Greetings
السلام عليكم
as-salamu alaykum
Peace be upon you — the standard formal greeting. The reply is 'wa alaykum as-salam'.
مرحبا
mar-ha-ba
Hello, welcome. The everyday casual greeting across the Gulf.
شكراً
shuk-ran
Thank you. 'Afwan' is you're welcome.
من فضلك
min fad-lak
Please, addressing a man. 'Min fadlik' for a woman.
Work
إن شاء الله
in-sha-allah
God willing. Attached to any future plan, and occasionally a polite way of declining to commit.
Daily life
خلاص
kha-las
Done, enough, finished. The most useful single word in the Gulf.
الجبل
al-jabal
The mountain. In Ras Al Khaimah it means Jebel Jais, the highest peak in the UAE and where everyone escapes to in winter.
تملك حر
tamalluk hurr
Freehold. Ras Al Khaimah sells genuine freehold title in its designated zones to buyers of any nationality — worth knowing the term.
الهوية
al-hawiya
The Emirates ID — your proof of residency, and the key to a bank account, a postpaid SIM, a registered tenancy and a driving licence.
Food
الحساب لو سمحت
al-hisab law samaht
The bill, please.
Emergency
النجدة
an-najda
Help! Emergency numbers are 999 police, 998 ambulance, 997 fire, 996 coastguard.
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