While in Dubai, the most common greetings visitors will come across are marhaba (hello) and maasalaamah (goodbye or with peace).
The formal greeting in Arabic is as-salam alaykum, to which the response is always wa'alaykum as-salam. This translates as 'peace be upon you. ' But if you would prefer to casually say hi, opt instead for salam or halla, which is slang for hello.
Daily interactions in Dubai become easier when you know how to say “yes” and “no” in Arabic. Yes translates to “Na'am.” For no, say “la”.
The customary greeting is 'As-salam alaikum' (peace be upon you). The reply is 'Wa alaikum as-salam' (and upon you be peace). Handshakes are the normal form of greeting, but ensure you use only your right hand. Members of the same sex who know each other well often greet warmly, with embraces.
Dubai's official language is Arabic but there are many variations prevalent in the city. Standard Arabic – the modernised, literary version – is the one you'll encounter in all legal, administrative and government texts, as well as books and newspapers. However, that's not the colloquial dialect.
In Arabic, " Sorry " is literally to “asef آسف”. While “Ana” means “I am”. We use “Ana asef أنا آسف” if the person talking is male. We use “Ana asefa أنا آسفة” if the person talking is female.
Know the rules and follow them. This point can't be overemphasized enough in Dubai, as UAE's laws are much more conservative than those of any Western country. In Dubai, it's not uncommon for tourists to be jailed or otherwise detained for doing something that's completely legal and normal back in their home country.
Yallah. Meaning “let's go” or “come on” and said when you want something to happen or someone to get moving, this is one of the most common Arabic words used.
The polite response to the phrase is wa alaikum assalam, which means “and upon you be peace.” A related phrase is alayhi assalam (masculine) or alayha assalam (feminine).
The greeting was routinely deployed whenever and wherever Muslims gathered and interacted, whether socially or within worship and other contexts. "Wa-Alaikum-Salaam," meaning "And unto you peace," was the standard response.
Indulgent, glamorous, and progressive are words that describe Dubai. This United Arab Emirates city is a luxury travel destination for leisure and business travellers. Dubai combines a modern metropolis with a timeless sensibility and Arabian flair.
Public displays of affection (PDA) are illegal in Dubai and may be punished with imprisonment or deportation. These laws include kissing, hugging, holding hands, etc.
You can wear shorts in Dubai and even skirts, if they are at knee length and not shorter than that. Just be mindful of the fact that there are a lot of families and children there.
Following this, unmarried couples may now live in the same accommodation and cohabit without marriage in the UAE. Therefore, you may travel with your girlfriend to Dubai and stay with her in the same hotel room without facing any legal issues pertaining to cohabitation.
Salaam Alaikum/Wa Alaikum Salaam
It's literally translated in English as “peace be upon you!” and “and on you be peace'”.
So, is Dubai really that expensive? Dubai isn't actually much more expensive than London, New York, and other big cities. However, Dubai's not a very walkable city. Jaywalking is illegal, and crossings are few and far between.
The UAE is the third-richest country in the world, below Luxembourg at number two and Qatar at number one, with a GDP per capita of $57,744. The bulk of its money comes from the production of goods and provision of services related to petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminium and cement.
The constitution designates Islam as the official religion. It guarantees freedom of worship as long as it does not conflict with public policy or morals.