Book excerpt: This new edition of Colloquial Arabic of the Gulf has been revised and updated to make learning this variety of Arabic easier and more enjoyable than ever before. Specially written by an expert for self-study and classroom use, the course offers you a step-by-step approach to written and spoken Arabic of the Gulf. No prior knowledge of the language is required. Each unit presents numerous grammatical points that are reinforced with a wide range of exercises for regular practice. A full answer key can be found at the back as well as useful vocabulary summaries throughout. Features new to this edition include: A ‘Cultural Point’ section in each unit on important aspects of Gulf culture, society and history, with photographs and realia A ‘Reading Arabic’ section in each unit, plus a special appendix on how to read simple Arabic signs, traffic directions and business cards amongst other things. Comprehensive glossaries, both English-Arabic and Arabic-English, Extra notes on the dialects of Oman By the end of this rewarding course you will be able to communicate confidently and effectively in a broad range of situations. Audio material on CD and MP3 format is available to purchase separately, or as part of the great value Colloquial Arabic of the Gulf pack. Recorded by native speakers of Arabic of the Gulf, this material is an invaluable component of the course. It reinforces the material from the book and contains useful pronunciation exercises. For the eBook and MP3 pack, please find instructions on how to access the supplementary content for this title in the Prelims section.