Dubai is a part of the United Arab Emirates. As the name of the country denotes, the native language of the UAE is Arabic. So, if you plan to visit Dubai, you might wonder how you would get around without knowing Arabic. But that won’t be a problem at all. Dubai is multicultural, and you can do just fine with some English.
But it is still good to know the basic greetings if someone greets you in Arabic. Especially because welcoming even strangers is the Arab way. So here are some of the most used and vital phrases you can have under your belt when you visit Dubai.
How to greet in Arabic
Depending on the person and situation, Arabic has a few words or welcoming phrases.
Ahlan Wa Sahlan (or simply Ahlan) – This is the equivalent of hello in English. This can be used to greet anyone, irrespective of the time of the day. Ahlan is a more casual way of saying ahlan va sahlan.
Marhaba – means welcome. This one is also used to welcome anyone at any time.
Sabah Al Khayr: This is the same as “good morning” in English. It is a very formal way of greeting.
Misa Al Hhayr: Means good evening or a beautiful evening. Like the English phrase good evening, this one is used in the afternoon.
Tisbah Ala Khayr: Though the meaning has nothing to do with good night, Arabs greet people instead of goodnight. This phrase is roughly ‘wake up to a nice morning.’ The wish is for the next day.
Shake Hands and embracing accompany these verbal greetings in the case of male to male and female to female. Generally, Arab men and women do not shake hands with each other.
How to reply to Arabic Greetings
Different greetings require different replies:
When someone wishes you Sabah Al Khayr or Sabah A Noor, you should say ‘Sabah An Noor,’ which means a morning of light’ or ‘a beautiful morning.’
Reply ‘Misa A Noor’ to ‘Misa al Khayr’ and ‘Wa anta (or anti, depending on the gender of the other person) to reply to Tisbah ala Khayr. ‘Anti’ is used for females, and ‘anta’ is used for males.
How do Muslims Greet in Arabic
‘All the greetings mentioned above are generic Arabic greetings. Muslims’ most common greeting is ‘Assalamu Alaikum,’ a phrase from the Prophetic traditions. Its meaning is ‘may God’s peace be upon you.’ Muslims reply by saying ‘Wa Alaikum Assalam,’ meaning ‘may peace be upon you as well.
‘All the greetings mentioned above are generic Arabic greetings. Muslims’ most common greeting between them is ‘Assalamu Alaikum,’ a phrase from the Prophetic traditions. Its meaning goes like ‘May God’s peace be upon you. Muslims reply by saying ‘Wa Alaikum Assalam,’ meaning ‘may peace be upon you as well.
Why do Arabs rub Their Noses?
A rubbing nose is a gesture of welcoming people in the Arab world. It is a sign of respect and pride in the culture. In fact, it is a thousands-of-year-old custom that has been passed down over generations. You can even tell which part of the Arabian Peninsula somebody is from by looking at how they rub their noses.
This is the equivalent of an adult person kissing a child’s forehead. When the greeting is between adult Arabs, they rub their noses together. There are other cultures where the nose rub is a custom. The native populations of Canada, New Zealand, and Scandinavia have nose rub traditions similar to those of the Arab world. The nose rubs are almost always done between men and men or women and women. Not between people of other cultures or between men and women.
What is Inshallah in Arabic
This is a prevalent word in the Arab and Islamic worlds, which is often misunderstood. When you ask an Arab to do something or request something, he would say ‘Inshallah’ if he is happy to help you. However, the word seems to have received an unfortunate connotation. Therefore, it is sometimes seen as a sign of a lack of interest by others.
‘The literal meaning of Inshallah is ‘God willing’ or ‘if God wills so.’In Arab culture, saying Inshallah instead of Oe is also considered respectful. Those not accustomed to this phrase take it as ‘never going to happen.
‘The literal meaning of Inshallah is ‘God willing’ or ‘if God wills so.’ It is also considered respectful to say Inshallah instead of OK in Arab culture. Those not accustomed to this phrase take it as ‘never going to happen.
Common Arabic Phrases in Dubai
What does Khalli Walli mean?
Khalli Walli is the same as saying ‘leave him be’ or ‘don’t care about him.’ It is used when somebody is not interested in someone or something. In fact, it’s Khalli Yewalli losing the ‘ye’ bit in pronunciation speed.
A: Are you going to meet John today?
B: Khalli Walli! I don’t have time for him!
Learn More About the Arabic Phrases in Dubai
There are many ways to dive into the culture and heritage of the UAE. You can go on a desert safari trip to experience the Bedouin heritage in the camp and experience many other things that you can find out in the desert camp.