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)

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.