Ramadan and moon sighting
Why does Ramadan start at different times? Because the Muslim calendar year is shorter than the Gregorian calendar year, Ramadan begins 10–12 days earlier each year, allowing it to fall in every season throughout a 33-year cycle. What has Ramadan got to do with moon...
Wadis in the Middle East
Wadi means "valley" or "ravine" The word wadi means “valley” or “ravine” in Arabic. Wadis are an essential feature of the Middle East, they come in all types and sizes and are dry for most of the year. When it rains, great quantities of water may rush through the...
Agatha Christie in the Middle East
The Arab world was hugely influential on one of the bestselling authors of all time. The late British novelist Agatha Christie — known as the “Queen of Crime” — was a woman of extraordinary talent. By the time of her death, aged 85 in 1976, she had written 66...
Football and the Arab world (Part 3)
In any major competition, such as the World Cup, teams must play a series of fixtures. Learn the Arabic names for those fixtures.
Football and the Arab world (Part 2)
A controversial game Here is one of the most famous moments in World Cup history that involved an Arab team. In 1982 football debutants Algeria, who played their first game in Group 2, stared to produce one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history by beating...
Football and the Arab world (Part 1)
Some facts about Arab teams in the World Cup The first Arab team to play in a Word Cup was Egypt in 1934. The first Arab team to register a win in a World Cup match was Tunisia in 1978 against Mexico (3-1). The first Arab team to pass the group stage in a World Cup...
Camel Facts
Camel facts Camels have long been known for their ability to go weeks at a time without needing to drink water. Camels are also known for their prominent humps (either one or two humps, depending on the species), which leads many people to believe that these are used...
Arabic Proverbs (part 5) If you can’t get what you want, want what you can get!
Some Arab proverbs about human behaviour, money and more Complain to the bow and it will send you an arrow. Ignorance is an incurable disease. The cure for high prices is abstinence. Many are the roads that do not lead to the heart. The man who is just by night...
Traditional Chicken Makbous – a popular Arab Rice Dish
Chicken makbous is a traditional spiced Arab rice dish that is similar to Indian biryani, and is popular in the Sultanate of Oman. Recipe for a traditional chicken makbous Ingredients: 3 onions 2 chicken breasts 4 cloves 1 teaspoon of ginger (chopped) 1 cinnamon stick...
