Is Raab desperately trying to start being a foreign expert? (7)

I believe the answer is:

arabist

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'a foreign expert?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'is raab desperately trying to start' is the wordplay.
'desperately' indicates anagramming the letters.
'to start' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'trying' is 't'.
'is'+'raab'='israab'
'israab' anagrammed gives 'arabis'.
'arabis'+'t'='ARABIST'

'being' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for arabist that I've seen before include "Middle East expert" , "Say, T E" , "Specialist in Middle Eastern affairs" , "Middle East scholar" , "Expert in Middle Eastern culture" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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