Keywords: Methodological challenges and improvements, including in the areas of sampling, measurement, survey design and survey response or non-response

The paper discusses the methodological issues of launching and running the longitudinal survey of youth in the United Arab Emirates as an example of surveys in the Gulf region. The Monitoring of Emirati Youth: Socio-Economic Characteristics and Values is a unique source of information on young generations of current Emirati citizens. It is an annual panel survey. The survey focuses on happiness and life satisfaction in relation to work, family and values, and uses the outcomes of the relevant social/public policy programs in UAE. The current paper presents the research design of the study and discloses the methodology challenges under the context of rather closed traditional Arab society. The research questions cover three areas of studies:
1) the transfer from university/school to the job and career development: what positions the youth take, what problems they face, how the education affects their first job choice and future career;
2) values and beliefs, that are changing fast nowadays and their effects on personal achievements and their socio-economic status;
3) marriages, family values, family formation, fertility, family problems, and divorces.
Finally, the survey is seeking to answer – how much the mentioned three areas affect the subjective well-being of Emiratis Youth? What should be changed in the society for the better to have healthier and happier Youth?
The implementation of the focus groups and two rounds of pilot studies as well as experts' discussions showed the importance and relevance of the study but also revealed research issues hidden from the first sight. The main issues are how to attract and keep the youth engaged with the long-lasting questionnaire and interest them to fill in all the questions. To keep the data quality up few changes were implemented after the pilot studies and interviews. The sensitivity of the questions and a completely different list of problems that are important to the Gulf region youth were another methodological challenge for the research team. How to motivate the youth for their honest opinions on the challenges important for them? All these issues and suggested methodological solutions will be explained and described in the current paper.