Learning Arabic in the UAE

So have you learned any new Arabic words recently? Besides "Khalas", "Inshallah", and "Tayeb". Sentences that mean I love you (ana bahibak), greetings (marhaba) and happy wishes (mabrook) are some of the popular phrases people ask about and tend to learn quickly.

Of course try explaining the masculine and feminine Arabic nouns and watch the confusion on people's faces. It is true that Mandarin and English are the languages to learn these days, however, Arabic has proven to be as important… at least for those who intend to study and work in the Middle East.

More than 200 million people around the world speak Arabic. Twenty-three world countries have declared it as their official language, and the United Nation adopted it as its sixth official language. Also, Muslims around the world learn and use the language to pray and read the Quran.

Arabic is considered complicated and hard to learn for some, especially with its 23 dialects, is closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic.

Modern Standard Arabic — the spoken language nowadays — is derived from Classical Arabic — the language of the Quran and the many ancient literary texts that date back to the Ummayad and Abbasid eras.

Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia and Syria have always been known as places to go to learn the language.

However, with the UAE turning into a cosmopolitan country, can it also become a centre for learning Arabic? Notes finds out.

Arabic in the UAE

Baria Ataya, director of the Arabic Language Centre, Dubai World Trade Centre, believes that the UAE can become a centre for Arabic learning as it has the right institutions to do so.

"The beauty about learning in the UAE and Dubai is that foreigners live in an international, cosmopolitan city where they won't be excluded like they would be say in Yemen or Syria where people do not necessarily speak their language. People will not feel out of place in this country," she said.

Door to opportunities

As Dubai is a commercial, business, leisure and education hub, Reem Razem, Arabic and language instructor at the Centre of Languages and Culture at the University of Wollongong Dubai, sees learning the language as a door opener for business opportunities and social occasions.

"Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and there is a lot of emphasis on the subject of identity," she said. "Almost 20 per cent of the population is made up of UAE nationals. Expatriates can be broken down into those who come from Muslim countries and know Arabic and expatriates of Arab origin and westerners who do not know the language."

But why would anyone want to learn Arabic?

Learning Arabic, said Razem, is the first step towards learning about the culture and the region. "September 11 has brought a lot of issues to the fore; more people want to know about this part of the world," she said.

Mohammad Al Omar, an Arabic instructor at the University of Sharjah, thinks it is necessary for those who live in a foreign country to learn its language.

"When you live in an Arab country you will need to learn the language of its people. You will need that to get to know what is happening around you, read the news, learn about issues like rent and prices, etc," he said.

Money can also be an incentive to learn the language. "Arabic and Chinese may be two of the most important languages to learn nowadays. Arabic is needed for business in this part of the world," said Ataya.

"Arabs by nature are a proud people and appreciate it when foreigners make an effort to speak Arabic. By just saying the simple words of 'marhaba… keefak?' (hello… how are you?) you are easily accepted."

Breaking the ice

Ataya believes that there is nothing like speaking a few words in Arabic to break the ice in a business setting. "It shows that the foreigner is trying to connect. In western business settings, things are clear cut and there is no need to go through introductions or ask about how everybody is doing," she said.

"In an Arabic business setting issues of trust, who you are and where you come from matter and speaking the language can help a lot."

Dr Mohammad Abdul Rahman, president of the College of Islamic and Arabic Studies in Dubai, summed up the need to learn Arabic by pointing out that there are about 200 nationalities residing in the UAE according to the UAE census.

"There are so many opportunities for foreign investors. However, whether you are in the UAE to stay or work, you will need to learn the language to understand the people of the country, the culture, traditions as well as Islam," he said.

Drawbacks

Still, despite the advantages of learning Arabic in Dubai, the cosmopolitan environment of the city can be considered a drawback to learning the language.

"You do not feel excluded when you live in Dubai because most of the people speak English. The taxi driver, the cashier at the supermarket… everyone speaks English. This means that you won't be using Arabic as much in your daily life," said Ataya.

She added that people of the same nationality tend to stick together and form groups, making it harder for them to socialise with Arabic speakers.

"In Syria or Yemen you may even get an opportunity to live with an Arab family, which helps a lot in the learning process. This does not happen here unfortunately," she said.

A national institution

Learning Arabic will require time. The language may not be easy, but it is flexible, according to Al Omar.

However, he pointed out, learning Arabic is expensive. There are a number of language centres established by certain organisations such as the Society of Arabic Language Protection and The Sharjah Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Department that provide affordable learning, but other centres should work on their prices," he said.

The solution to the quality of Arabic language education and to prices is the establishment of a national institution that would "not only teach the language, but also provide insights into the culture and traditions of the Arab and Islamic world", said Abdul Rahman.

"I think such a project can be easily implemented if all efforts are put into it. I think people are thirsty for the language," he said.

Should a non-Arab in the UAE learn Arabic?

"As a non-Arab in the UAE, I know first hand how important it is to learn the language, especially when it comes to court procedures where it is difficult to communicate with officials."
— Pegha Taheri, information technology, American University in Dubai (AUD)

"Arabic is the official language in the UAE and if you want to successfully communicate with other Arabs in the region, knowing the language is essential."
— Ebrahim Hamada, accounting and management, AUD

"It depends on the situation and circum-stances a person is in and what kind of environ-ment they're planning to be in, in the future."
— Ahmad Younis, finance, AUD

"It depends on th eperson and the job he/she is doing. However, it is not obligatory."
— Diana Bodhamwala, finance, University of Wollongong in Dubai

"Yes, one should know the language of the country one is living in. IT makes things easier."
— Naheed Rizvi, Business, Mahatma Gandhi University in Dubai

"Of course, because it will help a lot in the future. You need to know Arabic to communicate more with Arabs, especially since the Arabic population is increasing."
— Bhavesh Masand, business, University of Wollongong in Dubai

"I'm already good in Arabic, however if I had the chance I would like to improve my poetic skills at the Ikra Institute in Abu Dhabi."
— Yaman Al Zaid, industrial engineering, Alhosn University

"I'm very good when it comes to speaking and writing and I have some professional writing experience. When it comes to complex texts however, such as the Quran, I still may encounter some confusion."
— Zayed Al Abdouli, business, Dubai Men's College (DMC)

"I would definitely like to learn Arabic as it would enable me to communicate with others and open up many job opportunities."
— Shamal Prabha, BBA, Mahatma Gandhi University Off-Campus Centre

"Arabic is now the business language in Dubai. So I would definitely pursue Arabic as a second language. I think most campuses provide some sort of Arabic language education."
— Omar Khan, BBA, International Institute for Technology and Management

"Knowing both English and Arabic is a key to success in the UAE and opens many doors, and enhances communication, so yes, I would like to learn Arabic."
— Ketan Ramesh, engineering, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus

"I consider myself fluent and proficient in Arabic so if I had the opportunity to learn a language I would learn a brand new one like German, Italian or Spanish."
— Louai Khairi, information technology, University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD)