I had a similar experience with a Saudi student who left Saudi Arabia because he was concerned about what if any future he would have in a country where he felt most people just wanted an easy government job that they would get via connections and etc. He felt even if people suddenly decided to work, there simply weren't opportunities / the education system did not prepare them.

He was a good guy and hard worker, despite his and my very different views on some things we could understand / respect each other. He just wanted to be someplace where people worked hard too.