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          Arabic

          The latest news on the Arabic language, alphabet and words

          The Arabic word afreet refers to demons or a class of powerful jinn

          'Afreet', or demon, can be both scary and complimentary

          CultureOctober 31, 2025
          Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram is in form with the summer anthem Warana Eh. EPA

          The 45 best Arabic songs of 2025 so far, from Nancy Ajram to Marwan Moussa

          Music & On-stageOctober 26, 2025
          'Souq': The Arabic word for marketplace evokes the communal and the historical

          'Souq', or marketplace, evokes the communal and the historical

          CultureOctober 24, 2025
          Some Arabic names take after prominent figures in Islamic history, while others refer to treasured concepts in Arabic language and culture. Talib Jariwala / Getty Images

          From Aisha to Zahra: The origins and meanings of 10 popular Arabic female names

          LifestyleOctober 17, 2025
          Qilada is the Arabic word for necklace. The National

          'Qilada', or necklace, encompasses beauty and honour

          CultureOctober 10, 2025
          Our Arabic word of the week is sahaba, which means cloud. The National

          Why 'Sahaba', or cloud, has profound meaning in the Gulf

          CultureOctober 03, 2025
          Mohammed Mandi, renowned Arabic calligrapher at work, at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

          Are younger Arabs speaking less Arabic?

          CommentOctober 03, 2025
          'Kibreet': Arabic word for matchstick evokes hellfire and alchemical balance

          'Kibreet', or matchstick, evokes hellfire

          CultureSeptember 26, 2025
          The cosmopolitan coastal city of Jeddah has always been defined by the Red Sea. Getty Images

          How Saudi Arabia's cities got their names – and what they mean

          CultureSeptember 19, 2025
          Arabic language education needs to be more accessible and immersive, say linguists. Getty Images

          Stop apologising for your Arabic: Linguists demand end to dialect discrimination

          CultureSeptember 16, 2025
          Arabic calligraphy at the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

          How the UAE is maintaining Arabic's place in the digital era

          EditorialSeptember 16, 2025
          Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak opens the Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National

          Abu Dhabi and Amazon to create world’s largest Arabic digital library

          BooksSeptember 14, 2025
          The Arabic word for mountain is jabal. The National

          'Jabal', or mountain, stands for towering strength

          CultureSeptember 12, 2025
          The Arabic word sumud means resilience and steadfastness. The National

          'Sumud', or resilience, has a special resonance for Palestinians

          CultureSeptember 05, 2025
          From casual chats to formal settings, the meaning of certain Arabic words can change in connotation. Getty Images

          Inshallah, mashallah, habibi and other misused Arabic words and phrases

          CultureAugust 29, 2025
          'Ne'meh': The Arabic word for blessing can be both a gift and a test

          'Ne'meh', or blessing, can be both a gift and a test

          CultureAugust 22, 2025
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