Arab, Arabic Gulf Spoken in Denmark

Introduction / History

The Arab culture was developed by tribes of nomads and villagers who lived in the Arabian Desert. It was from there that Arab migrations throughout the Middle East and northern Africa began, leading to the expansion of the Arab world. Today, the region is home to several types of Arabs. Gulf Arabs (also known as Saudi Arabs) live primarily along southern edges of the Arabian Desert. They speak Arabiya, or, as it is more commonly known, Gulf Arabic. Gulf Arabic is the language of a fraction of Saudi Arabia's population, and most who speak this language live in the less inhabited and oil rich northeastern region. The various Arabic dialects are seldom mutually intelligible. However, there are cultural similarities. Most have tremendous oil wealth, which allows their people to travel and study abroad. For that reason, one can find Gulf-spoken Arabs at Danish universities.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today it is common for Gulf Arabs to attend universities in European countries like Denmark. Others come because there is much more political freedom in Europe than in the Gulf region. Some work for industries that send them to countries for business purposes.
They try to maintain their culture in liberal Europe, and there is sometimes culture clash. Children of Gulf Arabs will view the world very differently than their parents.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Except for a few Shias, the Gulf Arabs are almost always Sunni Muslim. They might be marginal in their practices and beliefs, but Sunni Islam is central to their identity. Islam is who they are.

What Are Their Needs?

For the Gulf Arabs wherever they live, a profession of faith in Jesus may cost a person his family, his honor, his job or even his life. Evangelization of this people group will be challenging due to the nature of the Arabs' rigid Islamic belief system. They are more likely to be reached in Western nations like Denmark than they would be at home. The opportunity is there, but it will not be easy. Prayer is essential.

Prayer Points

Pray that Muslims will use the freedom of Denmark to find out about Jesus.
Pray the Lord will start a movement of Gulf Arab families experiencing God's blessings.
Pray that despite their wealth and relatively easy life that Arabs will knock, seek and find the only savior.
Pray for strong friendships to develop between Muslims and European believers that will lead to opportunities to share Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project