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Arabic as we know it first began to form somewhere between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. Over time, it spread across the Middle East and beyond. Its expansion was, of course, aided by the Quran, Muhammad (PBUH), and the rise of Islam. Today, Arabic is the national language of 26 states. Admittedly, not all of these states are prime vacation destinations. Many are, unfortunately, plagued by poverty and violence and are unsafe for even their own residents, let alone tourists. However, there are several Arabic-speaking countries which you should definitely try to visit over the coming years.

Journeying to an Arabic-speaking country has a number of advantages. If you are a Muslim or of Arab descent, visiting an Arabic-speaking country will allow you to experience the culture of your ancestors. For non-Arabs, visiting an Arab country is a great way to broaden your mind and enjoy a culture entirely different to what you have experienced in the Western world. For Arabic students or Muslims whose Arabic has grown a little rusty, visiting an Arabic-speaking country is a great way to master the language.

In this article, we’re going to be looking at the most breathtaking Arab nations in the world and discussing why each should be near the top of your travel wish list. Here are five Arabic-speaking countries you need to visit.

Egypt

Of all the Arabic-speaking countries in the world, it’s difficult to think of one that has done a better job of converting its history and culture into a commodity than Egypt. The country is a master of the tourism industry and has been attracting Western tourists in droves for decades. While it also has some allure as a place of pilgrimage for Muslims, Egypt is the place to go for any non-Muslim looking to visit an Arabic-speaking country.

Most synonymous with Egypt are its pyramids. One of countless traces of the nation’s past glories, the Egyptian pyramids pay homage to the pharaohs which once ruled the land. Most famous of all of Egypt’s pyramids is the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Giza boasts the distinction of being the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. However, its achievements don’t end there. It is the largest pyramid in Giza’s pyramid complex and stands at a staggering 481 feet. Although initially built as a tomb for Khufu, a pharaoh from Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty, it today serves as the most popular tourist attraction in the country, if not the whole world. Daily tours of the pyramid are offered, allowing tourists to experience this wonder of the ancient world up close and personal. Aspiring Egyptologists will also want to check out the Sphinx, the Abu Simbel temples, and the Step Pyramid of Djosser. Although the Step Pyramid of Djosser isn’t quite as magnificent as Ancient Egypt’s more famous monuments, it boasts the impressive achievement of being the very first pyramid built by the Ancient Egyptians.

Saudi Arabia

Egypt is an Arabic-speaking country which non-Muslims can visit and be certain of a great time, while their more religious counterparts can expect to leave spiritually unfulfilled. Saudi Arabia is almost the exact opposite. While the country doesn’t offer a whole lot when it comes to secular tourist attractions, it is a must-see destination if you are a Muslim. We use the term “must-see” quite literally.

As you likely already know, Saudi Arabia is the location of Mecca. It was here that the Muslim prophet Muhammad was born and raised. It was during his time in Mecca that Muhammad received his first revelation of the Quran and Islam was born. Later, after a period of exile in Medina, Muhammad would return to Mecca and reclaim the Kaaba. He would then restore the Kaaba to its monotheistic routes and establish it as the most holy shrine in all of Islam. Today, every Muslim who is capable of doing so is expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca and the Kaaba at least once in their life. One of the five pillars of Islam, this journey is formally known as “Hajj” and is traditionally performed by Muslims the world over during in late June or early August. There are numerous agencies operating in Saudi Arabia dedicated to helping Muslims plan and perform Hajj. We suggest enlisting the help of one such agency while preparing for your Hajj.

While Saudi Arabia will certainly be more alluring to Muslims than non-Muslims, we’re not saying secularists should entirely write the nation off as a potential vacation spot. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been making a conscious effort to attract Western businesses and tourists. This it has done by incorporating many elements of Western culture into its own. In June of 2018, the country finally lifted its ban on women driving. A little over a year later, the nation introduced a law allowing unmarried couples to share hotel rooms. From an entertainment standpoint, Saudi Arabia has been courting the major players in Western media. Perhaps most notably, it is currently in the early stages of a much-publicized deal with WWE, the American professional wrestling juggernaut. This deal has already seen a number of WWE shows take place in the country, while being broadcast all over the world via the WWE Network. You can experience one of these shows in person thanks to Saudi Arabia’s recently introduced tourist visa program. This visa initiative is the country’s first step to becoming a true force in the mass tourism industry.

Morocco

Morocco is one of the most popular Arabic-speaking countries in the world. This is no surprise, given the fact it had a strong Western presence for much of the 20th century. The Moroccan town of Casablanca was immortalized by the 1942 American movie of the same name. This only increased Western visitors to the country, adding a whole new dimension to the economy of Casablanca and Morocco as a whole. Multiple guide agencies operate in Casablanca, offering comprehensive tours of its historical and cultural landmarks. For our shopaholic readers, Casablanca boasts the world-renowned Morocco Mall. The second-largest shopping mall in all of Africa, Morocco Mall is home to some of the finest boutiques in the world. It also features a breathtaking 1,000,000-liter aquarium, which holds more than 40 different fish species. Visitors are offered the opportunity to scuba diva inside this aquarium, making the Morocco Mall a great place to spend an afternoon even if you’re not in the mood for shopping.

Casablanca isn’t the only tourist hotspot in Morocco. Marrakech, the fourth largest city in the country, has experienced a surge in tourism in recent years. Much of this is the result of Groupon’s partnership with the city and its businesses. The virtual discount giant regularly offers generous deals which encompass flights, accommodation, and even experiences to keep you busy throughout your time in the city. If you’d rather organize your own excursions during your time in Marrakech, there is no shortage of activities for you to choose from. Guided tours operate throughout the city, introducing tourists, and even residents, to the historical, cultural, and spiritual hotspots of the city. For the adrenaline junkie, tours of the desert are offered via camel or quad bike. The former option is ideal for Muslims who wish to connect with their ancestors and experience a journey similar to those made by Muhammad and his followers in the early days of Islam.

The United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is often confused with Saudi Arabia. This is understandable, given the close proximity of the two countries. Additionally, there are certain customs and traditions shared by both. However, the United Arab Emirates is markedly more secular and tourist-friendly than Saudi Arabia. In fact, the UAE owes its very existence to outsiders. 7.8 million of the nation’s 9 million citizens are immigrants. While Arabic remains the country’s national language, its large immigrant population means English is more widely spoken there than it is in many Middle Eastern countries. For this reason, we commonly recommend the UAE to tourists who wish to experience an Arabic-speaking country without the inconvenience that typically comes with trying to navigate a non-English speaking land.

Unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of things for tourists to do in the UAE. If you wish to experience the decadence for which the country is famous, be sure to head to Dubai. There, you can indulge in the many bars and nightclubs, while being serenaded by the finest singers flown in from Western countries. Multiple car rental agencies operate in the area, offering low rental rates on luxury brands such as Mercedes, Ferrari, and Rolls-Royce. Similarly, affordable yacht rental companies make it possible for tourists to live like Arabian royalty for the duration of their trip. Much like in Morocco, desert tours are offered throughout the UAE, with camel and quad bike options available. As for shopping, there is perhaps no greater destination in the Middle East for a shopaholic than the United Arab Emirates. In the Dubai Mall alone, you will find more than 1000 boutiques. These boutiques are complemented by entertainment and fine dining, turning the Dubai Mall into a city of its own.

Despite being a decidedly secular nation when compared to other countries in the Middle East, the UAE is not without its fair share of religious sites. Muslims who visit the country should be sure to check out Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi. Despite being only a couple of decades old, Sheik Zayd Grand Mosque is one of the most recognizable sites in the entire Middle East. Its visitor programs aim to familiarize tourists with the basics of Islam, while also helping Muslims develop a deeper connection to their faith. It has even been voted the world’s second favorite landmark by leading travel website Trip Advisor.

Algeria

For the traveler who really wants to go somewhere different, there is Algeria. Algeria is rarely mentioned when people speak about visiting Arabic-speaking countries. When its name does come up, it is often quickly written often due to perceived threats towards tourists. While Algeria has certainly experienced a great deal of social and political turbulence, these hardships are very much in its past. Today, the country is in the process of rebuilding and has already established itself as one of the top places to visit among travelers who like to veer off the beaten track.

Algeria is the largest Arabic-speaking country in the world. It is also the largest country in all of Africa. It is home to a total of seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. These are Tipasa, Timgad, M’Zab Valley, Kasbah of Algiers, Djémila, and Al Qal’a of Beni Hammand. All offer a fascinating insight into the nation’s development and the lives of its earliest inhabitants. For a long time, Algeria was known as “French Algeria” and had a large French presence. As a result, much of the country’s architecture is French-inspired. This is especially true in Algiers, the nation’s capital. Walk through Algiers on any given evening and you’ll feel as though you’re strolling through Paris, albeit with a noticeably Arab flare.

Islam and Christianity co-exist in Algeria, another sign of the nation’s past French presence. For those interested in visiting the sacred sites of Algeria, we often suggest Notre Dame d’Afrique. A Roman Catholic church, Notre Dame d’Afrique sits atop a cliff, offering a breathtaking view of Algiers. As a sign of solidarity with the Muslims of Algeria, the church’s alter bears the words “Notre Dame d’Afrique priez pour nous et pour les Musulmans”. When translated to English, this inscription reads, “Our Lady of Africa, pray for the Muslims and for us”.

Conclusion

Arabic-speaking countries are often overlooked as holiday destinations. As you can see from the locations discussed above, however, they have just as much to offer tourists as more popular vacation sites. In the UAE, one can experience the glitz and glamour commonly associated with Hollywood. In Egypt, you can travel back in time with the Ancient Egyptians.  In Algeria, you can enjoy the sites and sounds of Paris while practicing your Arabic with local merchants. From a religious standpoint, spirituality is constantly flowing in Arabic-speaking countries. Their national language itself is irreversibly tied to the Islamic faith, while their many places for worship make them a welcoming destination for travelers of all creeds.

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WHAT KIND OF HOUSES DID ANCIENT EGYPTIANS LIVE IN?

The Basics

A house is regarded as a home, it is the place we seek for in order to get shelter, and it ranges from different types depending on the area we live in, it also ranges from hut to the more improvised one like the fixed structures of wood, brick, concrete, or other materials containing plumbing, ventilation, and electrical systems. Ancient Egyptians were among the first set of people in the world to enjoy early civilization and this was exemplified in the evolution of their housing system.

The History

When we consider the happenings of the ancient times, one may be intrigued by some of the events, occurrences and even buildings that existed then. Such is the type of houses ancient Egyptians lived in. Egypt is one of the few countries of the world regarded as the bedrock of modern civilization, because of the level of innovation, constructions and accomplishments exemplified by those who lived in ancient Egypt. Although, none of the great achievements of the past can rival what we have in our age now, some of them are still the foundation for many of the styles and designs we see around today – some great examples are the houses in ancient Egypt. Egyptians evolved with time in terms of the houses they lived in. They moved from living in vulnerable huts to large stone houses. However, it wasn’t really a favorable period for Egyptians in terms of housing and shelter.

Early Houses in Ancient Egypt

Early houses in ancient Egypt suffered from natural disasters such as flood from the River Nile which lasted for about three months and this occurs at a certain time every year. This problem of flooding affects them in such a way that it washes their huts away and this prompted the decision of the ancient Egyptians to start using mud to make bricks for stronger building materials.

The Houses Ancient Egyptian

During the old times, ancient Egyptians lived in bricks and mud made houses. Are you wondering where they got enough mud to build houses to accommodate everyone in ancient Egypt back then? Well, ancient Egyptians had to rely on annual floods which brought a lot of mud for them to use in their house constructions. This made the whole house construction process easier for the ancient Egyptians. They were able to craft these houses in different designs and styles, even though the houses lacked strength. Those who molded the bricks used in these constructions are known as brick makers and they mould the mud into desired shapes (mostly square-shapes) with the aid of wooden molds. Upon molding, these bricks are set in the sun and allowed to become hardened. However, poor Egyptians lived in single walls houses which were one brick thick, while the rich Egyptians of ancient times lived in double walls and they paint the outer part of their houses white to keep it cool.

Types of Houses in Ancient Egypt

Reed Huts

The first type of houses in ancient Egypt that ancient Egyptians lived in is the Reed Huts, these type of hut is made from papyrus reed a type of plant which is grass-like, found in Egypt and these plants can also be used to make paper. This hut is used by the poor, and it can only be used for small house with small family but can be easily demolished by winds, sandstorm and heavy rain. So, houses in ancient Egypt were a means of classifying people. One could easily tell what class of the economy someone belonged to, just by looking at their houses.

Mud Brick House

This first type of ancient Egyptians houses then later got improved by mixing the reed, mud and the sand together to form stronger materials which can withstand some unfavorable weather condition. The mixture is then poured into brick molds then dried. This is also uses by the poor but can be used for a bigger house than the reed hut house and can also be used to make a second floor too. The windows in this type of house is always very small to allow some ventilation and to prevent sun, this house is referred to as the Mud Brick house.

Merchant Homes and Stone Mansions

The mud brick was later extended and uses to make houses with more than two stories, these are the typical Ancient Egyptian houses in which only the rich ancient Egyptians live in and they also use it as a building for business activities. The mud bricks here are doubled and larger in sizes and such types are build closed to each other to shield themselves from the sun. This is referred to as the Merchant homes and some poor could still afford it while the wealthiest ancient Egyptians live in a house called the large stone mansions. This is best type of ancient Egyptian houses in which every houses in ancient Egypt would love to look like, they are specially decorated with gardens and some have pool and the wealthiest ancient Egyptians were able to afford bed sheets to sleep on and the walls of the building were higher to prevent trespassers from getting into their compound. Although furniture was not available due to the scarcity of wood because Egypt is a desert area, and the people need a fertile land for growing crops. So, there were not many trees for building houses and they were left with mud, reed, bricks and whatever means they have for their building.

Rich Ancient Egyptian Houses vs. Poor Ancient Egyptian Houses

The difference in the ancient Egyptian houses between the rich and the poor was that the poor houses had no toilet, no kitchen, weak walls while the houses that the rich ancient Egyptians lived in was well constructed with courtyard, kitchen, toilet, pool although there was no running water but slaves and kids were made to fetch water from wells which will then be used for their cooking, bathing, washing and drinking. Although, the rich have their private wells while the poor are made to fetch from public wells and some poor use water from canals or Nile. The homes of the rich ancient Egypt were built in areas which contained fruits, flowers and vegetables which make them more attractive than the poor ancient Egyptian houses. The rich have more items than the poor in their homes which include; pots, beds, clothes, cosmetics and more. Since there was no enough furniture, there was nothing like cupboard or wardrobe, they store their things in reed baskets.

Challenges of Ancient Egyptian Houses

In the absence of modernized innovations, ancient Egypt houses lacked many basic amenities. Even the houses of the affluent also lacked some of these features. Ancient Egyptians evolved with time but the houses in ancient Egypt suffered from these challenges:

Little or no furniture supplies. So, they had to keep items in their flat roofs in the absence of tables, shelves etc

Relied solely on the River Nile for the supply of mud

Without the sun, they cannot produce their mud-bricks.

The best kind of houses are the stone mansion houses

This is the description of the houses in ancient Egypt compared to the Egyptian houses of today, there have been vast changes now because Egypt is now more civilized and a beautiful country with advanced buildings and constructions and it is a safe and peaceful place to live nowadays without the fear of the natural disaster which affects them a lot during the ancient times.

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SHOPPING IN EGYPT

When you think of shopping, what comes to the mind? Do you see it as an opportunity to buy the cheapest items or an avenue to buy the trendy stuff? Well, even though all of those are feasible when you go shopping, there is still much more to shopping than just those. Shopping is an act that gets everyone excited and it is without doubts, something worth looking forward to. For most people who want to travel to other countries, for diverse purposes, shopping is often one of the first few things that they consider. The prospect of coming to live in Egypt is quite exciting, considering the rich history the country has got, so it is worth noting the types of shops available to shop at. If you have a plan to spend some time living in Egypt, you have nothing to be worried about as regards shopping in Egypt, because the lands of Pharaoh has got everything one may desire in terms of shopping. From rich historical monuments, to personal items, down to consumables, Egypt has got so many types of shops that will surely leave anyone captivated. So, the choice is always yours when you come to live in Egypt because there are so many shops and malls to visit for shopping in Egypt.

Khan Al Khalili

Khan Al Khalili is one of the most popular markets in Egypt. This market-like setting is situated in the interiors of our very own Cairo city. A very amazing thing about this market is that, you don’t have to come here only when you need to shop; instead you can just come around to experience first-hand the interesting hustles and bustles of the area. It is always a beautiful scene to behold! If you want to shop in Egypt, especially when you live in Cairo, this is the place to visit. The types of shops you find in this market are well-packed with anything you may wish to buy on the planet, even intercontinental items are found here. Khan Al Khalili makes you feel at home, away from home. Always keep your pockets fully-stocked when you visit this market for shopping, because you are always going to see fascinating goods, items and wares you never imagined could exist in Egypt. However, when you visit this market, always brace yourself with some good bargaining abilities because good bargaining skills will definitely come in handy when you deal with the traders at this market. This market is no doubt one of the best collections of shops in Egypt to shop for your novelty T-shirts, bottles of colored sand with camel pictures, wonderful souvenirs with your name printed in hieroglyphics.

Aswan Souk

Many people often think that Cairo is the only City in Egypt to get most things and for this reason they don’t bother trying out other cities in the country. Well, Aswan isn’t here to joke, with its classy and grand shopping malls and markets. Aswan is located in the southernmost part of Egypt and this beautiful Aswan market is one of the most significant locations in the city. This Souk has been receiving thousands of tourists over the years and it has been serving them good and quality items at reasonably affordable rates. You can shop for all kinds of spices here and you will get them for cheap prices.

Souk al Fustat

If you are a foreigner in Egypt and you love to shop, this is the place to visit. This amazing little shopping mall is located just outside the entrance of Coptic Cairo. You can always get some of your native items here, as there are often so many international items sold in the mall. Simply put, this mall was established to aim at the clear sighted foreign buyers. If you want to go shopping in Egypt, you shouldn’t swap this mall for any other place. You can always get some local and popular items like the handmade copies of Fatimid and mamluke lamps here in this mall. However, the price of goods in this type of shop is fixed and you cannot even attempt to bargain because there are price tags on the commodities you find here. If you don’t want the local goods, you can as well get some wonderful items like ceramic products, pillowcases, trays, bowls, imported goods, paintings, woodworks, colorful cups and lots more. It is a great store to visit if you want to go shopping in Egypt.

The Old Market

Do not let the sound of the name of this market put you off, because the goods here are far from being old or ancient. In fact, this is the best place in Sharm for all your shopping in Egypt! This place boasts of so many fruit and juice shops, and it is the place to go for your drink shopping in Egypt. There are wide varieties of items to buy in the shops in this market, from small pyramids to t-shirts, oils and even spices. The list is just endless. Although the price range may be a bit higher in this place, you can always negotiate your way into a decent deal. There are also amazing restaurants and shisha lounges within the premises of this market, so you can as well incorporate a decent meal as part of your weekend shopping in Egypt.

Han el Halili

Are you a book fanatic? Do you want to get loads of books and agendas when you go shopping in Egypt? Well, this is the most appropriate place for you to be. This is undoubtedly, one of the most popular markets in Egypt. You can get books and agendas in various quantities and sizes here, so if you want to shop for books when you get to Egypt, this is the best place for you to visit. Do you desire to have your name engraved on any book you buy with gold gilding? You can get this done too! Have you got a friend celebrating their birthday and you would like to get a birthday present? You can as well shop for gift items and brilliant souvenirs in this place.

Suuq el Ataba

Egyptians are historically known to be fashionistas, so you can expect to see a whole market dedicated to fashion items. Suuq el Ataba is one of the amazing places to go shopping in Cairo. This beautiful market has got so many trendy items and beautiful jewelry on sale. You will find various types of clothes, wears, accessories, antiques, jewelry, handmade crafts and lots more here in Suuq el Ataba. So, when you go to this place for shopping in Egypt, the choice to make is always yours because of the plethora of options available to choose from. There is always, at least, one unique thing for anyone who visits this market for shopping. You will be astonished to discover that the prices of these items are relatively cheap, thereby making this market one of the cheapest markets you will find in Egypt. You don’t want to go anywhere else to shop in Egypt, for your fashion and lifestyle items.

Sharia el Souk

This is a calm, cool and less-crowded market. It is the perfect place to shop in Egypt for anyone who loves to shop in a calm and quiet environment. Numerous types of goods are available in this market ranging from spices, and food materials to garments, and wears. This quiet market is situated parallel to the Nile River, and it is a great option for anyone to visit whenever they want to shop in Egypt.

Lotus Bazaar

This is another interesting place to shop in Egypt, and unlike many of the markets in Egypt, you can enjoy window shopping at this place. There are so many goods to shop for here like stone statues to clothes, souvenirs and even classy leather shoes. The vendors here are very friendly and generous too, so you are surely going to experience a nice time when you go shopping in this place.

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EGYPTIAN STREET FOOD

Nobody likes to pass the chance of a good meal especially when it costs so little. One of the allures of the tantalizing Egyptian street food stems from the fact that they are cheap and readily accessible. So, if you are going to live in Egypt, have no fear as regards the quality of the meal you will find on the streets of Egypt. There is more to the amazing feeling around Egyptian food than just the elegance of the meals. We are talking about the reassuring feeling and fun-filled experience one gets in the midst of the busy cities in Egypt. So, if you are living in Egypt, you’ve got to treat yourself to the Egyptian street food at least once, because this is the food that represents the true taste of Egyptians. It is the one you find many locals eating, so you are assured of quality Egyptian recipes and ingredients anytime anywhere in the country. Egyptian street foods are just so affordable, and you can always get a good value for every single Egyptian pound you spend. There are so many amazing dishes on the streets of Egypt, and their special seasoning and spices will surely melt your taste buds, leaving you asking for more. Whether you are a fan of Farahat or you lean more towards the classy restaurants, here is a list of some Egyptian street foods that will, no doubt, leave you craving for more.

Fuul

If you are living in Egypt, there is one very popular thing that you cannot attempt to avoid – and that is the very common Egyptian Fuul. This meal is considered Egypt’s national dish; such is its popularity. You can find full everywhere in the country, so you don’t need to travel so far in search of this type of Egyptian meal, because it is just so popular. There is barely one Egyptian local who would pass the chance to sit with friends over a round of fuul. Fuul is made from cooked fava beans mixed with so many Egyptian spices and egg and usually served in a pitta bread. You find so many locals eating fuul very early in the morning, and you wonder why they love it so much. Well, fuul is protein-rich and if taken in the morning, it could last you the whole day. Many locals love to combine fuul with taameya (a type of Egyptian falalel with fava beans), so you will always find the two together at almost every vendor’s shop in Egypt. Fuul will only cost you few pounds, and you can readily find it on the streets of most cities in Egypt.

Koshary

This is a meal that many foreigners will find appealing because of what it’s composed of. A bowl of koshary is always made of a combination of spaghetti, rice, lentils and spicy chickpeas, covered with a seasoned tomato sauce. Now you see that life in Egypt can be so comfortable for a foreigner too, with the types of foods you will find on so many Egyptian streets. Koshary is a popular food that foreigners, living in Egypt, can easily relate with, and it is so budget friendly too. Many people sometimes call koshary a poor man’s food because of how inexpensive a bowl costs. In spite of being so cheap, a bowl of koshary is enough to fill an average individual for so long. Like that isn’t enough, some vendors even let you add some vinegar sauce to your koshary, in order to give it an additional taste and flavor. Never miss a plate of koshary if you every get to live in Egypt, because it is a meal that depicts the real taste of Egyptian flavor.

Taameya

Is there a place you go in Egypt and you don’t perceive the delicious aroma of taameya being fried? Doubt it! This meal made with fava beans, rather than chickpeas, is a popular street food all over Egypt, with kids and adults always standing in long queues just to buy taameya. It is commonly served early in the morning, because this is the best time to eat your taameya. However, you can always get it anytime of the day too. It is believed that the meal was invented by the Copts as an alternative meal to eat during Ramadan. Those fried treats you find on the street of Egypt are just so delicious and tantalizing that even the Middle-Easterns has adopted them in their countries. You can always take your taameya with a round of fuul.

Kofta Kebabs

Kofta kebabs is the Egyptian version of the popular Egyptian Kofta, which are either lamb or goat meatballs. You can find kofta on every street and restaurants in Egypt. If you are living in Egypt, you don’t want to miss a taste of these special delicacies. Kofta Kebabs, which is usually either minced lamb or minced goat mixed with spices and lots of onions, are always placed on metal skewers before grilling. Kofta Kebabs are so popular in Egypt, because of how readily available they are. They can be easily picked from any street vendor and eaten straight up as a food snack. You can even combine it with other types of foods to make them more delicious. It is the absolute street snack that you will find tasteful and elegant!

Fiteer

This is often called the Egyptian pancakes but when you consider how it is made, you will realize it is more of a pastry than a pancake. Fiteers are made of several layers of thin, phyllo-like dough. Although some consider fiteer to be a snack, it is still one of the most popular types of street foods in Egypt. Fiteers are usually filled with icing sugar, or any other sweet fillings to give it a deliciously sweet taste. Fiteers filled with savory fillings usually have toppings like a pizza before being placed on a grill. You can get your one-piece fiteer in Egypt anytime of the day, and even at night.

Hawawshi

You will never find a meal more delicious than the Egyptian hawawshi. This Egyptian street food is very similar to the Turkish lahmacun pizza. It is one of the fast-foods on the streets of Egypt. Hawawshi is prepared from cooked, minced meat, chilies and onions, which are then put between two layers of Arabic bread dough. This sandwich is then roasted in an oven before being sliced into crusty slices so that it can be easily consumed as a fast-food. If you want to enjoy a more delicious hawawshi sandwich, you can get it at many Egyptian restaurants where they are served as a whole.

Shawarma

There is barely any country in the world where you don’t find a version of shawarma, and Egypt is undoubtedly where you find some of the best versions of shawarma. This global street food is also an Egyptian routine, with many vendors serving them in tantalizing versions. You can have yours dished in chicken or meat spices depending on your taste.

By and large, Egyptian street foods are appetizing as they are tantalizing. You cannot get enough of these meals when you live in Egypt because there are just so many of them to get your day going. Whether you want something to begin your day with or you simply want a taste of the Egyptian spice anytime of the day, there is always a good option available anywhere you are in Egypt.

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STUDIO ARABIYA CAMPUS

Studying in a new country is an exciting experience and living with other students is a great opportunity to make lifelong friends. During your Arabic, Quran or Islamic Studies at the Studio Arabiya Institute, you can live in our Campus. It’s right on the same place as your classrooms. Living in our Campus gives you the benefit of having the classes and study resources next to where you live. In the morning, you can simply wake up before classes start, walk down the hall or upstairs and arrive.

Quick access to classes makes a lot of the hassle of living in Egypt easier, as it can be pretty crowded sometimes. With all the traffic going on, there is a lot of things dependant to outside circumstances for getting around in time for classes. Therefore having the class in the same building where you live just makes things so much easier.

All students here at Studio Arabiya have the same common purpose – to intensely study Arabic and advance their deen and knowledge of Islam. By being constantly around like-minded individuals and students, it will help you keep each other motivated and feed one another energy.

Study Center:

Studio Arabiya’s Study Center is located on the ground floor of our campus. We have classrooms where students have their daily classes with their teacher, as well as facilities for individual study. Our Library is also available for studying, reading, checking out books, and using our Arabic computer resources.

The learning books are thoroughly chosen to make sure they are fully covering grammar, reading, vocabulary, and morphology of the words. We make sure that the study books cater to our students learning needs. They encompass all the necessary points for all studied subjects.

Amenities:

Our campus facilities include:

Campus Study Center

Library

Student Lounges

Rooftop seating for residents

Studio Souk [coming soon]

On-campus living accommodations

Cleaning and Laundry services (additional fee)

On-campus WIFI

24-hour security and monitoring

Small masjid conveniently located across the street

Dorms & Flats:

Our private and shared dorm rooms are available to all Studio Arabiya study abroad students and to students of Al-Azhar University who need accommodations while in Egypt. Each dormitory hall has five dorm rooms – most with air conditioning and heat – sharing two bathrooms, a kitchen and laundry facilities. Each dorm room (both private and shared) is furnished with two beds, a desk for each tenant, and two closets for clothing. Private rooms do not have a private bathroom. Dormitories are available for both males and females (on separate floors).

Kitchen utilities:

In addition to furniture, dorms and flats have some basic kitchen needs, such as some dishes, silverware and pots and pans. There is a refrigerator, stove/oven, and microwave, as well.  If you require any specialized kitchen appliances or specific types of dishes or utensils, we advise you to bring them with you. If doing so, please take care of the difference in voltage in Egyp. Of course, here is also the possibility to purchase them in Egypt.

For married couples and families with children, we have limited apartments on campus. In addition, we offer services in assisting families with finding a flat near the campus. Studio Arabiya also offers campus daycare for children age 6 months and up.

Studio Souk:

(Coming Soon) Studio Souk offers a convenient, on-campus market, where students can easily purchase snacks, drinks, school supplies, and other everyday needs.

Transportation:

Our transportation services, weekend tours and trips, and daycare services are just some of the benefits of Studio Arabiya’s Study Abroad Program. For moving along the city you will have at your disposal several ways of transportation: taxi, bus, metro and. If you’re looking for an easy way to reach your destination and save time, then private cars are the right thing for you. You have the option of taking a taxi or other private means such as Uber that help you book a car with few clicks

From the Studio Arabiya Institute, you can easily visit Cairo. Between Mokattam City to Cairo, there is a 7 km distance and you can get there by taxi, train, town car or foot. Cairo has a big network of public transportation with a number of buses, micro-buses and a large network of roads in addition to the ring road which encircles the important parts of Cairo. One of the best places to find transport to almost any place in the city, are Ramsis Square and Abd El Moneim Riyad Square. Just get there, ask for your destination and as people are very friendly, they’ll help you

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A LESSON FROM OUR WEEKLY SUHBA

Every few weeks I am blessed with the opportunity to gather with other students from around Cairo and to enjoy each other’s company all while receiving an essential spiritual reminder from our shaykh. This past week, Shaykh discussed the importance of seeking forgiveness from your Lord, here is quick overview:

To start with, Allah says in the Qur’an “Seek forgiveness with sincerity,” and in order to do that there are three conditions and steps one must go through:

Stop committing the sin immediately and do not procrastinate as procrastinating is considered to be another sin that one would be committing.

From the heart, comes a state of regret. One should feel remorse for the time that they spent time away from their lord one spent committing the sin. It was noted here that when one finds joy or love for the time they were in the state of sinning, it is a sign that the repentance is not sincere.

One must then have a firm intention to never fall into this sin again. Here, we were reassured that of course, the human is weak and may fall into the sin once again, but when that happens what is asked of them is to restart the cycle of seeking forgiveness again. It was also mentioned that this is such a blessing from our Lord that repentance is a door that will remain open until death.

Important point: when it comes to our understanding of matters that displease our lord, there is a dichotomy, the Prophet (s) put forth. There are those sins that deal directly with the Divine alone, meaning those sins that do not involve another human being oppressed. The second type is that which does oppress another human being. This type entails a fourth condition to seeking forgiveness, and that is that one must settle that oppression that they put forth. For example, if one steals some wealth from another, it’s not enough to only feel bad about the stealing and to promise themselves that they won’t do it again. They must pay that wealth back that they stole in some form or another. The same is true for slander. Speaking ill behind someone’s back in a way that would displease them is an act of oppression and when one does this it is incumbent upon them to do the first three steps, but to also pay forth what they did wrong. In the case of slander, this would be to go to that person and to settle the relationship they have between them.

This is so important to us in our faith because the Divine has expressed to us that oppression is of the darkest matters of reality. This darkness then manifests on the day of judgement in a very clear way.

Another point that clarifies this is in a hadith where the Prophet (s) said that the martyrs, those who die defending their people on the battlefield and whose sins will be forgiven, even they will be asked on the Day of Judgement about their debt because debt is a form of oppression. It is oppressive to take wealth and to not return it.

The legal ruling of seeking forgiveness after committing an act that is not pleasing to our Lord is obligatory. This is derived from the Qur’an where Allah says, “Oh you who believe, turn back to your Lord.” This is understood by the scholars to be a command from God. Also, in a hadith from the Prophet (s), he says, “I seek forgiveness from my Lord more than 70 times a day.” So when we think about the purest, and the most perfect of human beings seeking forgiveness from his Lord 70 times a day, then how many times should we be doing it? He (s) continued to say, “so seek forgiveness from your Lord,” indicating the obligation of this act.

In another hadith, it is related that God is more pleased with His slave when he turns back to Him, more than a man who is in an open desert pulling his camel by the reins and suddenly the camel runs loose and disappears (and the man is in a state of despair because of all his provisions have been lost), and he goes to a tree and lays down awaiting death. It is then at that moment that he opens his eyes and finds his camel before him and when he takes the reins of his camel he is so overjoyed and he says, “Thank you my Lord, I am your master and you are my slave.” The reason he said this was because he was so overjoyed that he became flustered and mixed his words as he meant to say, “You are my master and I am your slave.” The Prophet (s) says, “When God sees one of his slaves turn back to Him, after committing a sin, God is more pleased with him than that man was pleased with finding his camel after losing it.”

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STUDENT HOUSING

We are one of the only Institutes in Egypt providing on-campus living for families and single students.  Living with other like-minded students is a great way to make new social connections, and even close friends while experiencing a new culture. Studying Arabic and Quran is a task that requires will and determination. Closely living with students that have the same goals as you, will keep each other motivation on track.

We have living options for single students (dorm rooms), small families and larger families. The accomodation is for 3-, 6-, 9-, or 12-month accommodation agreements. You can also rent on a day-to-day basis.

ON-CAMPUS DORM ROOMS

If you need accommodation while in Egypt, we will help you. We offer single and shared dorm rooms for all study abroad student from Studio Arabiya and also to all Al-Azhar University students

Each dormitory hall has five dorm rooms – most with air conditioning and heat – sharing two bathrooms, a kitchen and laundry facilities. The dorm room has two beds, a desk for each tenant, and two closets for clothing. Dormitories are available for both males and females (on separate floors).

For married couples and families with children, we have limited apartments on campus.

ON-CAMPUS APARTMENTS

Quick access to classes makes a lot of the hassle of living in Egypt easier, as it can be pretty crowded sometimes. With all the traffic going on, there is a lot of things dependant to outside circumstances for getting around in time for classes. Therefore on-campus living would be recommended. Having the class in the same building where you have your family live just makes things so much easier. In addition, we offer campus daycare for children age 6 months and up.

Only for married couples and families with children, we have limited apartments on campus. The apartments can be with either 2 bedrooms or 4 bedrooms.  As we want to make sure your stay with us will be exceptional our apartments include includes kitchen, AC/heat, and living rooms.

OFF-CAMPUS LIVING

Of course, you also have the option to live somewhere else and not at Studio Arabiya’s campus. You will find several options to live nearby off campus within a walking distance.

The apartments you can find living off campus are usually rented fully furnished and you will likely only need to purchase a few things to make your home comfortable. A decent quality apartment can generally be found starting $500 a month. The price can vary, depending on location, quality of furnishings and whether you live on your own or with roommates.

If you plan to arrange accommodation on your own, we recommend that you book a hotel for your initial arrival. In this way you can have a place to stay while searching for an apartment.

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HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN EGYPT?

The Basics

The number of people living in a particular area at a particular period of time is known as the population of that particular area and this can be determined by the population census. The census is done by getting and compiling the social data of the individuals living in a particular country at that moment. In this text, you have to follow me as I will let you know about the populations of the people living in Egypt.

Egypt is a country located in the northern part of Africa and the word “EGYPT” came from the Greek word “Aegyptus” which is a figure in Greek mythology. In ancient time, it was named as “kemet”, which means the black land and those people living there called themselves “remetch en Kermet” which means “People of the black”. Today, Egypt is known as Misr, an Arabic word which means “land” or “fortress”.

The Number of People Living in Egypt Over the Years

This country is of very high population of about 97.5 million as at 2017, 99 million in 2018, 101 million is the approximate number of the people living in Egypt and an estimated 2.7 million Egyptians live abroad and still contribute to the development of their country. The population of Egypt is about 1.31% of the total world population and it keeps increasing yearly due to immigrants and some other factors such as birthrate. 61.7% of the population is rural; its population density is 102/km2 with total land area of about 995,446km2 and it is at number 14 according to the population of the countries in the world.

Population of Egypt

There are different cities in Egypt with different populations which include:  Cairo, Giza, Suez, Alexandria, Port Said, Luxor, Asyut, Tanda, Alfayyum, Al Mahallah al Kubra, Al mansurah, Ismailia, Aswan, Qina, Zagazig, Kafr ad Dawwar, Halwan, Al Minya, Damanhur, Idku, Sohag, New Cairo, Bani Suwayf, Talkha, Banha, Shibin al kawm, Kafr ash Shaykh, Idfu,Mallawi, Dikirnis, Bilbays, Arish, Jirja, Al Hawamidiya, Disuq, Bilqas, Disuq, Abu kabir, Qalyub, Akhmim, Al Matariyah, Zefta, Tahta, Bush, Hurghada, Samalut, Munuf, Damietta, Ashmun, Manfalut, Hawsh’Isa and others .

The largest city is Cairo comprising of population over 7 million, the next city is Alexandria, with about 4 million populations, Giza with about 2.5 million, Port Said which has been existing since 1859 contains about 540 thousand people, Suez is the seaport city and contains about 490 thousand people, Almahallah al Kuba is the Industrial and commercial city popular in the production of textiles contains about 432 thousand people, Luxor is the city where the world greatest open air museum is located and contains about 422,400 people, Asyut is the city where one of the largest universities and textile industries in Egypt are located and contains about 420,500 people.

Why Has the Number of People Living in Egypt Increased?

The increase in population of the people living in Egypt is due to some factors which include:

Early marriage

Early marriage has been part of the Egyptian culture since the old times of the ancient Egyptians and this has contributed significantly towards the ever increasing population of the country. People living in Egypt tend to get married at a younger age, especially the females and this leads to increase in birthrate because more offspring will be produced as early as possible.

Polygamy

Many men in Egypt actually have many wives than one and this is also a part of the tradition and culture of the country. The implication of this is that each family produces many children than they would have produced if there was only one wife in the family.

Migration

One of the contributing factors to the ever increasing population of people living in Egypt is the level of migration to the country, which has increased in recent times. Some reasons why people live in Egypt are: Egyptians are very friendly type of people and they enjoy interacting with foreigners, they are always willing to help anyone when in times of trouble. Another reason is because most of the citizens speak at least some English and they love it when a person speaks their Arabic language. People live in Egypt due to sufficient food; it is very difficult for one to get starved when you live there because there are available foods that are below standard for the poor which they can afford, although real food is very cheap in Egypt. According to the population statistics, Siwa Oasis is the city with the lowest number of people while some of the cities share almost the same number of population. Great health care service is another reason why people live in Egypt.

Favorable standard of living

There have been drastic rise in the number of people who live in Egypt because of the generally comfortable cost of living. Items are quite affordable in Egypt and many people would rather keep living here than go back to their country where things are probably more expensive.

The Current State of the Number of People Living in Egypt

People live in Egypt to enjoy low cost of living but the high population growth rate makes their resources limited and a regulation was passed for them not to give birth to more than two children to reduce the overpopulation effect and make the resources available by ensuring optimum population so that the number of people will be equal to the resources available. Egypt is without doubt a great country to live and currently, the country is far from being overpopulated because of the availability of their land mass which is more than enough to accommodate as residents as possible. So, if you are looking to travel to Egypt to live, you have nothing to be worried about as regards the population density in the country.

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10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT LIVING IN EGYPT

This is not a list that tells you what to do in Egypt like the pyramids and the likes. This is a collection of those things you may not know about living in Egypt, because life in Egypt may not be exactly as you were told until you take a flight and explore the cities of Pharaoh yourself. We’ve compiled this list to safe you the stress of wondering what living in Egypt feels like.

1. Security

This may come as an astonishment, however in all honesty, Egypt is a secured nation. There is a little part in North Sinai that is unsettled; however it doesn’t influence the remainder of Egypt by any stretch of the imagination. So disregard fear mongering, you won’t perceive any when you live in Egypt. Clearly, the nation isn’t totally free of wrongdoing, you ought to know about pickpockets, however not more than in some other significant city (Cairo is the second-greatest city in all of Africa, so there are certainly a few criminals!). Contrasted with US urban areas however, the wrongdoing rates are much lower here. Living in Egypt can even be safer than living in some major cities in the world.

2. The Locals

The Middle Eastern or Arabic nations are very outstanding for their friendliness and Egypt is not exempted. Egyptians love their nation energetically and will do all that they can to make you feel welcome. You may get an alternate impression when you just visit the pyramids or air terminal e.g., on the grounds that at these mainstream places of interest they will give you trouble. Go anyplace else in Egypt however and you will meet the absolute kindest individuals on the planet who will dependably have some tea for you. Local people are certainly a standout amongst the best motivations to live in Egypt.

3. The Cheap Prices

Living in Egypt is considerably affordable. The Egyptian Pound was cheapened end of 2016 and from that point forward Egypt is one of the least expensive vacationer goals around the world. For just $25 you can for example get a room at an extremely decent hotel in Dahab. Road sustenance begins at under $1, a transport ride from Cairo to Sharm El-Sheik costs around $6. Multi day excursion to see some extraordinary gulches and a desert spring in Sinai will just set you back around $30. You get the image. It has turned out to be less expensive than most Southeast Asia goals like Thailand or Bali, so it’s an incredible motivation to live in Egypt regardless of whether you’re on a financial limit.

4. The Weather

In case you’re one of those individuals who is certifiably not a major friend of chilly climate (like me), Egypt is your nation! Life in Egypt doesn’t get beneath 20°C, even in winter. You may state that is the situation in Southeast Asia too, however for a many months a year, you’ll have monsoon condition. In Egypt, it never rains! That is the reason you have to consider living in Egypt throughout the entire year and never must be reluctant to lose your important get-away days due to awful climate. Alright, it gets really hot in July and August, so amid that time, you should need to skip Cairo and head just to the Red Sea to go through your days shoreline mooching and swimming!

5. The Diversity

Egypt is a standout amongst the most assorted nations you will ever visit. Whatever sort of occasion individual you are, there’s something for everybody. Nature sweethearts will appreciate camel trek or climb in one of the different deserts in Egypt. The rich Red Sea submerged world makes scuba jumpers and swimmers upbeat, breezy days permit wind and kite surfers to rehearse their aptitudes. Clearly, history aficionados will have an incredible outing with so much old history in Egypt – pyramids, sanctuaries and Mount Sinai, where Moses got the Ten Commandments. The ladies can invest hours shopping at one of the numerous beautiful bazaars Egypt brings to the table, while the men appreciate Turkish and Shisha over a chat with local people.

6. Your Bucket List Will Be Unfilled!

On account of the already mentioned cheap pricing and diversity, a standout amongst the best motivations to live in Egypt is that you can cross a significant number of things off your bucket list that you”ll need to sit down to think of more stuff – genuinely. You can visit the pyramids and take a selfie with the Sphinx, go on a Nile voyage, camel trek in the desert, scuba jump the Red Sea, figure out how to kitesurf, go sandboarding, drive a quad in the mountains, climb astounding ravines, visit brilliant bazaars, drink tea with Bedouins in a desert garden, freedive the Blue Hole, and so on. Must I say more? Living in Egypt is just entertaining and fun-filled.

7. The Beaches    

Egypt has the absolute most astonishing shorelines on the planet and interestingly, a large portion of them are practically unfilled. Regardless of whether you’re into comprehensive hotel life (Marsa Alam) or lean toward laid-back, basic cottages in Sinai, there’s something for everybody. Other than the mainstream traveler territories in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheik, you can likewise stay away from the groups and go to some mystery shorelines that nearly no one at any point knew about.

8. The History

Alright, this is one of the undeniable motivations to live in Egypt, yet it can’t be forgotten. Find the grandness and mind blowing accounts of old Egypt at the pyramids, historical centers and incalculable sanctuaries all over Egypt. In the event that you need to avoid forward in history a couple of hundreds of years, you can stroll in Mose’s strides, climb Mount Sinai and visit St. Catherine religious community, one of the most seasoned libraries on the planet that just revived to general society and holds the second biggest gathering of early codices and compositions, just dwarfed by the Vatican Library.

9. The Underwater World

In the event that your living on land wasn’t sufficient as of now, Egypt has an altogether unique world to offer below water. The coral reefs are the absolute best-kept reefs on the planet and marine life is plentiful regardless of dying corals everywhere throughout the world. Regardless of whether you’re a scuba jumper, freediver or only a swimmer, you will be impressed you by life in Egypt. Marsa Alam is an incredible goal in the event that you need to see dolphins, turtles, sharks and the uncommon dugong. In Sharm El-Sheik you can plunge one of the greatest wrecks on the planet – the SS Thistlegorm. For sea (or ocean) lovers, the Red Sea alone is an ideal motivation to visit Egypt.

10. The Food

To wrap things up, for a great many people, sustenance is the key to living in a new country. Meat slovers and veggie lovers alike will clearly appreciate the neighborhood food, in any event or that you’re into browned or sweet dishes. Living in Egypt has always been a wonderful experience because of these reasons and many other ones that haven’t been mentioned.

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22 HOURS AND 5 MINUTES

22 Hours and 5 minutes. The trip to Egypt was the longest conscious trip I’ve made in my adult life. Granted there was a 7-hour layover in Turkey, the other 13 hours, floating over the Atlantic, left lots of time to think. This experience was a quiet one…but the silence was filled with sober contemplation and the slow steady thumping of a heart heavy with farewells. Every deep breathe that filled my lungs from exhaustion in the hours that passed only added to the gravity of my decision. I was on my way to Egypt, a place I’d never visited, a place that I could hardly imagine it’s condition and that I’d be there, bithniAllah, for the duration of one full year.

As believers, we know that nothing happens but by Allah’s will, so with every mile towards LAX, I wondered if the car tire would explode or if I’d be harassed at the airport or if traffic would prevent me from arriving on time. It was very possible that that was written for me instead of my intention. And Alhamdulillah for everything…none of the above occurred. Boarding the plane and arriving on-time was an easy process and the conclusion to my istakhara. Easy.

Walking away from my family in the terminal of LAX…not so easy. It felt something like stabbing myself in the heart. And in that moment, I couldn’t imagine why I would ever choose to experience that pain. I left behind my first “big girl” job, my apartment, and my family and friends as I rolled my life into two suitcases. But don’t be discouraged, it only gets better from there. That experience was truly cleansing, free from fear and saturated with high hopes. I left feeling content with my decision, parting ways with an early “I miss you” and an embrace that, if were tangible, I’d carry around my neck.

Why would I choose to go through that moment of heartache, see past the thoughtful opinions of a few well-respected people who advised me to stay…or leave a steady job? Well, I ‘m happy to say the answer is easy, and I hope to ask myself this throughout my time here, in so that I continuously renew and revisit my intention. Hopefully along the way, anyone considering studying in this program can gain some real insight on what to expect and how to prepare.

By the time I reached down and strategically rolled my two suitcases and carry-on’s to the exit of Cairo Airport, I was so relieved. I felt my soul light up the moment I saw that somebody was there waiting for me. Someone was there to receive me. It was as if I completed a journey that emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausted me. See, the journey didn’t begin at LAX. The journey began with the moment I submitted my application, the moment I made my intention to learn Arabic, and the moment I decided learning the language of the Qur’an was worth more than every convenience or comfort I was leaving behind.

Now, I’m here in Egypt. Upon arrival, I felt the warmth of the woman who embraced me at the airport entrance and the Director who didn’t allow for a moment of confusion. Upon receiving me at the airport, my luggage was buckled into the front seat of the car, and a kind woman greeted me with Ahlan wa sahlan before leaning over to the buckled-in suitcase in the front seat and greeted the inanimate object with “Assalamualaikum”. In this moment, I knew things would be more than ok, bithniAllah. I was already laughing with a woman who didn’t speak my language, nor I hers. This is one insight to the beauty of Egypt: it’s people, it’s endurance and all it’s charm.

In sha Allah, this post will be the first of many as I find chances to share my experiences here in Egypt, as I engage with the people here and, more importantly, as I engage with the Arabic language.

After all, the immersion aspect of the program runs parallel to my surviving here: building friendships, gaining independence, and pursuing the succeeding wealth of knowledge available as my studies progress. But more on this later, in sha Allah.

If you are a sister hoping to travel to Egypt to study, I’d love to address any of your concerns or answer any questions you may have to the best of my ability. Feel free to comment below.

Please make dua for the staff and students of Studio Arabiya, that Allah swt accepts our efforts to learn Arabic and Qur’an as ibadah, solely for His sake, and that He may guide us all in purifying our intentions every step of the way.

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EGYPT HAS STOLEN MY HEART

Egypt medicates your perspective. From the towering pyramids, to the poor shacks you see scattered around the city..it’s like I’ve stepped into a whole new world.

I never believed I came from privilege. In fact, if I ever described a person as having the world at their fingertips, I considered it a very negative thing. But once you settle into a third world country, you realize that the spendthrift you never identified with, well you realize that now you can. For many here in Cairo, a monthly salary could easily be equivalent to a days work back home, and I believe that’s a very generous estimation. The poverty gap is a very visible reality. Seeing people exist, happily with so little, really makes you reevaluate your understanding of what “necessary” is. My “needs” are turning into “wants.” Alhamdulillah.

The city is filled with noise from honking horns to stray cats giving birth. But you get used to it. The noise fills the city with character. And if you really pay attention you’ll find that every noise tells a story.

Before leaving to Egypt, quite a few people suggested I learn Arabic from home. But in the first weeks of being here, I’ve come to realize why the immersion aspect is so very important. The desire to independently travel short distances, or simply make a purchase , drives your desire to study and makes using and practicing the language a requirement. There’s really nothing more encouraging to study than desiring to be able to venture out on your own or connect with the people you meet in a more intimate way.

Egypt has stolen my heart, despite how disorganized it can be, it endures. It’s so beautiful how willing people are to help you find your way around here (even if they don’t really know the way). Sure you may not be able to find your usual comforts within walking distance (such as a comparable walmart), but you will find a mosque – at least three on each block. I’ve never heard so much thikr in casual speech in all the years I’ve been Muslim, masha Allah. The food is amazing (all halal) and the people here are funny beyond relief. May Allah increase them.

After recovering from a pretty intense week of jet lag, we finally left Street 9 in Mokkatam. It’s nice to see beyond the tall buildings. Below, pictured is the rooftop of Studio Arabiya, a trip to the pyramids, and more recently our trip to Wadi Degla – a complete escape from the noise and hustle of Cairo. Alhamdulillah.

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10 WAY TO SAVE MONEY SO YOU CAN TRAVEL ABROAD

It is one thing to have the desire to travel abroad someday; it is another thing to be able to afford it. While many people have been travelling for various purposes to every country in the world, many have seen their hopes cut short because they don’t have the proper funding. If you want to actualize your dream of travelling abroad someday, then you have to learn to save money to travel abroad because this is the most assuring way if you are not independently wealthy or have a rich back-up. There is no free ride anywhere and if you want to travel abroad like you’ve always dreamed it, you have to learn to save vigorously. In the light of this, we’ve enlisted 10 ways for you to save money to travel abroad, find out about them below:

Create a budget plan

If you want to learn to save, the first step is to create a budget plan. This plan will help you stay consistent with every penny you’ve got because you simply cannot afford to throw money at everything you see if you ever want to save money to travel abroad. You can do this via a computer program like Excel. This is a huge eye opener in your quest to save money to travel abroad because it will help you track your income and expenditure.

Sell things

In order to realize your dreams of travelling abroad, you can actually start saving up from the sales of those little things in your apartment. This is a great way to raise money because there are always items you are no longer using in your closets, garage, and compound. Selling these things you no longer need on Ebay/Amazon etc will boost your savings drastically. This is a way to find value for things you’ve abandoned, and rather than having these items lay around your apartment dormant, find a buyer for them.

Don’t buy for now

Anyone who wants to learn to save has to cultivate the habit of restraint because it takes a great deal of discipline not to buy things you desire especially if you are the type that is used to buying the trendy and latest items. A good way to save money to travel abroad is to cut down your expenditure by simply restraining yourself.

Cut your entertainment

Although it may sound funny, but it if you want to learn to save then you’ve got to learn to limit your entertainment. Those few dollars you don’t pay much attention to could actually become significant when you start to save money to travel abroad. Start to invite your friends over to your house instead of going out to places. Find entertaining things to do that won’t cost you, after all not every form of entertainment requires money.

Secure the best interest rate

Conduct appropriate research to find the best banks that befit your priorities at the money. Find banks that will offer you a good interest bearing savings account and not banks that will make you pay monthly fees to have an account with them. There are some banks that offer free savings and checking, find them and strike a deal with them. You will be surprised at how much you will be able to save in a few months.

Create an automatic savings transfer

Do you know that your banks can help you achieve your goal? Yes they can! Once you’ve decided you are ready to save money to travel abroad, contact your bank and have them automatically transfer a certain amount to your savings account every month, weekly, or bi-weekly. Once you’ve executed the first step mentioned above (creating a budget), and you have a good idea of what your expected income and expenditure for your chosen duration will be, reach out to your bank.

Save on utilities

Utilities are going to run your dreams down if you are not cautious enough. A good way to save money to travel abroad is to cut down the amount spent on utilities such as electricity. You can reduce your electricity bills by turning off every single bulb whenever you are not using them, spreading your clothes outside during summer, washing your clothes yourself instead of the machine, install compact fluorescent lamp light bulbs (they are energy-friendly), don’t use your dishwasher heat dry cycle (at least for the period when you want to save to travel abroad) instead wash your dishes by hand.

Go to shopping with a budget

The best way to learn to save is to cultivate a habit of sticking with your budget when you go shopping. Don’t buy beyond what you planned for even if you find other items tempting. Start eating unprocessed foods because they will benefit your pocket and even help you stay healthy. When you prepare your meals always make them in excess so that you can have enough for lunch when you get to work instead of having to buy. A great way to also save money to travel abroad is to buy your items online (mostly on Amazon) because they sell at the best prices and you won’t have to pay for membership.

Gifting made easy

Even if you want to save money to travel abroad, there are some instances where you may need to appreciate people with gifts because of what they’ve done for you. Instead of buying the gifts to present to them, you can opt for home made gifts or gift of service. This will help you save drastically and effectively.

Subscriptions and memberships

There are some applications, membership deals and subscriptions that you can do without. If you want to save money to travel abroad, then you may have to weigh your necessities and needs. Go for a run, ride bikes, walk, or surf instead of spending money at the gym. Believe me, those are even more fun!

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THESE SINS WILL DESTROY YOU

We don’t always think about the repercussions of our actions. In fact, when you read the word “repercussion”, you probably think of someone going to jail for murder or something severe. Small actions that we do daily tend to be overlooked and oftentimes completely forgotten in the torrent of daily actions. It’s my belief (which probably counts for nothing) that the student of knowledge shouldn’t operate in such a fashion. Our every action has a metaphysical and physical side-effect on us, those side-effects have to be taken into consideration or it may hinder our studies. In reality, this isn’t my belief but the belief of my teachers and those righteous men and women that have passed on this beautiful way of life to us.

Take for example myself and my own studies. If I wake up on time for Fajr and spend the next hour or so after prayer doing homework and preparing for class then I will be on par for class that day. It usually takes me about two hours each day to do my homework and study in order to be prepared for class, but if I choose to spend my time engaging in other things then I’ll be sacrificing my study time. What if those “other things” aren’t just mundane actions but actual sins? Not only do I literally lose time but metaphysically my conscious has lost the ability to concentrate on what it should and a little more of the light of God that I should have in my life has been erased and replaced with a black dot on my heart. Repercussions are real.

Now say, for example, that I wake up for prayer prior to Fajr (tahajjud) and I pray for 30 minutes to an hour. Immediately after prayer, I begin work on my Arabic homework until the time for pre-dawn prayers (Fajr) comes in. Once I complete fajr, I sit in the masjid and complete my morning litanies (adhkar) and do a bit of Quran before going back to bed. I’ve avoided sins and successfully accomplished a significant amount of work that might have taken me much longer throughout the day. Not only that, but I have increased in my own worship, which is only going to help me with my relationship with God and hopefully be a means for receiving His divine aid in my studies.

This is probably the greatest lesson I am learning right now. As my classes increase and I’m studying in various places in addition to Studio Arabiya and I now have a number of friends to keep up with, the only thing that is standing between me and my success are my own sins and my lack of worship. My job is to ensure I am doing my utmost best to repent for my shortcomings so that the help of God remains ever near.

Sometimes I forget this lesson, my hope is that I become more aware of my sins. I should get to a point where I can count my sins on my hands at the end of the day, I should reach a point where I can remember them and take the time to repent for each of them. I desperately need to keep pleasing God because He is the One that bestows knowledge. All of my learning is for no other reason than to draw closer to Him.

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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO LIVE IN EGYPT?

For many people who might want to leave their native country to go live in another country, money is always the defining factor. Some people look out for countries with favorable cost of living so that they don’t have to spend much on their daily activities. If you are such individual who’s thinking about travelling to live in Egypt, then you are in the right place, because this post will give you a good insight into the cost of living in Egypt. Living in a country like Egypt isn’t so expensive, as you will soon find out, and it is in fact relatively cheap as compared to many countries in the world. With the recent devaluation of the Egyptian pound, living in Egypt is now cheaper for expats. For instance an expats who was earning about $7.25 per hour (minimum hourly wage in the US) can live a well-to-do and blissful life in Egypt, because of the rising exchange rates. Daily expenses such as transportation cost, feeding, accommodation, security, miscellaneous and many others are quite affordable in Egypt. Tag along as we introduce to you, within the context of this article, the cost of living in Egypt.

Accommodation

This is no doubt the most important factor to consider for anyone who wants to live in a foreign country, because you’ve got to fetch yourself a good shelter first of all. However, if you want to get yourself a suitable accommodation in Egypt, you may need to first consider the number of years you have in mind to live in Egypt. Owning a personal housing property in Egypt is one of the most challenging things, solely because of how expensive it can get. For instance, a normal three bedroom flat in an area like Sheikh Zayed, might cost around 700,000 LE. That’s quite much for someone who’s probably not so wealthy. However, the pricing varies from places to places and from cities to cities. A decent option for someone who is probably a foreigner coming to live in Egypt is renting. This is quite affordable and cheap everywhere in the country and a decent apartment in Egypt cost far less than most European apartments. Rent prices are way cheaper in Egypt than they are abroad, even without considering the exchange rates.  In general, living in large cities in Egypt might push up your accommodation pricing (whether owning or renting) while living in smaller towns will fetch you lower prices. By and large, it costs less to rent an apartment in Egypt than it is in many foreign countries! So, if you are wondering how much it costs to house yourself and your family in Egypt, I would say far less than in many countries of the world.

Transportation

Another factor worthy of consideration is the cost of transportation, because you will no doubt want to get around your city, see some sights, probably get to work and live your life in Egypt. So, it is important to learn about the costs of transportation in Egypt. If you have your personal car in Egypt, the better! Even though the pump price of fuel is prone to sudden changes, it is still generally affordable and not expensive at all. However, the most common means of transportation is public transport, which gets anywhere across the country. Taxis are readily available and affordable, and you can are even allowed to negotiate with the drivers. The metro is another medium of transportation in Egypt and it is in fact way cheaper than the metro in England for instance (1EGP VS 5.90₤). If you are lucky enough to live in Cairo, you will have access to a more efficient and modern metro system, because Cairo has its own train system. Fares are very cheap when relatively to western standards and the lines extend across the city, so you don’t have to worry whether or not the train won’t get to the area you live or you are headed. In general, transportation is relatively cheap in Egypt with an average value of around $14 per monthly bus pass runs and a liter of gas costing as little as 22 cents.

Feeding, Entertainment, and Lifestyle

Feeding, drinking, clothing and fun can consume as much or as little of anyone’s household expenses depending on someone’s particular lifestyle. This trio is quite significant to anyone’s sustenance and as such it is important to understand that they are all not so pricey when you come to live in Egypt. Cooking in your house with local ingredients, going out to eat a couple of times every month and avoiding those budget-unfriendly luxurious restaurants will allow you to enjoy a decent standard of living without having to spend so much. Local goods are so cheap in Egypt and they should be the option of an expat who’s on a budget. Feeding is beyond doubt the coolest part of living in Egypt, with food supplies sold at ridiculously inexpensive amounts. If a part of your entertainment is sightseeing, then you’ve definitely come to the right country, because Egypt is well-known for its massive historical monuments across every city in the country. You only need few dollars as gate fee into some of the sights while some are free. You don’t have to think about what to do with your leisure time, because there are so many fun-filled places of history to visit in Egypt without spending much.

Education

If you are coming to live in Egypt for the purpose of schooling or you are coming with your little kids who need to go to school. You are surely going to find schooling costs reasonably affordable. Egypt adheres to the popular 6+3+3 educational system, so you can always continue your education here regardless of whatever level you were in your native country. According to Numbeo (a trusted platform that collects costs of living indexes for many countries worldwide), an average private preschool cost in Egypt is around EGP 2,114.84 for a single child. That is quite affordable when compared with the cost of education in many Western nations.

Utilities

Where can one go to without the responsibilities of bills and utilities? Definitely nowhere! However, Egypt makes life easy for anyone who wants to spend less on their bills. Unlike many countries where you spend almost one quarter of your monthly income on bills, Egypt is far affordable. If you want to live in a well furnished studio of about 480 ft2, one would only need to spend about EGP 3,867 ($217) in an expensive area on average and EGP 1,651 ($92) in a regular area. The utility bill of someone living singly in an apartment is about EGP 452 ($25) on average, fast and high-speed internet accessibility (15 MBps) costs ($16) a month.

Healthcare in Egypt

If there is one attractive thing about Egypt, it is the high level of medical service realizable everywhere within the country, although many of these healthcare services are better achieved in private medical establishments. It doesn’t cost so much to obtain quality medical attention in Egypt, so if you want to live in Egypt, you don’t have to worry about stretching your budget. A treatment at an average private medical establishment in Egypt could cost as low as EGP 1000 and it could even soar higher than that, depending on the type of treatment required. However, it is still affordable as compared with many other countries.

By and large, if you take a moment to calculate the basic cost of living in Egypt (as highlighted above) vs any Western country, while considering exchange rates, you will find out that life in Egypt is so much cheaper to live. If the defining factor for deciding where to live is financial consideration, Egypt is surely your best bet because the lands of pharaoh are so affordable.

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TEACHING METHODOLOGY

BEST WAY TO LEARN ARABIC

The best way to learn Arabic is through our teaching methodology that has had great results year after year. A teaching method plays an important role in transmitting knowledge and skills to our students. The effectiveness of both knowledge and skills depends greatly on the methodology used. At Studio Arabiya we teach Arabic languageand Quran using cutting-edge academic and pedagogical methods in language education.

Thousands upon thousands of ‘students of knowledge’ benefited and succeeded with our revolutionary teaching methods. Classroom audiovisual facilities, interviews with class guests, and lectures are among the techniques used to enhance learning proficiency. We provide an environment that allows students to ‘live the language’ and encourages activities for communication inside and outside class. Students are strongly encouraged to become involved in self-directed co-curricular activities. By this you will be put in direct contact with local people and immerse yourself in the culture.

The skills students acquire at Studio Arabiya give them the confidence and proficiency necessary to function efficiently in any Arabic cultural environment throughout the Arab World.

TEACHING STYLES

What is the most effective method of someone teaching you Arabic? Throughout the history professors taught the students the Arabic language through the Arabic language. This is one of the easiest and most effective ways. It enables the student to use the Arabic language from the beginning and immediately start practicing the language, in different contexts and social situations. Doing so will only speed up your learning and instill the language into your life. It also solidifies your knowledge of the Arabic language and makes it easier to obtain and hold on to after completing the immersion program.

CLASS SETTINGS

Each class meets 3 hours day, five days per week over the course of the recommended period of 12 months. There is no restriction however, to participate in this program for one whole year or for as long as you can otherwise if unable to commit for one year.  You can also take our private classes, for 8 hours a day, five days a week, for as long as you would like. We accept students year-round and students can come to the institute at anytime (once they received their letter of acceptance). If you’re joining a group, you should plan to come before the first of the month, so you can join at the beginning of the level.

We have our classes in a comfortable and welcoming institute with carefully configured settings and tables ideal for interactive dialogue. We encourage every student, whether in level one or five, to regularly participate in class. Our group classes are generally small, allowing you and your classmates to progress smoothly and efficiently. Group classes are in mixed gender; however, we sectioned the seating in a way that would to allow sisters to sit with sisters and vice versa. Private classes are almost always with the same gender teacher.

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WHY STUDIO ARABIYA INSTITUTE?

July 18th, 2010 was the day I decided that it would be better for me to submit to the will of God than for me to be one who submits to the will of my desires. That is when my journey into Islam and subsequently of Islamic knowledge became something I dedicated my life towards. It took years, years in which I became married and worked in some of the premiere Islamic organizations. Blessings upon blessings came, but the fervor and passion to continue my Islamic studies weighed on me. I sought out all traditional means in my community, sat with the scholars of the community, attended every traveling class available to me and, finally, the time came that my teachers came to a decision that it was time for me to move on. It was time to delve into the key of all Islamic Sciences and the key to delve into the book of God: the Arabic Language.

Mind you, prior to this, I had rough attempts at studying the Arabic language. I had done two semesters in my University, attended an Arabic class for a few months at a local masjid, but none of which took me to the level I felt a serious student of Islam should achieve. I looked at various schools around the world and contemplated where would be the best fit.

You should remember: I was not the only one making this journey. My wife would be accompanying me and, as such, I needed to find a place that would satisfy my craving of the Arabic language but, at the same time, give us the security and tranquility needed to maintain our marriage and happiness (a key that many students of Islam push to the side at the expense of their marriages).

Finally, we set our sights on 3 schools and applications had gone out to each, none of which were in Egypt. All 3 came back with affirmatives, letting my wife and I know that we were accepted to their campuses.

Yet something was missing in each.

After praying to God for His guidance and requesting direction from my mentors and scholars, I remained largely confused as to where and if we would leave our cozy home in the tourist capital of the world. Finally, a friend and Arabic teacher reached out and we discussed my plans, to which he recommended Studio Arabiya. After a short conversation, I remained hesitant due to the visible instability of Egypt and the current political situation.

So, I did my job as a husband and responsible seeker of knowledge and reached out to contacts that I knew who had lived in Egypt…those who were both born and residents here and those who were former students of the prestigious Al Azhar University. All responded with varying opinions – some having loved Egypt, while others having despised it.

Needless to say, none of it helped.

This was all going on near the end of the month of January 2016 and classes started March 1st. I truly didn’t think we would make it. That same week, I had helped put on a local outreach event for those of varying faiths at the mosque I was active with. At that event, I spoke to a long time friend and aunty in the community…one who had taken her entire family to the mountains of Yemen to study Islam.

It was with her words of wisdom and conviction that I decided Egypt was the choice for me.

It really was that easy, and for the sake of brevity in this post, I won’t get into details. In short, she reminded me of my intention to study and also reminded me that, though funds are important (a selling point of Studio Arabiya), nothing was more important than your intention.

My intention was attaining the Arabic language and, as such, God would open the doors of blessings and mercy.

So with that, the application was sent, the notice sent to my job, the community leaders informed, parents told, and the journey began. We waited for our response and in the meantime cleaned our home, sold all of our items and put it up for rent all in the space of 3 weeks. When the acceptance letter came, we purchased our tickets for the trip, formally made an announcement to the community and were on our way.

As this is the first of many blog posts to come, I’ll end here and tell you this:

Your journey to the Arabic language starts with you and your passion. How bad do you want it? I had some of the biggest scholars of America advising me of other choices and paths to take; some of them could have disheartened anyone and, at times, did dishearten me.

But my flame of passion couldn’t be ousted.

And so, here I am, in the beautiful city of Mokattam in good ‘ol Cairo. When I eventually contacted many of those same teachers and scholars, I received one similar answer from them all: “I needed to see how bad you wanted it and what your intentions really were.” It all went back to the beautiful aunty that advised my wife and I and the narration that opens the famous 40 hadith of Imam Nawawi:

It is narrated on the authority of Amirul Mu’minin, Abu Hafs ‘Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) who said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

And the rest, as they say, is history or rather, you’ll read about it in the next post.

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THE TOP 3 COUNTRIES TO GO TO FOR LEARNING ARABIC

If you are still wondering whether or not you should learn Arabic, then you’ve probably not been following the trends across the globe. With more than 290 million native speakers in over 20 countries, Arabic language has risen to the pinnacle of languages most learnt and spoken. In this age, there is barely a country you visit that you don’t find a native Arabic speaker even when there are no Arabs around. So you see it’s indeed a great communication and conversational tool that you cannot afford not to have. All you probably need is to visit any Arabic language center in any of the three countries being mentioned in this article. In this scope of this article, we aim to discuss those 3 countries that are best to go to if you ever want to learn and live in Arabic because these countries being spoken of, have the best Arabic language programs. In your attempt to become familiarized with Arabic, you will enjoy the additional benefits of understanding the diverse cultures that comprise the Arab world. However, before discussing the countries where you should visit in other to enroll for the best Arabic language programs, it would be important to first make some mentions of those various dialects of Arabic language that are there to be studied.

EGYPTIAN ARABIC

MODERN STANDARD ARABIC (OFFICIAL ARABIC)

1. Cairo, Egypt

Regarding Egypt as being peerless in terms of its ancient history and cultural backgrounds would be an understatement because many actually beliefs Egypt is the bedrock of modern civilization and many beliefs its Arabic is the best in the world. Wow, where else to study Arabicif not within the beautiful walls of Cairo? Coming to Egypt for your Egyptian Arabic Course would represent a great chance for you to understand every rudiments of the language while also understanding every dialect of the Language because all across the beautiful city of Cairo is an Arabic Language Center where you can sharpen your Arabic with the best Arabic Language Programs in the world. The most popular location in Egypt to study Arabic is “Umm ad-Dunya (the Mother of the World)”. What a dramatic city with over 20 million inhabitants, most of whom are native speakers of the Arabic Language. Within the walls of Umm ad-Dunya are wide avenues, mosques and palace which are great for the learning rate of any student interested in the language. A perfect reason to go on a holiday to Egypt would be to take study classes in Egyptian Arabic Course and Modern Standard Arabic because there is arguably no better place in the globe where this is better done. One could also take up basic or professional Arabic courses for journalism at the Arabic Language Center. Imagine a holiday spent studying Arabic every morning while taking the afternoon to uncover the fascinating legends and Mysteries of the Pyramids of Giza.

2. Meknès, Morocco

Sometimes one may be interested in learning multiple languages and for people who fall in this category, coming to Morocco will surely quench their thirst for multi-language-learning. Here in Morocco you can sharpen your French skills while also working on learning your Arabic in this Multi-Lingual nation. Such is the language dexterity you get to witness in Morocco!

In Morocco, there are diverse ways to learn Arabic but the best method would be to learn Moroccan Arabic by attending the best Arabic Language Programs in the “Versailles of Morocco,” popularly renowned as “Meknès”. Here in Meknѐs, there is a rich blend of Berber, Arab, and French cultures which have given birth to a calm, but lovely, city whose historic medina is home to the exquisite “Dar El Makhzen” palace.

Several Arabic summer programs in Meknès combine Arabic study with political courses, religion courses, and even international relations related courses, or even collaborating with local NGOs in the city to promote economic and social development. Now you see the advantage of coming to Morocco to learn your Arabic. It’s always worth the journey because of the level of knowledge you go back with.

3. Jordan

If we choose to ignore the popular joke that Jordan probably have multiple words for beige, then there would be nothing stopping anyone from taking one of the best Arabic language programs at the Arabic learning center here in Amman. Although, some people often regard Amman as the Kingdom of boredom, it’s still a place worth visiting because such claim isn’t entirely true.

Jordan may not be your regular beautiful city but it is far from being unsafe and you will achieve your sole purpose of visiting – which is to learn Arabic language.

As a way to justify the fact that Jordan is far from being boring – contrary to popular opinion, there is in fact “so much to do, like the coral reef in the Red Sea, the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, and lots of outdoor activities”. When you come to Jordan to learn modern standard Arabic always be prepared to discover some of those stories and legends you’ve heard and read so much about.

Jordan has long been a popular choice for students of Arabic because it is relatively stable, and its dialect is fairly close to modern standard Arabic. Now, there is the advantage you get when you choose to learn Modern Standard Arabic in Jordan because the general language you hear the locals speak everywhere you go to is fairly close to the language you want to learn. Without an iota of doubts, being around people who speak a language one wants to learn makes things easier. The country has seen an influx of Arabic students following the unrest and ongoing civil war in Syria. Unlike many other countries where you can also study Arabic, Jordan is a safe haven. There is the guarantee that you will complete your program in due time and in great health because the weather and climatic conditions are also quite favorable.Jordan has several good language institutes, including the highly-regarded but expensive Qasid Institute, the new Jordan Language Academy (JLA), and the language institute at the University of Amman.

Both Qasid and the JLA can help students find accommodation, including stays with Jordanian families to improve their Arabic.

There are also lots of volunteering opportunities in Jordan, particularly as it faces an unprecedented number of refugees from neighboring Syria. Now You See why you should consider Jordan when making that decision about which country to go to learn Arabic.