having their groceries delivered to their homes, but 63% were still uncomfortable about visiting a shopping mall in the next few weeks. When it comes to people’s assessment of the current situation vs. what they had expected at the start of the pandemic, around a third believe the situation is worse than they had expected, while around half said it was in line with their expectations.