KalamWhat Language Do They Speak in Dubai? Arabic, English, and More
Arabic is Dubai's official language, but English is the everyday lingua franca. Learn about Emirati Arabic and the Hindi, Urdu, and Tagalog you'll hear.
The Kalam team · 6 min read On this page
The official language of Dubai, and of the United Arab Emirates as a whole, is Arabic. Emiratis speak a local dialect of Gulf Arabic, but because the large majority of Dubai’s residents are expatriates, English is the everyday lingua franca. You will also hear Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Tagalog, Bengali, Persian, Russian, and many other languages on the streets.
Arabic Is the Official Language of Dubai
The UAE constitution establishes Arabic as the official language of the federation, and Dubai is one of its seven emirates. Arabic is the language of federal law, government documents, and court proceedings, and it appears first on road signs, official notices, and product labels.
As in every Arab country, there are two layers of Arabic in use:
- Modern Standard Arabic for official writing, news broadcasts, school textbooks, and formal speeches.
- Emirati Arabic, the spoken dialect of UAE nationals, used at home, in the majlis, and in conversation between Emiratis.
Emirati Arabic: The Local Dialect
Emirati Arabic is a variety of Gulf Arabic, closely related to the dialects of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, eastern Saudi Arabia, and Oman. If you can understand one Gulf dialect, the others will feel familiar.
Some features that make Emirati speech recognizable:
- ك can become “ch.” In many words, the “k” sound shifts to “ch,” so kam (how much) is pronounced cham.
- ق often becomes “g” or “j” depending on the word, so qahwa (coffee) becomes gahwa.
- ج can become “y” in some words and in traditional speech, so rijjāl (man) can be riyyāl.
- Distinct vocabulary, such as wāyid (very, a lot), shḥālak (how are you), and inzēn (okay, well then).
| English | MSA | Emirati Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | كيف حالك؟ (kayfa ḥāluk?) | شحالك؟ (shḥālak?) |
| A lot / very | كثيراً (kathīran) | وايد (wāyid) |
| How much? | كم؟ (kam?) | كم؟ (cham?) |
| I want | أريد (ʾurīd) | أبا / أبغي (aba / abghi) |
| Now | الآن (al-ʾān) | الحين (al-ḥīn) |
| Okay | حسناً (ḥasanan) | إنزين (inzēn) |
How many people speak Emirati Arabic in Dubai?
Fewer than you might expect. UAE nationals are a minority in their own country, commonly estimated at roughly one in ten residents, and the share is similar or lower in Dubai, whose population now exceeds three and a half million. That means you can spend weeks in Dubai and hear relatively little Emirati Arabic in malls, hotels, and offices, though you will hear plenty of it in Emirati neighborhoods, at government offices, and among families.
The Arabic you hear in Dubai also includes many other dialects, since there are large communities from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, and elsewhere. A Dubai taxi ride or office meeting can easily involve Levantine Arabic or Egyptian Arabic rather than Emirati.
English: Dubai’s Lingua Franca
English is the language that ties Dubai together. With residents from around 200 nationalities, English is the default for business, hospitality, retail, healthcare, aviation, real estate, and most private-sector workplaces. Nearly all signage is bilingual in Arabic and English, restaurant menus are almost always in English, and the government provides services in both languages.
For tourists and new residents, this means you can live and work in Dubai using only English. Many private schools teach in English, following British, American, Indian, or International Baccalaureate curricula, with Arabic as a required subject for many students.
Expat Languages in Dubai
Dubai is one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world. The largest expatriate communities come from South Asia, and their languages are a big part of daily life:
- Hindi and Urdu. India and Pakistan supply the largest share of Dubai’s workforce. Spoken Hindi and Urdu are close enough to be mutually intelligible, and many workers use a mix of the two as a common language. You will hear it in construction, retail, taxis, and Bollywood-loving cinemas.
- Malayalam. Kerala, in southern India, has deep ties to the Gulf, and Malayalam is one of the most commonly heard languages in Dubai.
- Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali, spoken by communities from southern India and Bangladesh.
- Tagalog and other Philippine languages. Filipinos are a major presence in hospitality, healthcare, and retail.
- Persian. Iranians have traded with Dubai for well over a century, and older neighborhoods like Al Fahidi (Bastakiya) were built partly by merchants from southern Iran.
- Russian, Chinese, French, and many European languages, increasingly common among business owners, investors, and tourists.
Between non-Arab workers and Arabic speakers, you will also hear a simplified “Gulf Pidgin Arabic,” a functional mix of Arabic words with Hindi, Urdu, and English grammar and vocabulary.
Do You Need to Learn Arabic in Dubai?
Strictly speaking, no. English will get you through almost every daily situation. But learning some Arabic is still worth it:
- Emiratis greatly appreciate visitors and residents who make an effort.
- Arabic helps with government paperwork, local media, and understanding signs and documents.
- It opens doors in jobs that involve Emirati clients or government entities.
- Living in Dubai is a great chance to practice, since Arabic speakers from every region are around you.
If you want to connect with Emiratis specifically, learn Gulf Arabic. If you mainly want to talk with Arab colleagues from around the region, Gulf, Egyptian, or Levantine Arabic are all practical choices.
Useful Emirati Arabic Phrases
Here are a few phrases you can use with Emiratis right away:
| English | Emirati Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (peace be upon you) | السلام عليكم | as-salāmu ʿalaykum |
| Hi / welcome | يا هلا | yā hala |
| How are you? (to a man) | شحالك؟ | shḥālak? |
| How are you? (to a woman) | شحالج؟ | shḥālich? |
| Fine, thank God | بخير، الحمد لله | b-khēr, al-ḥamdu lillāh |
| Thank you | مشكور | mashkūr |
| Welcome (to a man) | حياك الله | ḥayyāk allāh |
| Okay | إنزين | inzēn |
| Very good | زين وايد | zēn wāyid |
| God willing | إن شاء الله | in shāʾ allāh |
Note the “ch” in shḥālich: when speaking to a woman, Emiratis turn the feminine ending -ik into -ich. To build your vocabulary further, see hi in Arabic, thank you in Arabic, and inshallah in Arabic. Kalam’s UAE track lets you practice these phrases out loud with instant pronunciation feedback.
FAQ
What is the official language of Dubai?
Arabic is the official language of Dubai and the entire United Arab Emirates. It is used for law, government documents, and official signage. In practice, English is used alongside it for business and daily life because most of Dubai’s population are expatriates from many different countries.
Can you get by with English in Dubai?
Yes. English is Dubai’s lingua franca and is used in hotels, restaurants, shops, hospitals, offices, and most government services. Road signs and menus are bilingual. Tourists and many long-term residents live comfortably in Dubai speaking only English, though some Arabic is always appreciated.
What dialect of Arabic do they speak in Dubai?
Emiratis speak Emirati Arabic, a dialect of Gulf Arabic close to the dialects of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. Because Dubai has many Arab expats, you will also hear Egyptian, Levantine (Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian, Palestinian), and other dialects throughout the city.
What other languages are spoken in Dubai?
Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and Tagalog are among the most common, reflecting large communities from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. Persian, Russian, Chinese, and many European languages are also widely heard, making Dubai one of the most multilingual cities in the world.
Is Emirati Arabic hard to learn?
It is about as challenging as any spoken Arabic dialect. Its sounds, like the “ch” for ك, take some getting used to, and there are fewer learning resources than for Egyptian or Levantine Arabic. But Gulf dialects are relatively close to Modern Standard Arabic, which helps learners who already know some formal Arabic.
