Arabic, along with Hebrew and Amharic, belongs to the Semitic branch, which originated in the Middle East. Turkish is a Turkic language, Farsi is Indo-Iranian, and Swahili is a Bantu (Niger-Congo) language.

Baghdad is called the 'City of Peace,' from its Arabic name 'Madinat al-Salam,' reflecting its historical founding ideal. Unlike Geneva, Hague, or Oslo, which are associated with peace but lack this specific name, Baghdad’s historical context defines the nickname.

Jabal-i-Tariq, meaning 'Mountain of Tariq,' was renamed Gibraltar in 1408, derived from its Arabic name, reflecting its strategic Mediterranean location.

Mecca was renamed Makkah on February 3, 1983, to align with Arabic pronunciation and transliteration standards, maintaining its religious significance.

Zurich, Switzerland, was ranked the most expensive city in a February 2012 survey due to its high living costs and strong economy. Unlike Tokyo, Singapore, or Hong Kong, Zurich’s ranking defines its significance, as correctly indicated in the document.

Hebrew is the primary official language, but Arabic is also legally recognized as a language with special status in Israel.

Persian, or Farsi, is the official language of Iran and is an Indo-European language, unlike the neighboring Semitic (Arabic) or Turkic languages.

Somali and Arabic are the two official languages of Somalia, reflecting its location in the Horn of Africa and close cultural ties to the Arabian Peninsula.

Arabic is the most widely spoken language in the Middle East and is official in over 20 countries.