A few weeks ago I was writing an article about the UAE, which I later published online.
As I was trying to attract tourists to a certain event, I made reference to the “beautiful sandy beaches of the Arabian Gulf”
An acquaintance of mine who happens to be from Iran, instantly messaged me on MSN, and politely informed me that I had erred, and the region is technically called “The Persian Gulf”
A few years ago, a citizen from the UAE advised me that when making reference to the Gulf from UAE, it is correct and appropriate to call it “The Arabian Gulf”, and when you are in Iran, it is correct to call it “The Persian Gulf”
My Iranian friend maintains on every map, atlas, globe, the gulf is called “The Persian Gulf”, and nowhere at all is it called “Arabian Gulf” He argued with me relentlessly that I was wrong.
What is the straight dope on this?
Did I make a mistake calling it “The Arabian Gulf”?
As I understand it, the common name in English and throughout most of the world is “Persian Gulf,” but in the countries that border it on the Arabian Peninsula side, the proper usage is “Arabian Gulf.” Kind of like, when in France, call that channel that separates them from England “La Manche.”
If you are writing a tourist article it does not really matter what you call it. Tourists do not want to get involved with petty bickering. Everybody knows what you mean, chose the name that you feel is most phoetic.
Many newspapers in the UK duck the issue and refer to it, as a matter of policy, as simply “The Gulf”. I imagine this would be less common in the USA because of the potetial for confusion with, say, the Gulf of Mexico. (We’re not too heavy on gulfs in the UK.)
I’d go so far as to say if you’re writing an article designed to attract tourists, “Arabian Gulf” is a much better choice at this point in time. I ain’t goin’ nowhere near the “Persian Gulf” thankyouverymuch. Too many explosive associations right now. If “Arabian Gulf” weren’t technically correct, I’d make up something else entirely.
Right, because Americans are just lining up around the block to visit Arab countries right now! In my experience in just depends on who you’re talking to, and in the UAE they’re obvious Arabian Gulf fans.
The “sandy beaches” of the UAE, while quite nice, can also be a bit hard to define… never could tell where the beach ends and the desert begins!
It seems that Iranians are particularly testy about this issue. I believe the Iranian government went to the extent of putting up a web site devoted to the subject.
Well, no, notsomuch. But “Arabian” still has more connotations of Arabian nights and harems and eunuchs and beautiful palaces - not suicide bombers and civil unrest. While intellectually I understand the obvious connection between “Arabian” and “Arab”, it’s not connected on a visceral, impulsive, money-spending level.
Me, I don’t have the money to go anywhere - but if faced with a free trip to “The Arabian Gulf” or “The Persian Gulf,” I’m all over that Arabian thing.
Fair is fair. The Arabians already have a whole sea named after them. Look on a map just south of the Gulf. See? The Arabian Sea. Why do they have to hog both bodies of water? Two for me, none for you. Is that fair? (Next post: “Newsflash: Life Ain’t Fair.”)
