The Scope of Learning Arabic in India

The career scope of learning the Arabic language in India has risen to great extents. The article will explore the benefits, demand, courses, and job opportunities after studying Arabic.

There are several reasons to learn a foreign tongue. As the nature of global business changes, so do languages used in communicating in the business process.

And for many, acquiring a new foreign language opens the door to several other activities, like international travel, study abroad, pursuing a hobby, career advancement, and meeting people from different parts of the world.

The cultural aspects, immigration, and careers requiring languages are some of the most influential factors in choosing a language to learn.

Why Learn the Arabic Language in India?

Why learn Arabic of all languages?

Why not French, Spanish, or German? Or even Mandarin, Korean, or Japanese? Because it seems to be the most practical language to have these days living in India or even abroad?

After Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin Chinese, and English, Arabic is the fifth most spoken language, with an estimated 425 million native and non-native speakers throughout the planet.

The Arabic language is assuming a central position in international business. One cannot underestimate the significance and importance of Arabic in the modern world, and the scope of the Arabic language in India is growing and vast.

Are you interested in studying ancient Eastern history, modern Middle Eastern, religion, or the Arab world? Then, learning the Arabic language will help you in your academic pursuits.

There is an ever-increasing amount of reasons why people should learn it. It is the language of the Holy Koran. Hence Muslims, all over the world consider it sacred.

The Arabic language in India arrived in the eighth century. It carries an almost absolute Islamic identity, to the extent that even the study of pre-Islamic pagan poetry is ascribed to a spiritual impetus.

In India, It is also being taught and learned in more than twenty thousand Madrasas and 100’s of Colleges and Universities, mostly in Northern and some central and western parts of India.

Arabic is becoming a critical language in India and outside it when it comes to operating an international business trying to break into foreign markets.

Learning the Arabic language opens up many employment avenues and possibilities in several different industries such as oil, travel, finance, industrial collaborations, and translation, to name a few.

Some businesses want Arabic speakers onboard to contact local Arab people and obtain an edge when running a business. It might otherwise end up being missed only using English when interpretation and discussions are being made.

It was introduced in the Indian Civil Services examination as early as 1963 for the first time. And it became an optional subject to be taken at the preliminary stage of the test from there onwards.
And how do we know that?

Let’s take a walk through the facts that underline the Arabic language’s scope and why many people are learning Arabic in India.

1. A widely spoken language of historical importance

The Arabic language isn’t just like every other language out there. It is a popular language and spoken by well over 400 million people spread across more than 25 countries globally. The majority of these Arabic-speaking countries are located in the Middle East and the Northern regions of Africa.

As of 2022, It is the official language in 25 Middle Eastern and African countries, such as Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Morocco, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and many more.

But what makes the language even more important is that it is the language of the Holy Quran — the Holy Book of Islam.

So if you are a Muslim, the scope of learning the Arabic language will put you in a better light of interacting and blending positively into the Islamic/Arabic culture — relating easily with millions of Muslims across the globe.

Although Arabic has been known since the early 4th century, the spread of Islam in the 7th century caused Arabic to gain importance.

Today, the Arabic language is the 5th most spoken language globally and is among the United Nations’ (UN) sixth official languages.

India has ancient historical links with the Arab world and also with Persia. A number of the dynasty from those parts of the world reigned over India for many centuries.

If you pay close attention, you will notice many borrowed words from Arabic, Persian, and Turkish as used in Hindu/Urdu. Mostly spoken language in most parts of India.

Read → (i) Why Learn Persian? (ii) Learn Persian in Delhi (iii) Arabic courses in Delhi (iv) Pros of learning Turkish (iv) Movies to learn Arabic (v) Top Persian Films (vi) Best Turkish Movies.

2. Arabic is a gateway to an economic wealth

Another critical aspect of learning the Arabic language in India lies in the large business and economic opportunities.

Just take a good look at many of the countries where the Arabic language is spoken. You will discover they are places that provide the Western world with vital resources like crude oil and gas.

In today’s world, Arabic is of utmost importance due to the economic significance of the oil-producing Arabic countries in the global scenario. Most of the Arabic-speaking countries are extremely rich in untapped mineral and natural resources.

Your ability to understand and speak Arabic will open doors to countless job opportunities involving languages, especially if you’re into the oil business boom.

Initiatives aimed at integrating the Arab world into the mainstream of the global economy are paying dividends in huge returns. These have led to the opening up of potential and numerous business opportunities.

Thanks to the rapidly growing Arabic population, modernization of the socio-economic, political, and infrastructural developmental strides. The demand for Arabic speakers is moving northwards across the globe.

The Arabic speaking region now provides a vast export market for goods and services. The GDP of the Arabic speaking region is more than 600 billion dollars yearly.

There is a lot more the Arab speaking world has in store to offer the global market. To succeed in your business initiatives, you need to understand the language and culture of the people you are going to engage with.

3. A career-boosting language

A friend of mine once told me that Arabic is a language only terrorists love to speak. But how wrong he was when he came in contact with a job to pay him six figures in a month as a translator.

He missed out simply because he lacks proficiency in the Arabic language. That same week saw him taking classes in Arabic, but the damage had already been done, and that chance may never come again.

Presently, there is a lot of demand for Arabic language speakers. For instance, many companies in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, and other cities look out for Arabic speakers in the KPO & BPO sector.

The reason is that most of these companies are involved in colossal business dealings with the Gulf region.

Other sectors like IT, Publishing, Aviation, Education, Finance & Banking, Travel & Tourism, business, and industries in India are hunting for people with proficiency in the Arabic language.

Since Arabic is a widespread language, you can find many positions in foreign embassies in India.

As the Middle East continues to accelerate in development, it has attracted substantial investment opportunities as well.

Most of the Arabic-speaking country’s economies are prosperous and are developing at a fast pace. For instance, Qatar is the wealthiest in the world, and it has attracted a lot of interest and visitors, mainly from the western world.

These have opened up demand for career opportunities such as transcribers and translators in the Hospitality & Tourism sectors.

The export and import companies continue to look for people who can speak English and Arabic to handle their foreign clients and business engagement.

After learning Arabic, You can work as an Arabic language teacher or faculty.

You can also explore possibilities as a transcriptor, translator, interpreter, editor, proofreader, researcher, content writer. You can work either as a freelance linguist or for any organization.

4. Job opportunity in Middle-East & Arab World

One of the reasons many Indians are learning the Arabic language is to enable them to get jobs in the Middle East or other parts of the Arab world. There are so many employment opportunities for people who are knowledgeable in Arabic plus English.

If you have plans to visit an Arabic-speaking country such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, or Morocco, consider taking accelerated Arabic courses before you go.

By taking a class, you will be able to quickly and conveniently learn the basics of the language, which will make your travels abroad less stressful and more enjoyable.

Taking the time to learn the Arabic language will allow you to immerse yourself in a fascinating new culture. It perhaps helps to change a few stereotypes, enhance your travels, and supplement your academic pursuits.

Gone are the days when the dream of petrol dollars is the only motivating factor driving people to study Arabic. Today, call centers opportunities, finance and banking, journalism, and more, are new career prospects that inform people’s decisions to learn the Arabic language.

5. Arabic is a language of strategic importance

In India, the Arabic language is one of the most sought-after subjects among defense personnel. As stated earlier, the Middle East and the Gulf region are increasingly becoming a strategic point for crucial nations worldwide, including India.

The United States has become active in the region for many years, increasing its presence. Russia has followed suit, and China just voiced its interest in becoming more involved in the Middle East.

All these points to the strategic importance of the region. Any why not, since it is blessed with a considerable concentration of mineral and natural resources. As such, these countries’ intelligence agencies are actively looking for people who can speak Arabic fluently.

Your proficiency in the Arabic language can earn you a job in the Indian secret service, immigration, or in the Foreign Service department.

Arabic Language Courses in India

Arabic education in India is essentially the monopoly of madrassas, but there are several courses in various parts of India for non-Muslims who may be interested. Madrassas mostly teach Islamic theology and Koran.

You have options if you feel that you should learn the Arabic language for academic or career possibilities. There are several ways you can go about learning how to read, write, and speak.

You can attend a college or university and earn a degree in Arabic. Today, It is being taught for many decades, and it has found its place in more than 50 universities. JNU, University of Delhi, BHU, Jamia Millia Islamia, Kolkata University, Mumbai University, Bangalore University, Osmania University, to name a few.

These centers are now offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and Doctoral Degree Programs in the modern Arabic language.

Arabic is also part of the curriculum in many academic areas such as Engineering, Mathematics, Philosophy, Biotechnology, Information Communication & Technology, Medical, Arts, Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Literature, Applied Sciences, etc.

Many want to learn to pursue a hobby or joy of learning. By studying Arabic at a college or university, you will gain complete knowledge of reading formal Arabic, which will undoubtedly assist you in your academic research and career.

Final thought

Arabic is a beautiful and musical language, and it is high time that appropriate action should be taken to promote the growth of the Arabic language.

There is a shortage of intellectuals when it comes to speaking Arabic. So it’s almost a guarantee that you’re most likely going to reap a huge benefit from it once you become proficient in the tongue.

By the inception of the 21st century, the Arabic language demand in India has increased manifold augmenting career prospects in various fields.