What holiday is Eid Al-Adha? Each year in Egypt, Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Adha in remembrance of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son at Allah’s request, and Allah’s provision of a ram to sacrifice instead. This is one of the most significant Islamic holidays. In this article, we’ll be going over the Eid Al-Adha meaning as well as Eid Al-Adha observances and traditions. At ArabicPod101.com, we hope to make this learning journey both fun and informative! 1. What is Eid Al-Adha in Egypt? Eid Al-Adha (sometimes called Eid Ul-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice) is the second-most-important holiday in the Islamic nation, and here we’ll give you some Eid Al-Adha background so you can better appreciate this holiday. The... Show more

1. Introduction In the Arabic language, there are two words for a “gift.” هدية (hadieh) is the type of gift that you would give for a birthday or Eid al-Fitr—a gift to celebrate a special occasion. هبة (hiba) is a gift that truly comes from the heart—a donation, a sponsorship, even a sacrifice of some sort. The language itself tells you how important the concept of gift-giving is in Arab culture. And as anyone who’s done business in the Arab world or experienced Arab hospitality knows, it’s an aspect that’s impossible to ignore. So whether you’re preparing for a trip to Saudi Arabia or welcoming new Iraqi neighbors, check out the guide below to make sure you’re checking all the right boxes. 2. Outstanding Gifts for... Show more

The UAE is not a big place. Its geographical area fits neatly between Austria and Ireland on a list of countries. And yet, it has some staggering numbers attached to it. One of the most interesting is that expats vastly outnumber locals—in some places, by a factor of nine to one. That means that any customer-facing business venture in the UAE has to take into account not just the local culture, but a mix of cultures from all around the world. As someone in charge of that customer service, you’ll be faced with an unenviable task. How is it that some businesses thrive in such an environment, while others fade away into the dust? It’s simple, really, and it’s a lesson that can be applied to all aspects of expat life: ... Show more

Picture a crowded Dubai street. What do you see? Maybe you thought of towering skyscrapers, sweltering sunshine, luxury cars. Who do you see? Men in flowing white kandurahs? Women in abayas? Or a sea of faces from all over the world? The United Arab Emirates is made up of eighty percent expats. That’s an astounding number. But they must be doing something right. The average annual income in the UAE is nearly US $130,000. That means that aside from a strong sense of business savvy, the expats living, working, and thriving in the UAE have something truly special. They understand and embrace the local business culture. It’s not an easy task. That’s why we’ve compiled this one-size-fits-all guide to UAE... Show more

Do you remember your first time being invited to a meal in another country? I was petrified. I had all these conflicting thoughts and fragments of advice running through my head: Leave food on your plate. Eat it all. Sit up straight. Lean back in your chair. Eat quietly. Burp as loud as you can. It’s a challenge to know what other people might be expecting of you at mealtimes. Every culture has different norms about eating. We’re sure you’ve read some pretty crazy things about food culture in guidebooks (or even heard about it second- or third-hand). Some information may have you asking, “They do WHAT at the table!?” Who wouldn’t be afraid of something going wrong? But it’s a challenge you’ve got to take head-on if... Show more

The Festival of Imilchil has become recognized around the world. The more common name of this festival is the Festival of Brides, it has been to attract huge numbers of tourist from around the world to attend days on tribal wedding ceremonies At the end of each summer. On this day the tribal women of that area will pick their husbands for the rest of their lives. The festival is a huge celebration in both Morocco and Imilchil. The legend behind the festival is that there were two tribes called Ait Yaaza and Ait Ibahim that were always in a constant war. Then a woman from one clan fell in love with a man from the other, but their parents wouldn’t let them get married.  Because they were not allowed to marry they shed many tears,... Show more

Ramadan ( رمضان ) is a special month of the year for millions of Arabs and Muslims in the world. Interestingly, the start of Ramadan is determined by a combination of physical sightings and astronomical calculations done based on the lunar calendar. The lunar calendar being some 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, Ramadan migrates through the seasons. The most important characteristic of Ramadan is the fasting from the breaking of dawn to the setting of the sun.  While fasting has existed in many societies and in many forms, fasting during Ramadan is not just refraining from eating and drinking but carries the added significance of worship, psychological comfort and morality. Another important change that comes along with... Show more

This is a celebration that begins on the last day of Ramadan and is called ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ or `Eid ul-Fitr. The celebration goes on for three days as children knock on the doors of other people and take chocolate, money and sugar from them. People take this time to forgive each other. The children kiss the hands of the adults and everyone spend time visiting with each other. At the end of the fast and beginning of this festival, Muslims are obligated to repeat the Tabkir all three days of this celebration. People greet each other with “Happy Eid or Blessed Eid.” The first day begins with getting up early and eating a very small breakfast portion. After that they go to the Mosque where they collaborate in a special Eid... Show more

The Islamic faith consists of different times of the year that the Muslim takes time away to worship. Ramadan is one of those holy times that are an important part of the Muslim beliefs. On the Islamic calendar, this is considered to be the ninth month of the year. The Muslim people have certain religious obligations that they have to follow and the five pillars of Islam is part of the acceptance to the religion. Ramadan is one of those five pillars. The entire month is spent in a time of fasting each day from dawn to sunset. The process of fasting during this month is indicative of the removal of their sins. They believe that their Qu’ran was initially sent down to the earth at this time and so they consider it to be important in... Show more

The Night of Emancipation or the Night of Fortune is the Arabic Holiday known also as Lailat al Barat. It is a Muslim holiday that is celebrated on the fourteenth night of the month of Shabaan as depicted by the Islam Hijra calendar. It is a special day to the Muslim faith because it is also mentioned in the Qu’ran and is a symbolic reference that is authentic to the Prophet Mohammad. It is also known as Shabe-e-Baraat in India and Iran, which demonstrates a night of forgiveness or recognition of the Day of Atonement. The Muslims think that this Arabic holiday is a preparation for them to seek forgiveness for their sins when they pray to their gods two weeks before the beginning of Ramadan. The Prophet Mohammad pointed out in the... Show more