The fastest way to use Arabic at a Gulf job is to learn the 10 to 15 phrases you will say every day in your own workplace, not a big general word list. Below are 40 short, practical phrases for four common job types — office, shop, hospital and driving or delivery — written in simple Gulf style with the Arabic script, so you can read, say and copy them.
Most Malayali job seekers already know some Arabic letters from school or madrasa, but they freeze when a manager, customer or patient actually speaks to them. That is a speaking problem, not a grammar problem. If you want guided practice with a trainer, our Speak with Swabeeh Arabic speaking course places you at your level and focuses on real conversation, including workplace Arabic for Gulf jobs.
This list does not repeat greetings. For hello, how are you and thank you, see How Are You in Arabic? 30 Everyday Phrases and our bigger list of 500+ common Arabic phrases.
How to read the phrases on this page
The middle column shows how the phrase sounds, written in English letters. A few simple tips:
- Apostrophe (') marks the deep throat sound of the letter ع (ain), as in ijtimaa'. If you cannot make it yet, a short pause is fine.
- kh is the rough sound in khuth (take), and gh is a soft gargle.
- Many Gulf speakers say g for the letter ق (qaf), so agdar instead of aqdar.
- When you speak to a woman, some words change ending: tabi becomes tabeen, and -ak (your) becomes -ich or -ik. Do not worry about this on day one; people will understand you.
Office Arabic: 10 phrases for your first weeks
Useful for office assistants, receptionists, typists, accountants and PRO staff. Notice how often law samaht (please) appears: politeness matters a lot in Gulf offices.
| English | Say it (Gulf style) | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| I am new here. | Ana jadeed hina. | أنا جديد هنا |
| Where is the manager's office? | Wain maktab al-mudeer? | وين مكتب المدير؟ |
| When is the meeting? | Mita al-ijtimaa'? | متى الاجتماع؟ |
| Please send me the file by email. | Law samaht, arsil li al-malaf bil-email. | لو سمحت، أرسل لي الملف بالإيميل |
| I will finish it today. | Bakhallis-ha al-yom. | بخلّصها اليوم |
| One moment, please. | Lahza, law samaht. | لحظة لو سمحت |
| I didn't understand. Can you repeat? | Ma fahamt. Mumkin ti'eed? | ما فهمت، ممكن تعيد؟ |
| Please speak slowly. | Takallam shwayy shwayy, law samaht. | تكلّم شوي شوي لو سمحت |
| What time does work finish? | Mita yikhallis ad-dawaam? | متى يخلص الدوام؟ |
| I am on leave tomorrow. | Ana ijaaza bukra. | أنا إجازة بكرة |
Shop and sales Arabic: 10 phrases for the counter
For supermarket, mobile shop, textile and showroom staff. Numbers come up all day, so practise prices aloud. The UAE uses dirhams, Saudi Arabia and Qatar use riyals.
| English | Say it (Gulf style) | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| How can I help you? | Kaif agdar asaa'dak? | كيف أقدر أساعدك؟ |
| Which size do you want? | Ay maqaas tabi? | أي مقاس تبي؟ |
| It is available / not available. | Mawjood / mu mawjood. | موجود / مو موجود |
| It is ten dirhams. | Bi ashara dirham. | بعشرة دراهم |
| Cash or card? | Kaash walla kart? | كاش ولا كارت؟ |
| Here is your receipt. | Tafaddal al-faatoora. | تفضّل الفاتورة |
| There is a discount today. | Fee khasm al-yom. | فيه خصم اليوم |
| Please wait a little. | Intadhir shwayy, law samaht. | انتظر شوي لو سمحت |
| We close at ten. | Nsakkir as-saa'a ashara. | نسكّر الساعة عشرة |
| Do you want anything else? | Tabi shay thaani? | تبي شي ثاني؟ |
Hospital and clinic Arabic: 10 phrases for front desk and nursing
For nurses, receptionists, pharmacy and lab staff. These are simple communication phrases only; always follow your hospital's rules and use an interpreter for medical consent or serious information.
| English | Say it (Gulf style) | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Your file number, please? | Raqam al-malaf, law samaht? | رقم الملف لو سمحت؟ |
| ID and insurance card, please. | Al-hawiyya wa kart at-ta'meen, law samaht. | الهوية وكرت التأمين لو سمحت |
| Please sit here. | Tafaddal ijlis hina. | تفضّل اجلس هنا |
| Where does it hurt? | Wain yooja'ak? | وين يوجعك؟ |
| Do you have a fever? | Fee harara? | فيه حرارة؟ |
| Do you have any allergy? | Indak hassaasiyya? | عندك حساسية؟ |
| Breathe deeply. | Tanaffas b'umq. | تنفّس بعمق |
| Wait for the doctor. | Intadhir ad-daktoor. | انتظر الدكتور |
| Take this medicine after food. | Khuth had-dawa ba'd al-akl. | خذ هذا الدواء بعد الأكل |
| Twice a day. | Marratain fil-yom. | مرتين في اليوم |
Driving and delivery Arabic: 10 phrases for the road
For drivers, delivery riders and field staff. Most customers will share a map location, so lokeishan (location) and directions are the words you will use most.
| English | Say it (Gulf style) | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Where is your location? | Wain mawqi'ak? | وين موقعك؟ |
| Please send me the location. | Arsil li al-lokeishan, law samaht. | أرسل لي اللوكيشن لو سمحت |
| Turn right / turn left. | Liff yameen / liff yasaar. | لف يمين / لف يسار |
| Go straight. | Seeda. | سيدا |
| Stop here. | Waggif hina. | وقّف هنا |
| I am near. | Ana qareeb. | أنا قريب |
| I am outside / downstairs. | Ana barra / taht. | أنا برا / تحت |
| There is a lot of traffic. | Fee zahma. | فيه زحمة |
| I will arrive in ten minutes. | Awsal ba'd ashar daqaayiq. | أوصل بعد عشر دقايق |
| What is the building number? | Raqam al-binaaya? | رقم البناية؟ |
Gulf Arabic or standard Arabic: which should you learn?
For speaking at work, start with Gulf phrases like the ones above. For reading notices, forms and emails, you need Modern Standard Arabic. The two share most of their words, so learning one makes the other easier.
- Want to speak with confidence quickly? Choose Speak with Swabeeh (30 days, conversation-first, Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced level).
- Want practical Arabic plus reading? Choose Al Faseeh (30 days, daily Arabic newspaper reading, communication practice and essential grammar; made with Gulf job conversations in mind).
Our article on the spoken Arabic course in Kozhikode explains how a 30-day plan works.
A simple 3-week practice plan
- Week 1: pick the 10 phrases for your job. Say each one aloud 5 times a day and record yourself on your phone.
- Week 2: add the two survival phrases from the office list (Ma fahamt. Mumkin ti'eed? and Takallam shwayy shwayy) and practise numbers 1 to 100.
- Week 3: role-play with a friend: one is the customer, manager or patient, the other answers only in Arabic.
Short daily practice works better than one long session a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gulf Arabic different from the Arabic taught in Kerala?
Yes, partly. Kerala madrasas and colleges mostly teach Modern Standard Arabic (fusha). At work in the Gulf you will hear the local dialect (Khaleeji), which uses everyday words like wain (where), shwayy (a little) and tabi (do you want). Learning both helps: fusha for reading and writing, Gulf phrases for talking.
How many phrases do I need before I travel for a job?
There is no fixed number. Start with the 10 phrases for your own job from this page, then add common questions and numbers. Being able to say that you did not understand and ask someone to repeat is more useful than a long word list.
Will Arabic phrases help me get a Gulf job?
Arabic can help you talk to customers, patients and colleagues and settle in faster, and some employers prefer it. It is not a guarantee of a job; hiring depends on your skills, experience and the employer.
Can I learn spoken Arabic online from Kerala?
Yes. Speak with Swabeeh and Al Faseeh at Wordcraft Institute both run for 30 days, online or offline at our Ramanattukara, Calicut centre, with a certificate on completion.
Is this the same as the Arabic used in Saudi Arabia and Qatar?
Most phrases on this page are understood across the Gulf (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain). Some words change from country to country, for example the word for 'what' (shu, aish or wesh), so listen to your colleagues and copy how they speak.
Sources: Speaking Arabic at Work (Dummies); Saudi Arabic for Expats; course details from the live Wordcraft Institute course pages (October 2026).
Related course: Speak with Swabeeh — a 30-day Arabic speaking course, online or in Ramanattukara, Calicut. See syllabus, fees & FAQ →