Living in the UAE? 10 things you’ll hear and probably say every day

After just a few months of living in the UAE, you’ll notice your vocabulary starting to shift. Suddenly, you're saying “khalaas” at the end of every conversation and casually slipping “yaani” into every other sentence, or just flexing about Dubai chocolate.

Before you know it, a whole collection of phrases has worked its way into your daily language — like they were always there.

Honestly, life in the UAE wouldn’t be the same without them.

In the UAE, everything is a vibe. So here it is, your unofficial starter pack of UAE-speak.

Translation: Let’s go! Hurry up! Chop chop!

This one’s got range. It’s the all-purpose rallying cry of the UAE. Late for brunch? Yalla! Late for a meeting? Yalla! Stuck in traffic but pretending you’re not? Yalla! Friend taking forever to decide on bubble tea? Yalla ya habibi, we don’t have all day.

Translation: Thank you

Don’t be surprised if ‘thanks’ starts sounding incomplete without ‘shukran’ tagged on. You will catch yourself saying it at the petrol station, the grocery store, even to your cat (or is that just us?).

Translation: Like / I mean / You know

The verbal comma of the UAE. ‘Yaani, it’s not that far.’ ‘Yaani, the AC stopped working so we melted.’ You will say it without even realising.

Translation: It’s done / Enough / Stop

Used when you’re fed up or finished. ‘Khalaas, I am done with work’, Or, Khalaas, one karak is enough... said no one ever.

Translation: Let it go / Forget about it

The verbal equivalent of brushing lint off your shoulder. If you’re  stressed about a late courier, Khalli walli. Someone cut you off in traffic? Deep breath, khalli wall, or just honk, you do you.

Translation: No problem / All good

Someone bumps into you at the mall? Maafi mushkil. You’re 10 minutes late for your appointment? Again, maafi mushkil.

Translation: I swear! Seriously!

This one’s a dramatic must. ‘Wallah, the AC stopped again.’ ‘Wallah, the shawarma guy added extra garlic just for me.’ It adds instant emotional flair.

You will hear this from your friend after you’ve circled the building 4 times. Spoiler alert: I’s not okay. But you will find a random empty lot anyway, and pray it’s not a tow zone.

Level P5, Zone Yellow, Section B is now a distant memory. You even took a photo of the pillar but forgot where you saved it. It's okay, we’re all roaming the parking lot like lost souls.

This is a classic after you have visited the Dubai Mall, which is possibly a separate Emirate itself. You park on one level and then spend three hours wondering where you parked.

Everyone’s meeting at the fountain. Everyone. Brace for photo ops, confused tourists, and your friend who still says “I’m near only.”