Qualification as an Arab is generally defined by a combination of linguistic, cultural, historical, and geographical parameters rather than a single racial or genetic baseline. Primarily, an Arab is considered someone whose native language is Arabic, who lives within the Arab world—comprising twenty-two member states of the Arab League spanning the Middle East and North Africa—and who shares cultural traditions, historical narratives, and social values associated with the region. While ethnic identities vary across different countries, linguistic heritage and self-identification remain the most universally accepted criteria for defining Arab identity.