Vocabulary for the United Arab Emirates | 50 Useful Arabic Words and Phrases

Need useful Arabic phrases for the United Arab Emirates? Start with مرحبا (marḥaba) for hello, السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʿalaykum) for peace be upon you, شكرا (shukran) for thank you, كم السعر؟ (kam as-siʿr?) for how much is the price and أين الحمام؟ (ayna al-ḥammām?) for where is the bathroom. These short expressions can make an everyday interaction clearer.

This guide supplies 50 Arabic words and phrases for the UAE, with Arabic script, approximate transliteration and English meanings. The core tables mainly use expressions understood in formal or broadly shared Arabic, plus greetings common in the Emirates; they are not a claim that all 50 are exclusively Emirati dialect phrases. Separate explanations introduce real Emirati expressions such as شحالك (shḥālak, how are you? to a man) and مشكور (mashkūr, thank you to a man).

The UAE is multilingual. Arabic is the official language, but English and many other languages are used across workplaces, shops and neighbourhoods. The practical aim is respectful communication, not an assumption that every person you meet speaks Arabic. Show the written text when pronunciation is uncertain, and seek qualified language support for medical, allergy or other serious decisions.

Quick answer: eight phrases to learn first

Hello: مرحبا — marḥaba
Peace be upon you: السلام عليكم — as-salāmu ʿalaykum
Thank you: شكرا — shukran
You’re welcome / excuse me: عفوا — ʿafwan
Good morning: صباح الخير — ṣabāḥ al-khayr
Where is it?: أين …؟ — ayna …?
How much is the price?: كم السعر؟ — kam as-siʿr?
I don’t understand: لا أفهم — lā afham

Find it quickly: 50 phrases with English meanings · Real conversation examples · Common mistakes · Four-week practice plan · FAQs.

How Arabic for the UAE vocabulary works in United Arab Emirates

Standard Arabic and local Emirati Arabic are different registers. Modern Standard Arabic is especially common in formal writing, news and signage; it is widely understood across the Arabic-speaking world but can sound bookish in ordinary conversation. Emirati Arabic is a spoken Gulf Arabic variety with its own common vocabulary and pronunciation. This guide labels its main list as practical shared or standard expressions and separately identifies local phrases.

Emirati greetings have local variants. السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʿalaykum) is common and has the response وعليكم السلام (wa ʿalaykum as-salām). مرحبا (marḥaba) is a familiar greeting; Emiratis may also say مرحبا الساع (marḥaba al-sāʿ). شحالك (shḥālak) addresses a man in an everyday ‘how are you?’ question, while شحالج (shḥālich) is often addressed to a woman.

Thank-you can be local or broadly shared. شكرا (shukran) is widely understood. In Emirati speech, مشكور (mashkūr) is commonly addressed to a man and مشكورة (mashkūra) to a woman. The choice reflects who is addressed, unlike the Portuguese speaker-based obrigado/obrigada contrast.

Arabic writing runs from right to left. Many everyday Arabic texts omit short-vowel marks, and transliteration systems differ. The Latin-letter reading here is only a learning aid. Accurate pronunciation requires audio, attention to sounds that English lacks and familiarity with the written form. Some phrases also change depending on whether you address a man or woman.

English and other languages are common in UAE daily life. Dubai’s official tourism material highlights how multilingual the city is. Arabic phrases are useful for building rapport and reading signs, but if the other person prefers English, a respectful exchange in English is also practical.

Recognise local signs and services. Written terms such as مدخل (entrance), مخرج (exit), صيدلية (pharmacy), and مستشفى (hospital) can help you navigate. Confirm actual routes and opening hours separately.

50 useful Arabic for the UAE words and phrases with English meanings

The fifty entries are arranged by common situations: greetings, conversation repair, shopping, transport and services. Read the original script first, then use the approximate Latin-letter reading to get started, and check the phrase using native audio.

Greetings, gratitude and courtesy — 1–10

#	Original writing	Romanisation (approx.)	English meaning	Real use
1	السلام عليكم	as-salāmu ʿalaykum	Peace be upon you	Open a greeting
2	وعليكم السلام	wa ʿalaykum as-salām	And upon you peace	Reply to the greeting
3	مرحبا	marḥaba	Hello	Greet somebody
4	أهلا وسهلا	ahlan wa sahlan	Welcome	Receive a visitor
5	صباح الخير	ṣabāḥ al-khayr	Good morning	Morning greeting
6	مساء الخير	masāʾ al-khayr	Good evening	Evening greeting
7	شكرا	shukran	Thank you	Express gratitude
8	عفوا	ʿafwan	You’re welcome / excuse me	Reply or interrupt
9	من فضلك	min faḍlak	Please (to a man; form changes for woman)	Make a courteous request
10	مع السلامة	maʿa as-salāma	Goodbye	Say farewell

Learn a greeting, a thank-you and a farewell as one complete exchange. That context will help the words come to mind when you need them.

Basic questions and conversation repair — 11–20

#	Original writing	Romanisation (approx.)	English meaning	Real use
11	نعم	naʿam	Yes (formal / standard)	Confirm
12	لا	lā	No	Decline or disagree
13	كيف حالك؟	kayfa ḥāluk?	How are you? (standard; to a man)	Ask how somebody is
14	بخير	bi-khayr	Fine / well	Answer a greeting
15	هل تتحدث الإنجليزية؟	hal tataḥaddath al-inglīziyya?	Do you speak English? (standard; to a man)	Find a common language
16	لا أفهم	lā afham	I do not understand	Explain confusion
17	مرة أخرى، من فضلك	marra ukhrā, min faḍlak	Once more, please (to a man)	Ask for repetition
18	تحدث ببطء، من فضلك	taḥaddath bi-buṭʾ, min faḍlak	Speak slowly, please (to a man)	Follow a reply
19	أين …؟	ayna …?	Where is …?	Find a place
20	هل يمكنك مساعدتي؟	hal yumkinuka musāʿadatī?	Can you help me? (standard; to a man)	Ask for assistance

A beginner is not expected to understand every answer. Asking for repetition or a slower reply is a useful skill, not a failure.

Food, drinks, ordering and paying — 21–30

#	Original writing	Romanisation (approx.)	English meaning	Real use
21	ماء	māʾ	Water	Ask for a drink
22	قهوة	qahwa	Coffee	Order coffee
23	شاي	shāy	Tea	Order tea
24	طعام	ṭaʿām	Food	Discuss a meal
25	قائمة الطعام	qāʾimat aṭ-ṭaʿām	Menu	Read meal choices
26	أريد هذا	urīdu hādhā	I want this	Point to an item
27	كم السعر؟	kam as-siʿr?	How much is the price?	Ask a price
28	الحساب، من فضلك	al-ḥisāb, min faḍlak	The bill, please (to a man)	Ask to pay
29	بدون سكر	bidūn sukkar	Without sugar	Describe a preference
30	لدي حساسية من …	ladayya ḥasāsiyya min …	I have an allergy to …	State the exact allergen

Combine the word for an item with a polite request. For health-related dietary restrictions, identify the exact ingredient and get reliable confirmation.

Transport, directions and signs — 31–40

#	Original writing	Romanisation (approx.)	English meaning	Real use
31	مطار	maṭār	Airport	Find air transport
32	محطة	maḥaṭṭa	Station / stop	Find public transport
33	مترو	mitrū	Metro	Find city rail
34	حافلة	ḥāfila	Bus (formal; local speech also uses bās)	Discuss bus travel
35	سيارة أجرة	sayyārat ujra	Taxi (formal)	Find taxi transport
36	تذكرة	tadhkira	Ticket	Check a fare
37	مدخل	madkhal	Entrance	Read signs
38	مخرج	makhraj	Exit	Read signs
39	يمين	yamīn	Right	Follow directions
40	يسار	yasār	Left	Follow directions

Recognise transport signs in writing and confirm the actual destination. A word list does not provide live transport information.

Everyday needs and services — 41–50

#	Original writing	Romanisation (approx.)	English meaning	Real use
41	حمام	ḥammām	Bathroom / restroom	Find facilities
42	مستشفى	mustashfā	Hospital	Find medical care
43	صيدلية	ṣaydaliyya	Pharmacy	Find medicines
44	شرطة	shurṭa	Police	Seek official help
45	مساعدة	musāʿada	Help / assistance	Ask for help
46	نقد	naqd	Cash	Discuss payment
47	بطاقة	biṭāqa	Card	Ask about card payment
48	حجز	ḥajz	Reservation / booking	Discuss arrangements
49	مفتوح	maftūḥ	Open	Read a sign
50	مغلق	mughlaq	Closed	Read a sign

These entries help with unfamiliar routines. Keep the written words available on your phone, especially if pronunciation is difficult.

Real-life conversations you can practise

A useful phrase helps you do something. Read each exchange once with the translation and once without it; then replace one noun or place with another. Real speakers will respond in different ways, and social register may affect what sounds natural.

A respectful first greeting

You: السلام عليكم. (As-salāmu ʿalaykum.) — Peace be upon you.
Other person: وعليكم السلام. (Wa ʿalaykum as-salām.) — And upon you peace.
You: مرحبا. (Marḥaba.) — Hello.
You: شكرا. (Shukran.) — Thank you.

This exchange uses shared Arabic greetings widely understood in the UAE. In local Emirati conversation you may also hear مرحبا الساع as a welcoming greeting. An exchange is more than the English meaning of each word: the response is a social convention.

When an Emirati asks how you are

A local speaker to a man: شحالك؟ (Shḥālak?) — How are you?
A local speaker to a woman: شحالج؟ (Shḥālich?) — How are you?
A simple reply: بخير، الحمد لله. (Bi-khayr, al-ḥamdu lillāh.) — Fine, praise God.
Thanks to a man: مشكور. (Mashkūr.) — Thank you.

These are examples of Emirati speech rather than exactly the same phrasing as Modern Standard Arabic. Notice that the form can depend on the person being addressed. Do not try to apply a single memorised pattern mechanically to everyone.

Buying something

You: مرحبا. (Marḥaba.) — Hello.
You: كم السعر؟ (Kam as-siʿr?) — How much is the price?
You: أريد هذا. (Urīdu hādhā.) — I want this.
You: شكرا. (Shukran.) — Thank you.

The requests here are broadly understandable Arabic and somewhat formal in everyday conversation. Shopkeepers may respond in Emirati Arabic, another Arabic dialect, English or another shared language. If a price matters, ask to see the amount rather than guessing from a spoken number.

Finding a pharmacy

You: أين الصيدلية؟ (Ayna aṣ-ṣaydaliyya?) — Where is the pharmacy?
Helper: يمين. (Yamīn.) — Right.
You: شكرا. (Shukran.) — Thank you.

Reading صيدلية or مستشفى on a sign is useful, but medication questions and emergencies need precise language support. Asking where a service is does not substitute for clinical instructions.

Ordering without sugar

You: قهوة بدون سكر، من فضلك. (Qahwa bidūn sukkar, min faḍlak.) — Coffee without sugar, please (to a man).
You: الحساب، من فضلك. (Al-ḥisāb, min faḍlak.) — The bill, please.
You: شكرا. (Shukran.) — Thank you.

The wording is comprehensible, but local speech patterns will differ. An ingredient restriction such as no sugar is a preference; food allergies require the exact ingredient to be explained and confirmed separately.

Mistakes to avoid when using these phrases

Calling every formal Arabic phrase Emirati slang. Standard Arabic and spoken Emirati Arabic are related but not identical registers; the core table is mostly shared or formal vocabulary.
Assuming all speakers in Dubai or Abu Dhabi use Arabic as their first language. The UAE is multilingual; choose the language that works best for the other person.
Forgetting that some expressions change with the listener’s gender. Min faḍlak and min faḍlik are different spoken forms.
Treating a transliteration as perfect pronunciation. Arabic sounds and dialect patterns cannot be represented fully by approximate English letters.
Confusing a local thank-you with the standard form. Shukran is broad, while mashkūr and mashkūra reflect local usage and the person addressed.
Using a ‘no sugar’ or ‘not spicy’ phrase to infer food is allergen-safe. Confirm the exact allergen and preparation.
Assuming every Arabic word in a sign is pronounced as written in local speech. Formal written language and spoken dialect may differ.

A four-week plan to learn and remember the vocabulary

Ten to fifteen minutes a day is enough for a useful first routine. Do not only reread the table; cover the translation, recall it from memory, check the original and use it in a short sentence. Your Fencing Method can begin with a few essential communication tasks, then deliberately widen the set of tasks you can manage.

Week 1 — the essentials: Learn the eight quick phrases and ten greetings. Practise an opening and closing exchange every day. Check pronunciation with native audio rather than English letters alone.
Week 2 — understand and ask: Practise the conversation-repair phrases. Ask for repetition, say you do not understand, and request a slower answer. Write three short dialogues and try them without notes.
Week 3 — use the world around you: Learn the ten food and ten transport entries. Identify these words on menus, diagrams and signs. Test whether you can ask a price or follow a direction.
Week 4 — transfer and mastery: Learn the final group and role-play ten different situations. Test all 50 phrases without seeing the English column, then review mistakes after one, three and seven days.

How to test whether the new words really help

Imagine an ordinary day in United Arab Emirates. Can you greet a stranger politely, ask a price, recognise an exit, explain that you did not understand and thank the person who helped you? If you can complete those small actions, you have begun to build usable language knowledge. If you can perform the same action in a different shop or public place, your learning has transferred beyond one memorised example.

Language learning connects four things: the written form, the sound, the meaning and a real action. Try alternating between listening, reading aloud, recalling and making new sentences. This approach lets vocabulary become a working tool rather than a list that disappears from memory after the first reading.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say hello in Arabic in the UAE?

مرحبا (marḥaba) is a useful hello. السلام عليكم (as-salāmu ʿalaykum) is another common greeting.

How do you say thank you in the UAE?

شكرا (shukran) is widely understood. In Emirati speech مشكور (mashkūr) to a man and مشكورة (mashkūra) to a woman are also heard.

What is the reply to assalamu alaikum?

وعليكم السلام (wa ʿalaykum as-salām), meaning ‘and upon you peace’.

How do you ask how much something costs in Arabic?

كم السعر؟ (kam as-siʿr?) asks how much the price is. Spoken Emirati wording may be different.

How do you ask where the toilet is?

أين الحمام؟ (ayna al-ḥammām?) means ‘Where is the bathroom?’ in broadly understood Arabic.

Is Emirati Arabic the same as Modern Standard Arabic?

No. Emirati Arabic is a spoken Gulf dialect, whereas Modern Standard Arabic is the form used mainly for formal writing and communication.

What does shhalak mean?

شحالك (shḥālak) is an Emirati way to ask a man how he is. The form commonly changes when addressing a woman.

Is Arabic the only language spoken in the UAE?

No. Arabic is the official language, but English and many other languages are used widely in daily life.

Do Arabic words change when addressing a woman?

Some pronouns, adjectives and verb forms change, and conversational dialects have their own patterns. Learn complete phrases with their context.

What should I learn after these 50 phrases?

Learn the Arabic alphabet, basic numbers and actual Emirati conversational audio. Do not assume formal vocabulary automatically sounds natural in local speech.

Continue learning with eduKate

Use the country overview to understand context, the language-learning guide for systematic practice and the other country phrasebooks for comparison. These are learning routes, not proof that the same word or social pattern can be transferred without changes between countries.

Sources and editorial limitations

The linked language references informed this original educational selection and its explanations. Pronunciations in Latin letters are approximate, and regional language, register, spelling and gender-dependent forms can vary. For medical, legal, financial or safety-critical information, obtain precise written translation or qualified interpretation rather than relying on this introductory phrasebook.

Editorial review: November 2026.