United Arab Emirates · Language · 2026
Talking your way around Dubai
Arabic is official; English is the lingua franca. About 88% of UAE residents are expatriates, so spoken Arabic in daily life is less common than English in Dubai. A few Arabic phrases are appreciated and culturally meaningful.
English level: Universal in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Service staff, drivers, hotels, restaurants — all conversational. You'll rarely need Arabic to function.
Phrases worth memorising
Hello / Peace be upon you
/as-sa-LAA-mu a-LAY-kum / mar-HA-ba/
السلام عليكم / Marhaba
'As-salaam aleykum' is the formal Muslim greeting; 'marhaba' is informal hello.
Thank you
/SHOOK-ran/
شكراً / Shukran
Please
/min FAD-lak / FAD-lee-kee/
من فضلك / Min fadlak (m) / fadliki (f)
Yes / No
/na-AAM / la/
نعم / لا
How much?
/kam/
كم / Kam?
Welcome
/AH-lan wa SAH-lan/
أهلاً وسهلاً / Ahlan wa sahlan
You'll hear it constantly. Reply: 'Ahlan beek/beeki'.
God willing
/in-SHA-llah/
إن شاء الله / Insha'Allah
Used in everyday speech for 'hopefully' / 'if it works out'. Not exclusively religious.
No problem
/ma fee mush-KEE-la/
ما في مشكلة / Ma fi mushkila
Excuse me
/AF-wan/
عفواً / Afwan
Cheers (to your health)
/fee sa-HA-tak/
في صحتك / Fi sahatak (m) / sahatik (f)
Used for toasts at non-alcoholic drinks too.
What's polite, what's a trap
The Arabic word 'Ramadan' is everywhere during the fasting month. 'Ramadan Kareem' (generous Ramadan) is the standard greeting; reply 'Allahu akram' (God is more generous).
'Habibi' / 'habibti' (my dear, m / f) is heard constantly between friends and even strangers. As a visitor, save it for people you actually know — it's warm but assumes familiarity.
Avoid using your left hand to gesture, eat, or hand over money / cards — culturally significant.
Last reviewed . Phonetic guides are approximate; native pronunciations are worth listening to before deploying.
See also: etiquette & customs · visa & entry.