The first Saudi broadcaster speaking fluent Farsi, Abdullah Rajab Al-Zahrani, recently took center stage when he participated in a program in Farsi.
The program was launched on Saudi TV by Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Toraifi to give information to Iranian pilgrims during the current Haj season.
Al-Zahrani was fluently speaking Farsi as part of the program that focused on the efforts and services provided by the Saudi government to Iranian pilgrims.
Farsi is spoken in Iran and by minorities in Iraq and the Arabian Gulf states.
Al-Zahrani’s performance was no mean feat. It was impressive, to say the least, since he did not go to Iran to study and learn how to speak Persian.
“I haven’t have the opportunity to go to Iran but the level of my mastery of the Persian language has been possible through interest and determination,” Al-Zahrani said.
He thanked his parents who totally supported him and his teachers for encouraging him while studying at the College of Languages and Translation in Persian Language at the King Saud University (KSA) where he works as a lecturer.
“My father supported me unequivocally while my teachers were sources of inspiration as I encountered problems. They guided me all the way,” he said.
He added that Iranian students at the university also helped him a lot because he used to strike up conversations with them to brush up on the language. He spent five years learning Farsi at the university.
Al-Zahrani’s efforts have paid off since his impressive performance is now recognized, with Iranian pilgrims themselves expressing their admiration, even describing him as “charismatic” in his broadcasts.
He said that before his participation in the Haj program, he has also been participating in events where he u
sed his knowledge of Farsi.
Al-Zahrani added that he has also worked as a translator during press conferences and international agricultural fairs. He has also been a member of students advisory councils which had helped build his character in facing the public.
He graduated from KSU in 2011 with first class honors.
