The best way to understand a country and its people is to speak their language. People from all over the world have made Dubai their home. If you speak English well, you\u2019ll get by in everyday life. But if you\u2019re fluent in Arabic, you\u2019ll take it a step further. They can converse with locals on an equal footing and gain a deeper understanding of the emirate\u2019s culture and traditions. Basic Arabic vocabulary isn\u2019t just helpful for people who want to live and work in Dubai in the future\u2014it\u2019s also a great asset for vacationers. <\/p>\n
Anyone who wants to master the official language in Dubai must learn Arabic. Standard Arabic is used in official texts and regulations, as well as in daily newspapers and books. Everyday speech can differ significantly from this. As in German, there are various dialects. In Dubai, the Arabic of the Gulf states is predominantly spoken. These forms of the language are also known as Khaliji. Masri is also common. Egyptian Arabic has been spread in Dubai by immigrants from Sudan and the Maghreb. <\/p>\n
English is the most widely spoken foreign language in Dubai. Numerous expats have settled in the city who are native English speakers or have learned and perfected English as a second language. If you speak English, you\u2019ll have no trouble getting around the city. Street signs and phone books are also available in English. Staff at hotels, restaurants, and stores generally speak English, so English-speaking travelers can mostly find their way around the city and make themselves understood. Of course, anyone who wants to learn Standard Arabic will have a much easier time in Dubai. They\u2019ll be able to connect with locals and communicate in any situation. <\/p>\n
People from all over the world have moved to Dubai to build a new life here. They have brought their cultures, traditions, and, of course, their languages with them. Over time, a unique slang has taken root in Dubai. The vernacular combines Arabic, Tagalog, and Hindi. <\/p>\n
Here are some common phrases you’ll come across in Dubai:<\/p>\n
Learning Arabic is an exciting challenge. It is one of the oldest languages in the world. Arabic was already being taught at schools for translators as early as the 12th century. Beginning in the late Middle Ages, the subject was also taught at European universities. Arabic dictionaries have been in use since the late 18th century. <\/p>\n
Historically, interest in the Arabic language grew significantly in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, several Arab states gained independence and began to place greater emphasis on their language and culture and to make them accessible to a wider audience. More recently, the refugee crisis in 2015 and 2016, as well as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, led to increased interest in learning Arabic for free in order to follow the news and stay fully informed. <\/p>\n
At German universities, Arabic is not a separate field of study. The language is taught only as a subfield of Arabic studies. <\/p>\n
Learning to speak Arabic and German can open many doors for you. You\u2019ll be able to make yourself understood anywhere during a trip to Dubai or quickly find your footing in your job. There are various approaches to learning the language. <\/p>\n
Learning Arabic letters can be a major challenge for Germans. At first glance, the letters seem completely unfamiliar because they\u2019re based on a different alphabet. The language is easier to learn when you spend time with people who speak Arabic. At language schools, small classes of students with the same goal come together. Various practical exercises help students quickly develop an understanding of the language. <\/p>\n
Private lessons also ensure the interaction that is so important for learning a foreign language. Ideally, the lessons are taught by a native speaker. The teacher can tailor the instruction to each student\u2019s individual needs and quickly assess the student\u2019s language proficiency level and identify areas that require further work. One-on-one lessons have the advantage of being completely personalized. For example, if someone needs more time to learn to read Arabic, the focus can be directed toward that skill. <\/p>\n
If you prefer to teach yourself a language and have no trouble motivating yourself to learn, you can learn Arabic online. Everyone can learn at their own pace. This requires a high degree of self-discipline. If you use apps and books as aids, you\u2019ll have to forgo direct interaction with others. If you\u2019ve never had any exposure to the Arabic language before, you may find it difficult to pronounce or read the words correctly. <\/p>\n
Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is spoken by 370 million people worldwide. German schools often offer Turkish or Chinese. However, Arabic is rarely taught, so you\u2019ll have to choose one of the options mentioned above. <\/p>\n
For a native German speaker, Arabic is difficult to learn. In Germany, the Latin alphabet is used, and it\u2019s easy to recognize the ABCs in other languages as well, which makes it a good starting point. Anyone who wants to learn Arabic, on the other hand, has to learn a whole new alphabet. <\/p>\n
The Arabic alphabet consists of 28 letters that bear absolutely no resemblance to those of the German language. This alphabet not only forms the basis of Arabic, but is also used in Persia and for the Afghan language Pashto and the Pakistani language Urdu. To form words, with a few exceptions, the letters are always written from right to left\u2014the opposite of the German language. This is a major adjustment for a German language learner, as they must also get used to reading words from right to left. <\/p>\n
Like all Semitic languages, the Arabic alphabet consists solely of consonants. Even \u201calif,\u201d the first letter of the alphabet, is a consonant. It is usually represented by the \u201chamza\u201d symbol. Writing it without \u201chamza\u201d is considered an exception. In general, vowel marking in Arabic is done using diacritical marks. These marks are placed above or below the letters. <\/p>\n
If you want to learn Arabic, you first have to choose a language:<\/p>\n
Classical Arabic is a very ancient language based on the dialects spoken about 1,500 years ago. Modern Standard Arabic and the dialects derived from it evolved from this form of the language. The language is used in the Quran and is taught today primarily in a religious context. Anyone who wants to understand classical Islamic literature will choose this variant. <\/p>\n
Modern Standard Arabic is the standard form of the Arabic language. It is used as the written language throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Although native speakers understand Standard Arabic, they rarely speak it in its pure form. <\/p>\n
Arabic is an official language in 26 countries. Different dialects are spoken throughout these countries. These dialects can differ so much from one another that even the locals cannot understand each other. In Dubai, Gulf Arabic is commonly spoken. Modern Standard Arabic is also spoken on formal occasions. <\/p>\n
Anyone who learns Modern Standard Arabic will be able to get by throughout the Arab world and will be understood by any local in Dubai. Anyone who wants to learn a dialect should first master Modern Standard Arabic. <\/p>\n
Learning a foreign language is never easy. You have to learn vocabulary and master the grammar. When learning Arabic, the alphabet poses an additional challenge, since the letters are completely unfamiliar to us Europeans. We have a few tips to help you learn Arabic. <\/p>\n
There are several ways to learn Arabic for free.<\/p>\n