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The Arab World is a vast
place that stretches over two continents, Africa and Asia. As shown
on the map, it borders the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Arabian Gulf
in the east, the Mediterranean Sea in the north and Central Africa and
the Indian Ocean in the south. It looks over four important straits
and water passes including the Suez Canal. The Arab World consists
of 21 countries and is home to more than 330 million people.
Facts:
- The Arabic language is the main
unifying factor in the Arab World.
- All Arabs speak and understand the standard classical Arabic language.
- Different areas speak various dialects (there are
5 major dialects in addition to several sub-dialects).
- Arabic is also taught and spoken
partially in most Moslem countries.
- Not all Arabs are Moslems.
- Not all Moslems are Arabs.
- Definition of an Arab according to the Arab League: A
person whose language is Arabic, who lives in an Arabic speaking
country, who is in sympathy with the aspirations of the Arabic speaking
people.
- In addition to Arabic, French
is also used officially in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
- The Arab countries are:
| Algeria |
Bahrain |
Comoros |
Djibouti |
Egypt |
Iraq |
Jordan |
Kuwait |
Lebanon |
Libya |
Morocco |
Mauritania |
Oman |
Saudi Arabia |
Somalia |
Sudan |
Syria |
Tunisia |
Qatar |
U.A.E |
Yemen |
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