RIYADH, 10 March 2006 — More Britons are now taking interest in learning Arabic and Islamic studies, said Professor Leslie McLoughlin, who wrapped up a three-day visit to the Kingdom. The non-Muslim world has now become aware of the need for information and understanding about Muslims, he said.

McLoughlin, who delivered lectures in Riyadh and Jeddah on Arabic and Islamic studies in the United Kingdom, told Arab News there are 12 universities in Britain that teach Arabic and Islamic studies.

“The number of students who wish to learn Arabic and Islam is increasing because of the employment opportunities available for Arabic-speaking people, and also due to the eagerness to learn more about these subjects following the Sept. 11 attacks,” McLoughlin said.

In 1961, there was no woman student learning Arabic, he said. “Now 50 percent of the students learning Arabic are women,” the professor added.

He pointed out that there are openings in media organizations and even in the UK Foreign Office for people who are conversant with the language.

“Earlier, Britain had to depend on native Arabic speakers in various placements, but now there are Britons who are proficient in Arabic to handle Arabic-related jobs,” he added.

There are opportunities for Arabic-speaking people in media organizations, such as satellite channels, the BBC, radio, and security and travel services, he said, pointing out that the BBC is to launch special programs in Arabic next year.

“There are instances where Foreign Office officials have converted to Islam,” he added. “One of them is working here in the Kingdom.”

McLoughlin has been interested in Arabic and Islam since first studying the language in 1960. He has been a regular visitor to Saudi Arabia. In 1993 he published a biography of King Abdul Aziz.

Answering a question as to why he chose to write a biography of King Abdul Aziz, he described the monarch as a great leader who was responsible for the unification of the Kingdom.

“It was a great achievement that was never appreciated by the West,” he noted.

Professor McLoughlin has published numerous books for non-Arabs wanting to learn Arabic. He has also published a number of historical studies, the most recent being “In a Sea of Knowledge: British Arabists in the 20th Century” (2002).

McLoughlin has translated many books from Arabic and was the official interpreter for the Queen and several British prime ministers.