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

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” Nelson Mandela gave some solid advice. Your words, and the language they’re spoken in, can make a powerful impact. But what about what you’re not saying? What are you communicating without even realizing it? Is your message, “I’m confident, trustworthy, and capable,” or something more like “Watch out!”? In this article, we’re going to take a holistic look at the nonverbal signals you might be giving your business partner. When you’re in another culture, you can’t expect your body language to stay the same. In Dubai, you might accidentally be sending messages that tip the scales in the... Show more

Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that special person? Speaking another language could revolutionize your love life! So, why wait? Learning how to say ‘love’ in Arabic could be just what you need to find it. Or perhaps you were lucky, and have found your Arabic partner already. Fantastic! Yet, a cross-cultural relationship comes with unique challenges. Learning how to speak your lover’s language will greatly improve your communication and enhance the relationship. At ArabicPod101, our team will teach you all the words, quotes and phrases you need to woo your Arabic lover with excellence! Our tutors provide personal assistance, with plenty of extra material available... Show more

Do you know what the most decisive moment of a day in the office is? It happens in the blink of an eye, and it could mean the start of a great deal—or a disaster. It’s the length of time it takes for you to click “Send.” A scary moment, to be sure. Are you positive there weren’t any mistakes in that last email? Did it go to the right person? And when you’re doing business in another culture and another language, the pressure gets turned up to eleven. But at the same time, the rewards could be enormous. If you’re someone who’s already got a decent grasp of the written Arabic language, then you might be ready for the challenge of writing business emails in Arabic. What does it take—and what’s in it for you? In this... Show more

Can You Really Learn Arabic Alone? Learning a language on your own or without traditional classroom instruction may seem quite daunting at first. What if you run into questions? How do you stay motivated and on track to achieving goals? Don’t worry, not only is it possible to learn Arabic or any language without traditional classroom instruction: ArabicPod101 has created the world’s most advanced and extensive online language learning system. Not only is ArabicPod101 specifically designed to help you with learning a language on your own, it’s actually faster, more convenient, and less expensive than traditional classroom options! Let’s look at some of the benefits of learning Arabic or any language alone. Also, don't forget to... Show more

Yes, even beginners can quickly learn conversational Arabic well enough to carry on real conversations with native speakers. Of course, beginners won’t be able to carry a conversation the same way they could in their native language. But, just knowing a few tips like which questions to ask to keep a conversation going are all you need to speak and interact with real native speakers! But before we get to specific suggestions, let’s first take a closer look at how having real Arabic conversations is so vital to your mastery of the language. Learning to Carry a Conversation is Vital to Mastery of Any Language Communicating with other people is the very point of language and conversation is almost second nature in our native tongue. For... Show more

You tell me! Every expat from Morocco to the UAE knows that Arabic is a tough language to learn. With gendered verbs, consonantal roots, and archaic vocabulary, it’s no walk in the park. And what’s the deal with that writing system? Wouldn’t it be better to skip the whole thing and hire a translator? Of course, that’s how the vast majority of foreigners doing business in Arabic-speaking countries deal with this problem. But is that really worth it? What do you lose and what do you gain by spending the time to learn the Arabic language? 1. Can You Get By Without Arabic? Sure! Lots of people already do. Big cities in the Arab world are already cosmopolitan. In Dubai alone, more than seventy-five percent of the... Show more

Today, classrooms are no longer the only or even best place to learn a new language like Arabic. More and more people are finding that they can easily learn a language just about anywhere they have a few minutes of spare time, including their daily commute to work. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American spends over 50 minutes a day commuting to and from work, or over 300 hours a year. Rethinking Your Daily Commute to Work But rather than simply sitting in traffic and wasting the time, you can instead use your daily commute to literally learn Arabic in just a few short months! ArabicPod101 has developed specialized learning tools that you can use on your commute to work (and home again) to master the language in... Show more

What word passes between native speakers a dozen times a day without a second thought, but leaves a learner tongue-tied, terrified of making a faux pas? It’s “hello”—but it’s also all the cultural knowledge that comes with it. Saying hello in Modern Standard Arabic is no picnic if you don’t know the cultural context! Keep reading if you’ve ever wondered “How do Arabs say hello?” Every Arabic phrasebook or guidebook has an entry for “hello,” but I’ll bet that they didn’t tell you how to use it. No matter how good your grammar is, slapping Arabic words into English cultural contexts will leave anybody confused. Fortunately, you’ve got this guide to keep you on the right path. Arabs are legendary for their hospitality, and putting a... 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