Essential Arabic phrases

The words that make your first weeks in Dubai smoother — with pronunciation you can actually say.

Greetings

السلام عليكم
as-salamu alaykum
Peace be upon you (formal hello)
مرحبا
mar-ha-ba
Hello / welcome
شكراً
shuk-ran
Thank you
من فضلك
min fad-lak
Please

Work

إن شاء الله
in-sha-allah
God willing / hopefully

Daily life

خلاص
khalas
Done / enough / OK
يلا
yalla
Let's go / come on
كم السعر؟
kam as-si'r
How much is it?

Food

الحساب لو سمحت
al-hisab law samaht
The bill, please

Social

حبيبي
habibi
My friend / dear (very common, informal)
ما شاء الله
ma-sha-allah
Wonderful / said in admiration

Emergency

النجدة
an-najda
Help! (emergency)

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

Actually learn to speak Dubai’s language

Globe Quest drills these with spaced repetition and a patient AI tutor you can practice with by voice — a few minutes a day. Free to start.