Okay, the Arabic language is beautiful . It can sound musical and poetic, or exacting and fierce. It’s got metaphors that have lived through empires and colonialism, and ancient texts to boot. But let’s admit it. By (almost) 2015, it’s also got some vocabulary that’s better off scratched clear out of the dictionary. Politics, culture and a bit of good old fashioned ignorance have all played a big part in the way Arabic speakers refer to certain things. And some old dubious words seem like they’re harder to get rid ...

Centuries of political Monopoly have certainly made for some pretty wild reshifting in the Middle East. Whether chased away by modern wars, or inexplicably disappeared long ago, residents of these MENA ghost towns are nowhere to be found. Check out these locales around the region to get a glimpse of past — and present — Middle East.

Yikes! Three weeks left ‘til Christmas and you’ve got a mile-long list of holiday shopping to do. Years past, you’ve exhausted the usual Jordan offerings. You’ve gifted everyone with sand art, keffiyeh, and evil eye jewelry. You’ve overplayed the comic value of misspelled designer undies from the souks in al balad (downtown). So what’s a harried Jordan shopper to do ? Al Bawaba to the rescue with some insider tips that are high on hipster and low on cost. We steer you clear of malls, and point you to the ...

In late November, The Jordan Times ran a bold headline declaring “Depression expected to start affecting country at noon.” It wasn’t a satirical poke at the nation’s many neuroses, but a candid weather warning describing a seasonal dip in air pressure that – when coupled with a massive cold front – was about to pummel the region in torrential rain. Golf-ball sized hail and early snow also made an appearance. It was a perfect storm that submerged much of the Middle East. Intense precipitation can easily overrun urban infrastructure meant ...