Arab, Jordanian in United Arab Emirates

Introduction / History

 Jordanian Arabs are considered to be from the "Levant" region of the Arab world. The Levant encompasses Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. Arabs from the Arabian Peninsula are considered the original Arabs, as Arab culture originated from there and later expanded across the Middle East and North Africa. Most Levant Arabs are Muslim due to the close association with Islam throughout their history. However, there are some traditional Christians among them.
Most Levantine Arabs speak Arabic, which consists of many dialects depending on the region. For example, Moroccan Arabic and Levantine Arabic are mutually unintelligible. There exists, however, Modern Standard Arabic, which is the formal dialect that news channels and newspapers utilize to broaden their reach. Almost everyone in the Arab world understands Modern Standard Arabic.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Jordanians in the UAE mostly live in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Many of the Jordanians in the UAE are highly qualified and trained as professors, managers, doctors, and engineers. Social life and hospitality are very important for any Arab culture, and the Jordanians are no different. In Islam, a man can have up to four wives, although currently most Levantine marriages are monogamous. Polygamy was more popular in the past among Jordanian Arabs, especially because providing for a large family was less expensive.
To preserve their people, they are only allowed to marry those inside their own group. Levant Arab society is patrilineal, which means that inheritances are passed down through the males. In this system, boys inherit more than girls. Since children are considered a family's greatest asset, females are valued for their ability to bear children.

What Are Their Beliefs?

 The majority of Jordanian Arabs are Muslims, though there are some traditional Christians among them. Islam is a religion of works that is based on five basic "pillars." (1) A Muslim must affirm that "there is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet." (2) He must pray five times a day while facing Mecca. (3) He must give generously. (4) He must fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. (5) He must try to make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca in his lifetime.

What Are Their Needs?

 The biggest need for Jordanian Arabs is the need for the gospel. Few Jordanians follow Christ. Christians are free to practice Christianity in both Jordan and the UAE. Jordanian Arabs need prayer for a movement to Christ and freedom to change their beliefs. Prayerful intercession is the key to a movement to Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for a powerful movement to Christ among Jordanian Arabs.
Pray for Jordanian Arabs in the UAE to have easy access to the gospel. Pray that they would understand they need Christ to save them through faith rather than good deeds.  Pray for Christian Jordanians to share the gospel with their Muslim neighbors through the testimony of their lives and relationship with Christ.  

Text Source:   Joshua Project