Dubai phrasebook: speaking Arabic as a visitor
Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates, and the version you will hear in conversation between Emiratis is Gulf Arabic. Signs, forms and official notices use Modern Standard Arabic alongside English. Because Dubai is home to people from all over the world, English is the everyday working language of hotels, taxis and shops, which means a few words of Arabic go a long way as a sign of respect rather than a necessity.
The most useful greeting is as-salāmu ʿalaykum ('peace be upon you'), answered with wa ʿalaykum as-salām. Use your right hand to give and receive things, dress modestly in malls, government buildings and older neighbourhoods, and be aware that during Ramadan eating and drinking in public in daylight hours is expected to be avoided. Friday is the main day of prayer, so some services keep shorter hours around midday.
Conversation lifelines
When a conversation in Dubai moves faster than you can follow, these keep it going instead of switching to English:
| Arabic | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| لا أفهم | lā afham | I don't understand |
| من فضلك | min faḍlak (to a man) · min faḍlik (to a woman) | please |
| ممكن تعيد؟ | mumkin tʿīd? (to a woman: mumkin tʿīdī?) | could you repeat? |
| ممكن تتكلم ببطء؟ | mumkin titkallam bi-buṭʾ? (to a woman: titkallamī) | could you speak slower? |
Travel phrases for Dubai
| Arabic | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| اثنان | ithnān | 2 |
| عشرة | ʿashara | 10 |
| ماء | māʾ | water |
| خبز | khubz | bread |
| لذيذ | ladhīdh | delicious |
| يسار | yasār | left |
| الحمام | al-ḥammām | bathroom |
| النجدة! | an-najda | Help! |
| أحتاج طبيب | aḥtāj ṭabīb | I need a doctor |
| الشرطة | ash-shurṭa | police |
Flight search and trip essentials
Compare flights on Kiwi.com, our flight-search partner. Enter the airport code below as your destination when the search opens.
| Destination | Airport code (IATA) |
|---|---|
| Dubai, UAE | DXB |
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Once you land
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Situations to practise before you go
Getting around
Key pieces: أين · يمين/يسار · المطار
'Where?' is ayna (أين). 'Bathroom' is al-ḥammām (الحمام).
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Arabic: أين الحمام؟ (ayna al-ḥammām). Built from ayna = where; al-ḥammām = the bathroom.
- يمين (yamīn) — right
- يسار (yasār) — left
- على طول (ʿalā ṭūl) — straight ahead
To say “I want a taxi” in Arabic: أريد سيارة أجرة (urīd sayyārat ujra). Built from urīd = I want; سيارة = car; أجرة = hire.
To say “Where is the airport?” in Arabic: أين المطار؟ (ayna al-maṭār). Built from أين = where; المطار = the airport.
If lost: 'I don't understand' = lā afham (لا أفهم).
To say “I don't understand” in Arabic: لا أفهم (lā afham). Built from lā = not; afham = I understand.
Transport & tickets
Key pieces: حافلة · قطار · محطة
Buses, trains and taxis get you where you need to go. Learn to ask when it leaves and buy a ticket.
- حافلة (HAA-fi-la) — bus
- قطار (qi-TAAR) — train
- تاكسي (TAAK-see) — taxi
- تذكرة (taz-KA-ra) — ticket
- المحطة (al-ma-HAT-ta) — the station
- يغادر (yu-GHAA-dir) — it leaves/departs
To say “Where is the station?” in Arabic: أين المحطة؟ (AY-na al-ma-HAT-ta). Built from أين = where; المحطة = the station.
To say “I want a ticket, please” in Arabic: أريد تذكرة، من فضلك (u-REED taz-KA-ra, min FAD-lak). Built from أريد = I want; تذكرة = a ticket; من فضلك = please.
To say “When does the train leave?” in Arabic: متى يغادر القطار؟ (MA-taa yu-GHAA-dir al-qi-TAAR). Built from متى = when; يغادر = leaves; القطار = the train.
To say “I want a taxi” in Arabic: أريد تاكسي (u-REED TAAK-see). Built from أريد = I want; تاكسي = a taxi.
To say “Where is the bus?” in Arabic: أين الحافلة؟ (AY-na al-HAA-fi-la). Built from أين = where; الحافلة = the bus.
Hotel & booking
Key pieces: غرفة · حجز · مفتاح
Checking into a hotel: ask for a room, mention how many nights, and get your key.
- فندق (FUN-duq) — hotel
- غرفة (GHUR-fa) — room
- حجز (HAJZ) — booking/reservation
- مفتاح (mif-TAAH) — key
- الإفطار (al-if-TAAR) — breakfast
- ليلتين (lay-la-TAYN) — two nights
To say “I want a room, please” in Arabic: أريد غرفة، من فضلك (u-REED GHUR-fa, min FAD-lak). Built from أريد = I want; غرفة = a room; من فضلك = please.
To say “A room for two nights” in Arabic: غرفة لليلتين (GHUR-fa li-lay-la-TAYN). Built from غرفة = room; لليلتين = for two nights.
To say “I have a booking” in Arabic: عندي حجز ('IN-dee HAJZ). Built from عندي = I have; حجز = a booking.
To say “The key, please” in Arabic: المفتاح، من فضلك (al-mif-TAAH, min FAD-lak). Built from المفتاح = the key; من فضلك = please.
To say “Is breakfast included?” in Arabic: هل الإفطار مشمول؟ (hal al-if-TAAR mash-MOOL). Built from هل = (question); الإفطار = breakfast; مشمول = included.
Politeness & survival
Key pieces: عفواً · آسف · لا أفهم
A handful of polite phrases smooth every interaction. "I don't understand" is a lifesaver.
- من فضلك (min FAD-lak (to a man) / min FAD-lik (to a woman)) — please
- شكراً (SHUK-ran) — thank you
- عفواً ('AF-wan) — excuse me / you're welcome
- آسف (AA-sif) — sorry
- لا أفهم (laa AF-ham) — I don't understand
- مساعدة (mu-SAA-'a-da) — help
To say “Excuse me” in Arabic: عفواً ('AF-wan). Built from عفواً = excuse me.
To say “Sorry, I don't understand” in Arabic: آسف، لا أفهم (AA-sif, laa AF-ham). Built from آسف = sorry; لا أفهم = I don't understand.
To say “Can you help me?” in Arabic: هل يمكنك مساعدتي؟ (hal YUM-ki-nuk mu-SAA-'a-DA-tee). Built from هل يمكنك = can you; مساعدتي = help me.
To say “Thank you very much” in Arabic: شكراً جزيلاً (SHUK-ran ja-ZEE-lan). Built from شكراً = thank you; جزيلاً = very much.
To say “Please speak slowly” in Arabic: من فضلك تكلم ببطء (min FAD-lak ta-KAL-lam bi-BUT'). Built from من فضلك = please; تكلم = speak; ببطء = slowly.
Example dialogue
Ordering a tea
Server: مرحبا، ماذا تريد؟ (marḥaban, mādhā turīd) — Hello, what would you like?
You: أريد شاي من فضلك. (urīd shāy min faḍlak) — I'd like a tea, please.
Server: شيء آخر؟ (shayʾ ākhar) — Anything else?
You: بكم؟ (bikam) — How much?
Server: خمسة عشر. (khamsata ʿashar) — Fifteen.
You: شكرا! (shukran) — Thanks!
Meeting someone
Local: مرحبا! ما اسمك؟ (marḥaban! mā ismuk) — Hello! What's your name?
You: اسمي Alex. (ismī Alex) — My name is Alex.
Local: من أين أنت؟ (min ayna anta) — Where are you from?
You: أنا من الهند. (anā min al-hind) — I'm from India.
Local: أهلا وسهلا! (ahlan wa sahlan) — Welcome!
Arabic etiquette that helps in Dubai
The right hand
Eat, give and receive with your right hand. The left is traditionally considered unclean.
Prayer times
Prayer happens five times a day; some shops pause briefly. Be quiet and respectful during the call to prayer (adhan).
Accept the hospitality
Coffee, tea or dates are offered generously — accepting (even a little) is polite. Expect friendly small talk before business.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.