As a diverse population and an international business hub, the United Arab Emirates has no shortage of English speakers or signage, making it easy to navigate everyday life, even as a newcomer. However, if you aim to truly integrate into Emirati culture and build a life in the UAE, mastering Arabic can be one of the best endeavours you can undertake. Becoming fluent in Arabic not only facilitates integration within your community but also expands professional prospects.
At Remitly, we know the importance of resources and support when you move abroad. This comprehensive guide to learning Arabic provides insights and strategies to improve your language skills for a smooth transition to the UAE.
Overview of Arabic in the UAE
While daily life in the UAE offers many forms of communication, Arabic serves as the official language, forming the foundation of communication, culture, and heritage. Widely spoken worldwide by more than 400 million people, Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is used in formal settings such as media, literature, and official documents. However, in everyday conversations in the UAE, the Emirati dialect takes precedence.
There are three main forms of Arabic:
- Quranic: used during prayer and the scripture written in the Quran
- Modern Standard Arabic (MSA): used in media, literature, and official documents
- Colloquial: encompasses dialects—sounds and vocabulary changes depending on region or country
Even within the Emirati dialect, also known as Khaleeji (or Gulf Arabic), there are regional variations in vocabulary that are often influenced by various factors. For instance, the word for “not” differs across the UAE, making it “mesh” in Abu Dhabi, “mob” in the Northern Emirates, and “ma” on the east coast.
Understanding the differences between the different forms of Arabic and when to use them will help you in your Arabic learning journey, ensuring you are not mistakenly using Quranic vocabulary when engaging in everyday conversation.
Common challenges faced by expats
Language learning can be challenging, but it is also extremely rewarding. While Arabic and its many dialects can feel like a colossal feat to conquer, remember that many expats learning the Arabic language are in the same boat, and you can work together to overcome shared issues.
Common challenges and how to overcome them:
- Grammar and sentence structure: Focus on the basics. Mastering the alphabet and some simple, common phrases is one of the easiest ways to build a base in a new language.
- Dialect variations: As daily conversation amongst locals will not use MSA, having key phrases in the Emirati dialect will go a long way.
- Pronunciation: Because some Arabic sounds don’t exist in many other languages, it will take training and practice to master what does not come naturally.
- Immersion opportunities: Engage with native speakers and join language groups to ensure you are using your skills every day.
Why learn Arabic as an expat?
Benefits of learning Arabic for integration
Improving your Arabic can provide numerous benefits when it comes to daily life in the UAE. Language often serves as the gateway to a better understanding of cultural nuances, traditions, and social etiquette. By engaging in conversations with Emirati locals, you form deeper connections while also showing respect.
No matter where you relocate to, learning the local language will only help integrate you more into society, making it easier to perform tasks like getting medicine from the pharmacy, making appointments, and ordering food when you go out.
Professional advantages in the UAE
The UAE is known for being one of the centres of international business. Knowing Arabic will give you the competitive edge needed to expand your professional prospects. English may be the lingua franca, but Arabic is the official language of the UAE and is spoken throughout the Middle Eastern region. Arabic skills can give professionals seeking to do business or advance in their careers a significant advantage.
Enhancing daily interactions
Knowing Arabic will make your simple, everyday tasks easier. From reading street signs to ordering food, the ability to communicate will allow you to integrate more easily with the local community. In turn, this will help you to continue building your fluency in the language.
Resources for learning Arabic
From online courses to in-person classes, it isn’t difficult to improve your skills. Whether you take advantage of learning some basic Arabic before relocating to the UAE or wait to immerse yourself fully once you arrive, the key is to find the method that best suits you and your learning style.
Language schools and courses in the UAE
Several institutions offer structured Arabic language programs tailored to expats in the UAE:
- Arabic Language Centre (ALC): Located in Dubai, the ALC has been dedicated to teaching Arabic to non-speakers for the last 45 years.
- Eton Institute: An accredited language school located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and online.
- University of Sharjah’s Center for Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers: The Sharjah Center is dedicated to bridging the gap of communication between native and non-Arabic speakers.
Online resources and apps
If in-person classes are not your style, you’re in luck, as there are more and more online apps and resources for you to utilise from wherever you are. Rosetta Stone, for example, has been teaching dozens of languages, including Arabic, for decades now, all from your computer or phone.
If you want to go a step further, apps like italki can give you the opportunity to work one-on-one with tutors and expand your conversational skills.
Check out these popular online apps to help with your Arabic:
If you are nervous about practising your skills, apps are a great way to build your confidence. Many apps now use AI, allowing you to talk back and forth, so you are not only memorising phrases and vocabulary but are also given the chance to express yourself and practice specific sounds.
Free Arabic learning platforms
If you are just starting your Arabic learning journey, it may be hard to know which course or resource is best for you. If you are unsure, taking advantage of free self-study platforms can be a good way to explore your skills and understand what style of learning suits you best before investing in a course or program.
Fluent Arabic has compiled 80 free resources to help you improve your Arabic skills.
More free platforms:
Tips for learning Arabic in the UAE
Setting realistic goals and expectations
Language learning is a gradual process. Becoming fluent in Arabic won’t happen overnight—it’s a gradual process that requires patience and persistence. By setting small, achievable goals, you can progress from beginner level to advanced without burning out.
Maintaining motivation can be hard at times, so don’t be afraid to celebrate small milestones. Learning basic conversational phrases and applying them to daily life can help you engage with the language and encourage you all at once. Having a study partner who’s at a similar level can also be a great motivator, as you can practise together and encourage each other.
Incorporating Arabic into your daily routine
If you are serious about improving your Arabic skills, incorporating the language into everyday activities will help you retain a good deal of vocabulary and grow confident in conversation. Here are some ideas for making language practice a daily habit:
- Labelling household items: Grab some post-it notes and label objects around the house with their Arabic names. Toothbrush, door, plate, coffee, soap—you’ll never forget these common vocabulary words again.
- Media consumption: Watching TV and consuming media has long been an enjoyable way for language learners to improve their skills. Listen to music, read newspapers, and watch series in Arabic to not only pick up language fluency but cultural insights as well.
- Language exchange: Joining meetups, having conversations with locals, or asking questions about your food order can help you grow more confident in speaking—even if you make mistakes.
Engaging with native speakers
Whether it’s through language exchange meetups or simply chatting with local shop owners, engaging with native Arabic speakers will help you improve your skills and confidence. We don’t always realise how much these small exchanges can help us grow.
Speaking with locals will not only help you improve your Emirati Arabic but can even give you insight into expressions specific to your city. Slang unique to Dubai or Abu Dhabi is something you might not be able to find information about online.
Embracing the journey of learning Arabic
If you take away one tip from this article, let it be this: don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
Get out there, start talking to people in your community, and embrace the language-learning journey. Speaking and engaging with Arabic in some way every day, even if you don’t pronounce every word perfectly, brings you one step closer to fluency than you were the day before.
If you are hesitant to start classes, start with an app like Duolingo, where you can begin learning from the comfort of your own home.
Either way, learning Arabic should be a fun and rewarding process that will bring you many benefits while living in the United Arab Emirates.
FAQs
How can I learn Arabic in the UAE?
There are many avenues you can take to learn Arabic in the UAE. From in-person classes at institutions such as the Arabic Learning Centre to online apps like italki, you can learn Arabic from beginner level to fluency.
How much does it cost to learn Arabic in Dubai?
The great thing about learning Arabic in Dubai today is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. You will find there are many courses and platforms within your budget. Fluent Arabic, for example, lists 80 free resources to get you started while you research which institution or app you want to invest in for your Arabic learning journey.
Is Emirati Arabic easy to learn?
Everyone is different, and learning a language—any language—can have its challenges. Whether it’s easy or not, practice and persistence will help you develop the skills and fluency needed to speak Emirati Arabic in your everyday UAE life.
Should I learn Arabic to live in Dubai?
While English, along with many other languages, is used throughout Dubai, if you would like to fully immerse yourself in local life, learning Arabic will go a long way.