Ahlan wa Sahlan: Everyday Gulf Arabic for Life in Dubai
Have basic everyday communications in Gulf/Emirati Arabic as a gesture of respect for their new home; be able to greet, show politeness, handle shopping, taxis, and small talk in Dubai
Meet Francesca
Francesca
Ahlan wa Sahlan: Everyday Gulf Arabic for Life in Dubai. Have basic everyday communications in Gulf/Emirati Arabic as a gesture of respect for their new…
18 units · 72 lessons
What’s inside
Sounds & First Words
- Greet someone the Emirati way
- Pronounce the tricky Gulf Arabic sounds
- Introduce yourself and ask a name
- Talk about yourself: family, work and where you live
Politeness & Respect
- Show gratitude and politeness naturally
- Use blessings and cultural expressions with grace
- Navigate Ramadan and holidays respectfully
Getting Around Dubai
- Count, price and bargain with numbers
- Take a taxi across the city
- Shop for what you need
- Order food at a café or restaurant
- Handle time, days and making plans
Small Talk & Bringing It Together
- Make small talk about the day
- Handle a full day out in Dubai
- Ask for help and handle little problems
- Talk about food, weather and everyday likes
Arabic Scripts Everyday
- Read the Arabic script you see around Dubai every day
- Chat with a taxi driver or shopkeeper about where you're from
5 phases · 18 units · 72 lessons
Questions about this course
how do you say hello in emirati arabic
The everyday greeting is "as-salamu alaykum," answered with "wa alaykum as-salam," and Gulf speakers add warm follow-ups like "shakhbarak" (how are you). You'll also hear "marhaba" and "ahlan" used freely for a friendly hello. This course teaches these greetings the Emirati way, including how they change depending on who you're speaking to.
what are the hardest arabic sounds to pronounce for beginners
The sounds that trip up most beginners are the ones with no English equivalent: the deep throaty "ayn," the guttural "ghayn" and "kha," the emphatic "h," and the rolled "q." Getting these right early makes everything else easier to hear and repeat. The opening stages focus on producing these tricky Gulf sounds before moving on to full words.
how do you take a taxi and give directions in dubai in arabic
You need a handful of essentials: how to say where you're going, ask the price, tell the driver to stop, turn, or wait, and understand the numbers he says back. Pairing this with counting and place words covers most short rides across the city. This is practised directly alongside handling numbers, prices and a full day out.
what should you know about arabic etiquette during ramadan
Ramadan calls for small everyday courtesies: not eating or drinking in public during fasting hours, offering greetings like "Ramadan kareem," and knowing the polite words around Eid and holidays. Blessings and cultural expressions are woven into normal conversation, so using them naturally shows real respect. The politeness stage walks through these expressions and how to navigate the season gracefully.
how do you bargain and talk about prices in arabic
It starts with counting confidently, then asking "how much" ("kam"), understanding the reply, and making a friendly counter-offer. A few polite phrases keep the exchange warm rather than pushy, which suits how shopping works locally. Counting, pricing and bargaining are practised together with shopping and ordering food.
how do you introduce yourself and make small talk in arabic
You give your name, ask for someone else's, and share a little about your family, work, and where you live, then keep it going with easy talk about the day, food, and the weather. These small exchanges are what turn strangers into friendly neighbours. Bringing all of this together into natural small talk is the aim of the later stages.