In today’s interdependent, increasing interconnected world, the more languages you can master, the better.

I will list for you my 10 best reasons to learn Arabic.  

1.    Learning Arabic can be beneficial for anyone who lives – even for a short time – in an Arabic-speaking country.  It’s especially useful for members of the diplomatic corps and members of the military. Being multilingual can be an asset in almost any situation.

2.    The Arabic language is complex. It’s quite different from English.  When you tell other people that you can speak Arabic, most people will be impressed.  

3.    Another reason to learn Arabic:  Arabic is said to be the fifth most commonly spoken language in the world.  It is the official language of over 20 countries. There are said to be well over 300 million native speakers of the language. You will be able to communicate directly with them when you speak Arabic.  Arabic is also the liturgical language of Islam. It is said to be understood by Muslims throughout the world.

4.    There is high demand and low supply of Arabic speakers in the Western world.

5.    Some of the best reasons to learn Arabic are financial.  You may be rewarded with many financial incentives for learning it. Arabic learning is promoted among Americans through numerous scholarships and supported learning opportunities. Any time there is a scarcity of a commodity, someone is willing to pay a premium for the scarce object.  
6.    There is a great demand for Arabic-speakers by the military, by national security, and by U. S. Intelligence agencies..

7.    One of the best reasons to learn Arabic: Arabic-speaking nations are a fast growing market for trade. To successfully and profitably do business with any foreign country, one must first understand the language and culture of that country. Arabic-speaking peoples have made significant contributions to world civilization. It is said that one of their noted scholars invented algebra.  They also presented the concept of “zero” to world mathematics.

8.    Another reason to learn Arabic is that Arabic-speaking nations have a rich cultural heritage. Some Arabic-speaking countries are:

• Algeria

• Bahrain

• Chad

• Comoros

• Djibouti

• Egypt

• Eritrea

• Ethiopia

• Iraq

• Jordan

• Kuwait

• Lebanon

• Libya

• Mauritania

• Morocco

• Oman

• Qatar

• Saudi Arabia

• Somalia

• Syria

• Tunisia

• United Arab Emirates

• Yemen

9.    Knowing Arabic can help promote intercultural understanding.  We can help eliminate prejudiced and biased stereotypes of Arabic-speaking people. 

10.    Another good reason to learn Arabic is for career advancement.  It is evident that knowledge of several languages can drastically increase your job options.

Finally, here’s a bonus reason to learn Arabic.  The United States has a small but growing Arab-American minority. Even though the population is small, it is still big enough to make an impact. Plus, adding to your knowledge base is almost always beneficial.  

Peace be unto you.  As-Salamu `Alaykum