Is Arabic a Dying Language?

In parts of the Arab world, integration into the world economy has meant incorporating English sometimes at the expense of Arabic. As English has become the language of commerce, it has likewise dominated education. In the United Arab Emirates, both English and Arabic are taught from primary education on, yet students often master neither. At the university level, English is primarily used whether the school is public or a satellite campus of an American university. Since language is inherently tied to culture, many locals in cosmopolitan cities like Doha and Dubai think legislation should mandate the use of Arabic. Others, though, realize that when places like Dubai court foreign capital, a unique culture emerges. While Arabic will surely survive given its foundation as the language of Islam, its use could wane in places that perceive English as a catalyst to rapid growth. – YaleGlobal