Dubai Vibe

Arabic phrasebook for travellers

The words and phrases you really need on a trip to Dubai, each with a simple romanization for easy pronunciation. Because a few words of Arabic make all the difference.

Greetings & basics

  • Hello (general greeting)

    مرحبا

    marhaba

  • Peace be upon you (greeting)

    السلام عليكم

    as-salamu alaykum

  • And upon you peace (reply)

    وعليكم السلام

    wa alaykum as-salam

  • Good morning

    صباح الخير

    sabah al-khayr

  • Good evening

    مساء الخير

    masa al-khayr

  • Thank you

    شكرا

    shukran

  • Thank you very much

    شكرا جزيلا

    shukran jazilan

  • You are welcome / no problem

    عفوا

    afwan

  • Please (making a request)

    من فضلك

    min fadlak

  • Yes

    نعم

    naam

  • No

    لا

    la

  • Sorry / excuse me

    آسف

    aasif

  • Goodbye

    مع السلامة

    maa as-salama

  • Do you speak English?

    تتكلم انجليزي؟

    titkallam inglizi?

  • I do not understand

    لا افهم

    la afham

Food & restaurants

  • The menu, please

    القائمة من فضلك

    al-qaima min fadlak

  • The bill, please

    الحساب من فضلك

    al-hisab min fadlak

  • Water

    ماء

    maa

  • Very delicious

    لذيذ جدا

    ladhidh jiddan

  • Coffee

    قهوة

    qahwa

  • Tea

    شاي

    shay

  • I am vegetarian

    انا نباتي

    ana nabati

  • No meat, please

    بدون لحم من فضلك

    bidun lahm min fadlak

  • Is this spicy?

    هل هذا حار؟

    hal hadha har?

Transport & directions

  • Where is...?

    وين...؟

    wayn...?

  • Left

    يسار

    yasar

  • Right

    يمين

    yamin

  • Straight ahead

    دغري

    dughri

  • How far is it?

    كم المسافة؟

    kam al-masafa?

  • The metro station

    محطة المترو

    mahattat al-metro

  • Stop here, please

    قف هنا من فضلك

    qif huna min fadlak

Shopping & money

  • How much does this cost?

    كم السعر؟

    kam as-siir?

  • Too expensive

    غالي كثير

    ghali kthir

  • Is there a discount?

    في خصم؟

    fi khasm?

  • Can I pay by card?

    ممكن ادفع بالبطاقة؟

    mumkin adfaa bil-bitaqa?

  • I will take this

    ساخذ هذا

    sa-akhudh hadha

Emergencies & help

  • Help!

    مساعدة

    musaada

  • Call a doctor

    اتصل بطبيب

    ittasil bi-tabib

  • Hospital

    المستشفى

    al-mustashfa

  • Pharmacy

    الصيدلية

    as-saydaliyya

  • The police

    الشرطة

    ash-shurta

  • I lost my passport

    ضاع جواز سفري

    daaa jawaz safari

  • I need help

    احتاج مساعدة

    ahtaj musaada

Common questions

How do you say thank you in Arabic?

Thank you in Arabic is "شكرا" (shukran). For thank you very much you say "شكرا جزيلا" (shukran jazilan). It is a word warmly received all over Dubai.

How do you say hello in Arabic?

The common greeting is "مرحبا" (marhaba), a general hello. The traditional greeting is "السلام عليكم" (as-salamu alaykum), and the reply is "وعليكم السلام" (wa alaykum as-salam).

Do you need to speak Arabic to travel in Dubai?

Not at all. English is spoken everywhere in Dubai, from the hotel to the souk, and most residents are from other countries. But a few Arabic words, especially "hello" and "thank you", are received with a smile and show respect for the local culture. This phrasebook gives you the basics, with a simple Latin romanization for pronunciation.