Learning Arabic in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Arabic is a Central Semitic language, thus related to and classified alongside other Semitic languages. In terms of speakers, Arabic is the largest member of the Semitic language family. It is spoken by more than 280 million people as a first language, most of whom live in the Middle East and North Africa, and by 250 million more as a second language.
The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing several languages of Asia and Africa, such as Arabic and Urdu. After the Latin alphabet, it is the second-most widely used alphabet around the world.
The Arabic Language Institute for non-native speakers is one of several colleges or institutes which belongs to Umm Al Qura University.
The University is located in Makkah, the Holy city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Institute was established in the year 1395 A.H. corresponding to 1975 C.E, as part of the college of Islamic Shariah (Law).
Upon completing the initial studies in the Arabic Language Institute with excellent grades (90% average or higher), the student earns the opportunity to apply to study in one of the colleges of Umm al-Qura Gulf Arabic is hereby defined as the dialect of Arabic native to the Arab nationals of the Gulf countries.
The Arabic language is one the of top ten languages of the internet with 1,907.9 % growth rate since 2000, and it wil continue to grow in the next years due to the improvemet in Internet accessibility in the Arab world.
About Makkah:
Makkah or Mecca, is the holiest city of the Islamic religion. According to Islamic tradition, the history of Mecca goes back to Abraham who built the Kaaba with the help of his eldest son Ismael in around 2000 BCE.
In the 5th century, the Quraysh took control of Mecca, and became skilled merchants and traders. Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570, and thus Islam has been inextricably linked with the city ever since.
In 622 he emigrated to Yathreb or Al Madina. In June 1916, During the Arab Revolt, the Sharif of Mecca, Hussein bin Ali revolted against the Ottoman Empire from Mecca and it was the first city captured by his forces following Battle of Mecca (1916). He declared a new state, Kingdom of Hijaz, and Makkah, as it is capital.
The main reason Muslims go to Mecca is to pray in the Holy Mosque. Often, they perform the Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, while visiting the Holy Mosque.
Once a year, the Hajj, the greater pilgrimage, takes place in Mecca and nearby sites. During the Hajj, three million people of all races worship in unison.
Most long-term residents of Mecca live in the Old City, and many work in the industry known locally as the Hajj Industry.
As of 2005, there were 532 public and private schools for males and another 681 public and private schools for female students. The only University in Makkah, is the Umm Al Qura university, established in 1981 and encompasses several colleges today.