Culture Bites: Why Arabic phrases are having a global moment

Arabic words like habibi and inshallah are increasingly heard in global conversations, from victory speeches to Hollywood red carpets. The latest episode of Culture Bites, The National's weekly podcast, asks whether Arab culture is genuinely having a moment.

Hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews open with classic Arabic greetings before reflecting on a series of high-profile uses of the language. Last week, Abdul El-Sayed included habibi and alhamdulillah in his US midterm election victory speech. It follows Anne Hathaway's viral inshallah moment and Elyanna's contribution to the World Cup song, both of which placed Arabic firmly in the cultural spotlight.

The hosts discuss the joy and value of this popularisation, as well as the risks that come with it—such as cultural flattening or mispronunciation—while celebrating the language's growing presence in music, film and everyday life.

The conversation then turns to the rise of AI-generated art. Viewers praised Prada's recent hand-animated holiday campaign for using art made by actual artists, comparing it to similar brand ads suspected of using generative AI. Enas and Farah ask whether handmade is becoming the new luxury, and whether the backlash against AI art will fade as younger, AI-native generations take over.

Finally, the hosts share their recommendations for the week, including the upcoming Nomad Abu Dhabi art and design showcase, which will take place at Terminal 1 of the Old Abu Dhabi International Airport. The event promises a mix of contemporary art, design and cultural conversations in a unique setting.

Listeners can find Culture Bites on major podcast platforms and follow The National's culture coverage for more details.