Arabic and Business

Arabic and business is a combination that reflects the practical realities of a world in which the Arab-speaking region, spanning from North Africa across the Middle East to the Gulf, is of profound importance in global trade, energy, finance and politics. Arabic is spoken natively by more than 350 million people, is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and serves as the religious language of over a billion Muslims worldwide. Business knowledge combined with genuine Arabic language competence is a combination that international organisations, multinational companies, diplomatic services and development organisations all need and relatively few graduates possess.

At the University of Edinburgh, this four-year full-time degree provides both in depth.

In the Arabic strand, you will develop reading, writing, listening and speaking competence in Modern Standard Arabic, which is the written and formal register used across the Arab world, alongside exposure to spoken varieties relevant to the regions you are most interested in. You will also study Arabic literature, history, politics and culture, developing a rich contextual understanding to complement your linguistic skills. The business strand covers management, marketing, finance, economics and strategy, developing the commercial knowledge and analytical frameworks that are needed to operate effectively in organisational contexts.

Edinburgh's international reputation and its location in a city with strong connections to global finance and development add further value. A typical tariff of around 184 points is expected.

Graduates pursue careers in international business, diplomacy, journalism, development organisations, intelligence services, the energy sector, finance and academia. The scarcity of Arabic-speaking business professionals means that well-trained graduates from strong programmes are genuinely sought after, and many build careers working across Arab-speaking and English-speaking contexts. Postgraduate study in Arabic, Middle Eastern studies, international business or international law is a natural further step for many.