Languages
The most widely spoken language in the Middle East is Arabic. Arabic has many different dialects, and people who speak one version of it fluently may have difficulty understanding and adapting to another version.
Despite the differences, the bases for the language are the same, and there is a standard form of Arabic for writing. Arabic is also the language of Islam, and many Muslims read and recite holy text in Arabic even if it is not their main language. Persian languages, primarily Farsi, are spoken throughout Iran, and Turkish is spoken in Turkey. The official language in Israel is Hebrew, and most Israeli people speak either Hebrew or English. English and French are spoken among upper class citizens throughout the Middle East.