Royal University of Phnom Penh

Institute of Foreign Languages English Department

Arab Culture

By: Sok Sothun and Sron Sophal

Lecturer: Peou Chivoin

Arab Countries in the world map

Arab Countries

Arab territory The Arab World stretches across more than 14

million square kilometers (5 million square miles) of North Africa and the part of North-East Africa and South-West Asia called the Middle East.

The Asian part of the Arab world is called the Mashriq.

The North African part of the Arab World to the west of Egypt and Sudan is known as the Maghreb.

Characteristics of Arab Althought Arab countries are considered

Middle Eastern culturally, not all Eastern countries are Arab.

Iranians, Turks, Israelis are not Arab The connotation Arab refers to a group of

people whose behavioral pattern is unique because of their culture, language, Religion, and eve nationalism.

Arab Value

Virtues are considered to be dignity, honor, and reputation.

Foreigners at all costs should avoid causing an Arab to lose face or to be shamed.

Loyalty to family as well as courteous and harmonious communication are emphasized.

Arab priorities are first to one’s self, then kinsman, townsman or tribesman or tribesman and those who share the same religion and country, in that order.

Egypt

Egyptian: Kemet), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia.

Egypt Geography

Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libyato the west.

Economy Egypt's economy

depends mainly on agriculture, media, petroleum exports, and tourism; there are also more than three million Egyptians working abroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf and Europe.

Religious Today, Christians

constitute about 10% of the population.

Islam in Egypt came to the country with the successors of the Prophet Muhammad, and is today the dominant faith with 90% of the population adherents, almost completely of the Sunni denomination.

Saudi Arabia in the World Map

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA is an 

Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast,Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south. See the map below:

Saudi Arabia and Arab World

Saudi Arabia and Arab World

The Kingdom occupies about 80 percent of the Arabian peninsula. In 2000 Saudi Arabia and Yemensigned an agreement to settle their long-running border dispute.

A significant length of the country's southern borders with the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, are not precisely defined or marked, so the exact size of the country remains unknown.

Saudi Arabia and Arab World The Saudi government's estimate is

2,217,949 km² (856,356 sq mi). Other reputable estimates vary between

1,960,582 km² (756,934 mi) and 2,240,000 km² (864,869 mi²).

The kingdom is commonly listed as the world's 14th largest state.

Saudi Arabia's geography is varied.

Economy Saudi Arabia's economy is petroleum-based;

roughly 75% of budget revenues and 90% of export earnings come from the oil industry.

The oil industry comprises about 45% of Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product, compared with 40% from the private sector (see below).

Saudi Arabia officially has about 260 billion barrels (4.1×1010 m3) of oil reserves, comprising about 24% of the world's proven total petroleum reserves.

Culture Saudi Arabian culture mainly revolves around

the religion of Islam. Islam's two holiest sites, Meccaand Medina,

are located in the country. Five times every day, Muslims are called to prayer from the minarets of mosques which are scattered around the country.

The weekend begins on Thursday due to Friday being the holiest day for Muslims.

All Muslim countries have a Thursday-Friday or Friday-Saturday weekend.

CultureFood Islamic dietary laws forbid the eating of pork

 and the drinking of alcohol, and this law is enforced strictly throughout Saudi Arabia.

Arabic unleavened bread, or khobz, is eaten with almost all meals.

Other staples include lamb, grilled chicken, falafel (deep-fried chickpea balls), shawarma (spit-cooked sliced lamb), and Ful medames (a paste of favabeans,  garlic and lemon).

Religion Due to the legal framework of the country,

which does not provide legal protection for freedom of religion, the public practice of non-Muslim religions is prohibited.

Indeed, the Government enforces a strict and conservative version of Sunni Islam.

Muslims who do not follow the official interpretation, can face severe repercussions at the hands of Mutawwa'in (religious police).

Christianity in Saudi Arabia faces persecution

Demographics Saudi Arabia's population as of July 2006 is

estimated to be about 27,019,731, including an estimated 5.5 million resident foreigners

Until the 1960s, a majority of the population was nomadic; but presently more than 95% of the population is settled, due to rapid economic and urban growth

Demographics of Saudi Arabia, Number of inhabitants in thousands

Human rights Several international human rights organizations,

such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the United Nations Human Rights Committee have issued reports critical of the Saudi legal system and its human rights record in various political, legal, and social areas, especially its severe limitations on the rights of women

Saudi Arabia is also the only country in the world where women are banned from driving on public roads. Women may drive off-road and in private housing compounds - some of which extend to many square miles

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