Opera Middle East

November 5, 2010 · by Aleksander Aas

Are you one of the millions of Opera users in the Middle East or Arabic region? Then we suggest you take a look at the brand new Opera Middle East blog. Amir ElMeligy is one of the new interns we found through the The Community Project!

This new blog will be the central hub for all Arabic Opera users. If you want to join the crew and help promote Opera send Amir a private message and he will provide more details.

Experience a bit of Arabic flavor and tons of awesome content on the Opera Middle East blog.

Latest Internet/mobile news from the Middle East area
Weekly comic series about ancient Egyptians using Opera.
Latest news from various fields from the Middle East.
Latest opera software updates for Desktop, Mobile and all devices.

Readers' comments 27

Left under the original article, as archived.

Ahmed GhanemFriday, November 5, 2010 4:53:50 PM
Yay! Finally, now we need to make an Arabic version of My Opera!
HenryFriday, November 5, 2010 5:09:44 PM
.... don't look at me
Cool page layout
Edit: .. and the mascot needs a name ..
₣ıđø Ðıđø™Friday, November 5, 2010 6:58:44 PM
I'm there
thanks Aleksander and thanks Amir
PfelelepFriday, November 5, 2010 10:31:40 PM
oooooh... an illustrator
TamilFriday, November 5, 2010 10:49:42 PM
Mohamed shifranSaturday, November 6, 2010 2:10:58 AM
HELLO FRIENDS PLEASE CONDUC WITH ME BY OPERA MINI. IAM SHIFRAN IN SRILA NKA. IAM A STUDENT
Eva Loves CyberspaceSaturday, November 6, 2010 3:24:50 AM
Well done
Congrats
KarenSaturday, November 6, 2010 4:49:40 AM
Complete awesomeness!
Charles SchlossSaturday, November 6, 2010 5:15:01 AM
dirkSaturday, November 6, 2010 6:19:52 AM
kellygodkindSaturday, November 6, 2010 7:41:07 AM
hooo, i can belif it. i luv it
kellygodkindSaturday, November 6, 2010 7:46:31 AM
hooo, i can belif it. i luv it
RafikSaturday, November 6, 2010 10:55:28 AM
It is none too soon :-)
Amir ElMeligySaturday, November 6, 2010 3:24:08 PM
Thank you everybody for your comments , please join in the competition posted on the page
₣ıđø Ðıđø™Sunday, November 7, 2010 9:34:20 AM
Originally posted by AhmedGhanem:

Yay! Finally, now we need to make an Arabic version of My Opera!

Coming soon Ahmed
Lanzaderas Jesrel DSunday, November 7, 2010 2:16:37 PM
Good for arabics... !
AbdallaSunday, November 7, 2010 3:48:24 PM
aywa ba2a
Joseph M. GutierrezSunday, November 7, 2010 7:04:41 PM
Thumbs up!
NonZionistSunday, November 7, 2010 8:22:53 PM
I hate to rain on your parade, but it seems to me that there is a great or even desperate need for people in the Middle East to communicate with people outside the region. How else can we combat disinformation and stereotypes and fears? Compartmentalizing the Middle East, sealing it off, turning it into a ghetto -- this does not seem like a good idea to me.
Amir ElMeligySunday, November 7, 2010 8:59:21 PM
if you look at it in a different way - actually what is written in the description of the blog - it is our effort to bridge the middle east community with the rest of the world, and to strengthen ties between the middle east members.

And basically the official languages for the blog are Arabic and English, so thank you for your concern, and i hope i made the point clear.
Sam ElleMonday, November 8, 2010 4:47:15 AM
i just hope its not all in arabic (coming from an arab with a mainly english-speaking background)
Medo MediMonday, November 8, 2010 11:26:51 AM
Owh ya nice shout,,
nw i can find ppl use my same language in my opera community
prd3Monday, November 8, 2010 1:12:01 PM
Originally posted by NonZionist:

Compartmentalizing the Middle East, sealing it off, turning it into a ghetto -- this does not seem like a good idea to me.

Does not compute.

A lot of people prefer information in a language closer to their own.

How is it a bad thing to give people a chance to get information in a language closer to their own?

How come all these other languages have their own blogs and groups, if it's such a bad thing to cater to local needs?
NonZionistMonday, November 8, 2010 6:06:43 PM
Originally posted by prd3:

How is it a bad thing to give people a chance to get information in a language closer to their own?

Hello, prd3 --

I believe that there should be a balance between expression and reflection -- between talking to others and talking amongst ourselves. When the balance is lacking, something that is normally good can become bad: Too much of anything is bad.

As an American, I see a great need for a dialogue between civilizations. When we talk only amongst ourselves, that dialogue ceases and suspicions rise. That is just what we don't need. That is why I want to maintain the balance.

The people I most often criticize operate as a pack -- a tightly-knit fascist clique. The clique or tribe has become their identity, and they have lost their identity as individual human beings. Thus, when I speak about conscience or justice or moral sensibility or compassion or similar human faculties, they hear nothing. They cannot be reached on a human level. That is disastrous. I feel as if I am dealing with a hive or Borg mentality.

I have no desire to see more such cliques arise. When we talk amongst ourselves, I believe that it is best to do so as diverse individuals.

When we group ourselves together, are we grouping firewood to create a bigger fire -- more warmth, more light? Or are we grouping bricks to form a higher wall? Now is the time to decide. Will we huddle like frightened sheep? Or will we be like a bazaar, open to the world?
National Voice GazetteTuesday, November 9, 2010 1:04:02 AM
midnight at the oasis, put ur camel to bed
ASRUL SYAMTuesday, November 9, 2010 5:35:26 AM
Great
and finally
RobertTuesday, November 9, 2010 1:48:02 PM
It's so nice to see Opera growing globally