Here's why:
* Number of speakers: Arabic has approximately 422 million native speakers worldwide, making it the fifth most spoken language globally.
* Geographical distribution: Arabic is spoken across a vast region spanning North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
* Official language status: Arabic is an official language in 26 countries, including major nations like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria.
While other Semitic languages like Hebrew and Amharic have significant numbers of speakers, Arabic's widespread use across multiple continents and its official status in numerous countries solidify its position as the most widely spoken Semitic language.