Arabia - Fun Facts

What I was interested in learning about the Fun Facts of the Arabian Peninsula were:

1. Do kids my age there play video games?
2. What languages do they speak?
3. What kinds of cars do they drive?
4. What kinds of food do they eat?
5. What is the population of the countries on the Arabian Peninsula?


Video Games

I learned that video games are very popular with kids my age.  They have Sony Playstations, X-Box 360's and Nintendo Wii's.  I thought it was interesting that the war games were played from a different perspective.  The United States and it's western allies were the enemies in the war games for the kids in most of the countries.  Also, games like Grand Theft Auto are illegal in countries like Saudi Arabia, where they have strict Muslim laws.


Languages
Many languages are spoken, but the common language on the Arabian Peninsula is Arabic.  Languages spoken by country are as follows:  

Bahrain	Arabic	English	Farsi	Urdu
Kuwait	Arabic	English
Oman	Arabic	English	Baluchi	Urdu
Qatar	Arabic
Saudi Arabia	Arabic
UAE	Arabic	English	Persian	Hindi	Urdu
Yemen	Arabic

Cars
The number one import in most countries on the Arabian Peninsula is new and used automobiles.  They drive most of the car brands we are familiar with in the United States.

One major difference is that in countries like Saudi Arabia, women are forbidden to drive due to strict Muslim laws.


Food
Food common to most of the countries in the Arabian Peninsula consists of flat bread, rice, dates, fava beans, yogurt, chicken and lamb.  Vegetables are also very plentiful.  Each region has it's special and unique way of seasoning and cooking.  For instance, in Kuwait they use a famous cooking method called Tabeekh where everything is cooked together in a single container.

Population

The geographically largest country is Saudi Arabia and the geographically smallest country is Bahrain.  The populations of these two countries match the size of the countries:
(shown smallest to largest)

Bahrain         1,234,571 (2010)
Qatar            1,692,262 (2011)
Oman            2,694,094 (2010)
Kuwait          3-3.5 million       
                       (estimated)
UAE              4,975,593 (2010)
Yemen          23.4 million (2010)
Saudi Arabia  25,731,776 (2010)



Information obtained from:
www.globalvoicesonline.org
www.infoplease.org 

Arabian Peninsula - Celebrations and Holidays

What I wanted to know and learn about the celebrations of the countries were:

1) What do people celebrate?
2) Do any countries celebrate the same way?
3) How different do they celebrate from us?
4) Is there a more important, or bigger holiday?
5) What is the most unique celebration?

Many of the countries celebrate the same holidays:

• January 1        New Years Day
• February 15     Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
• June 29          Lailat Al - Mirajor Isra and Miraj (Ascension of the Prophet)
• Aug. 01 -        Beginning of Ramadan
• Aug. 20-31      End of Ramadan
• November 06   Eid Al - Adna (Feast of the Sacrifice)
• November 27   Islamic New Year

Each country has their own National Day as well:

Bahrain:         December 16
Kuwait:          February 25
Oman:            November 18
Qatar:            November 18
Saudi Arabia:  September 23
UAE:              December 02
Yemen:          October 14

National Days are the celebration of the countries founding or independence day.  Similar to our 4th of July in the USA.


Unique holidays for each Arabian country:

Bahrain
Dec. 05 - Ashura

Kuwait
Feb. 25 - National Day
Feb. 26 - Liberation Day

Oman
July 23 - Renaissance Day (marking the start of the reign of Sultan Qaboos)
Nov. 18 - National Day and birthday of HM Sulton Qaboos

Qatar
Nov. 18 - National Day

Saudi Arabia
Sept. 23 - Saudi National Day

UAE
Nov. 05 - Araft Day
Dec. 02 - National Day

Yemen
May 01 - Workers or Labor Day
May 22 - National Unity Day
September 26 - Revolution Day
October 14 - National Day
November 30 - Independence Day

The biggest festival or event to the Muslims that takes place on the Arabian Peninsula is the Hajj, which takes place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hajj means to set out for a place, and that place to the Muslims is Mecca. Hajj is the largest pilgrimage in the world. The Muslims must attend the Hajj at least one time

in their life because it is a submission to the Muslim god Allah.

One of the most unique celebratons is Ashura.  For Shi'ite Muslims, Ashura is a major festival. It commemorates the death of Hussein, grandson of Muhammad. The event led to the split between the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam.

For Shi'a Muslims, rituals on Ashura consist of public expressions of mourning and grief. Some Shi'as express mourning by flogging themselves on the back with chains, or ritually cutting themselves. This is done to connect them with Hussein's suffering and death.

Information obtained from:
http://www.holidayyear.com/
http://www.mapsofworld.com/
http://www.wikipedia.com/

Arabian Pennisula - Leaders/Rulers

What I wanted to know and learn about the current day Arabian leaders/rulers:

1) How many countries are there on the Arabian Peninsula?
2) How are each of these countries ruled?
3) How did the rulers of these countries become rulers?
4) How long have they been ruler?
5) How long will they lead their country?

The Arabian Peninsula is made up of seven countries; Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. If you look at the map, you can easily see that Saudi Arabia is the biggest of the seven. Each country however has different rulers:


Saudi Arabia has a king, and his name is Abdullah bin Abdul-aziz Al Saud. King Saud was born August 1, 1923, (88 years old). He is considered as a very influential king to the Muslims. He became king after the death of his half brother, King Fahd. Today, he is one of the oldest reigning monarchs.

Yemen has a president; Ali Abdullah Saleh. President Saleh was born in Saudi Arabia on March 21, 1942. He is 69 years old, and he won the last presidential election by 77 % of the vote.

Oman has a Sultan, and that is Qaboos bin Said Al Said. He is the fourteenth Sultan of Oman and was born November 18, 1940 in Salaha Oman, and he is seventy years old. I think the coolest thing about Sultan Qaboos is that he allowed and allows, parliamentary elections in which women get to vote and stand as candidates.

United Arab Emirates(UAE), is a federation of seven emirates:

Abu Dhabi - President Sheikh Khalifa Bin zayed Al Nahyan

Dubai - Vice president and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Mauktoum

Sharjah - Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi

Ra’s Al Kamiah - Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi

Fujairah - Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi

Umm Al Qaiwain - Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mu’alla

Ajman - Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi
　
Qatar’s Emir is Hamad bin Khaila Al Thani. Hamad replaced his father in 1995. The Al Thani, dynasty and state of Qatar was founded in 1968 by Muhammad Bin Thani. The house of the Al - Thani descended from the Banu Tamim; one of the largest tribes in the Arabian peninsula.

Kuwait has an Emir, and his name is Sabah IV Al - Ahmad Al - Jaber Al - Sabah took over as Emir in 2006 because Saad I Al - Abdullah Al - Salim Al - Sabah was deposed by the National Assembly and abdicated instantly due to illness; died on May 13, 2008.

Bahrain’s king is Homad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, who became king in 1999 after his father died. His reign will last until his death.


Information obtained from:
http://www.wikipedia.com/
http://www.mapsofworld.com/