Written by Marian Valentina Rivas Delgado

One of the most difficult languages—and one that is least known to Spanish speakers—is Arabic. Not only because of its grammar and pronunciation, but also because it is not taught in school, which makes us feel disconnected from its use and necessity.

The reality changes when we are presented with the idea of traveling to Dubai or any other Arab country—whether for school, because a job opportunity has come up, or simply for tourism. That’s when we start thinking about how we’re going to communicate if we barely know the word "habibi"! 

The good thing is that when faced with a new language that’s unfamiliar to us, English is our greatest asset. 

But do we speak enough English to get by in Arab countries? We need to figure that out!

In this blog post, I'll tell you about the role of English in the Arab world, share some interesting facts about the language, and explain what level of English you'll need to enjoy your next trip to this fascinating Semitic culture.

The Language of Foreigners Beyond Dubai

In the Arab world, especially in the Persian Gulf countries such as the United Arab Emirates (with Dubai and Abu Dhabi as leading examples) and Qatar, among others, English has become the lingua franca of daily life. People use it to discuss everything from international business matters to basic services.

In Dubai, the proportion of international residents and the city’s openness to tourism and commerce are so high that its influence extends to cities in North Africa such as Cairo, the capital of legendary Egypt. 

In most of these countries, English is taught in the education system starting in elementary school as a required subject and, in higher education, as the primary language of instruction for technical, scientific, and business programs.

Interesting Facts About the Arabic Language: Isparking or barking?

Arabic is a fascinating Semitic language with a structure very different from that of Spanish and English. It functions through a system of consonantal roots (usually three letters) to which vowel patterns are added to create related words. 

In addition, its sound system is characterized by a wide variety of guttural and pharyngeal consonants, but with a more limited range of vowel and consonant sounds than compared to English.

Since the letter "P" has no corresponding sound in the Arabic alphabet, native speakers often substitute it with the sound of the "B", changing words such as parking into barking or people in beble.

Likewise, communication is deeply influenced by cultural and religious terms that find their way even into conversations in English. The most common example is the use of "Inshallah" (God willing), an expression that accompanies almost any plan or promise for the future. 

Understanding these details will help you avoid misunderstandings and connect better with people.

Spanish, English, and Arabic Phonetics 

For Hispanic speakers, it’s easier to pick up English phonetics because, although it requires learning new vowel sounds that don’t exist in Spanish (such as distinguishing between the short “i” short “i” fit and the i long “i” in feet), most of its consonants and syllable structure are familiar to us, and it uses the same Latin alphabet as we do. 

In Arabic, on the other hand, we must train our ears and throat muscles to produce very deep guttural and pharyngeal sounds (such as the Ḥā’ or the ‘Ayn) that do not exist in the Romance languages.

Not to mention that you have to learn to read an entirely new alphabet in which each letter changes depending on its position. 

This explanation is not meant to discourage the desire to learn Arabic, but rather to help you make the most of your time and invest it more effectively in developing your ear for English, since that requires far less effort and resources than starting from scratch with Arabic.

What I'm getting at is assessing our level of English so we can have confidence in it and improve it.

Should I spend my time learning Arabic or improving my English?

The Arabic language is full of charm and mystery, but it’s a bit convoluted for us Spanish speakers. To start with, it’s written from right to left (which looks backwards to us).

The decision to learn Arabic or not depends on each person's individual goals, but when it comes to investing time and money in adapting to a linguistic system like Arabic (which is just as complex as Spanish), it’s time to evaluate which is more practical.

This is when it's worth assessing the level of English you've acquired over the course of your life. If you're at the B1 level—that is, basic-preintermediate—that's already a big step forward.

Vacation in Dubai: Level A2-B1

To make the most of your English skills, it's important to know what your travel goal is.

If you plan to travel for tourism, a basic level or pre-intermediate (A2 or B1) is sufficient. At this level, you’ll be able to understand traffic signs (which are fully translated into English), complete immigration procedures, order food at restaurants, and get around using public transportation without any major complications. 

Studying at the University: Levels B2 to C1+

If your goal is to pursue academic studies, you'll need an intermediate or advanced (B2 or C1).

Universities in the United Arab Emirates are of a high standard and typically require official certifications such as the IELTS or TOEFL to ensure that students can understand lectures, write essays, and participate in technical discussions.

Job opportunity: Level B1 to B2+ (depending on the industry)

Unlike in academia, the level of English required for work is not a one-size-fits-all standard, nor does it always require a C1 level. In the workplace, the requirement depends directly on the type of position you will be filling:

For jobs in customer service, retail, the food service industry, or logistics, an intermediate level (B1 to B2) focused on conversational and service-oriented English. 

If the job is in fields such as finance, technology, marketing, or management, the requirements are higher (level B2+–C1). In these cases, you’ll need professional and business English (Business English) that enables you to draft executive emails, present reports, and negotiate complex proposals.

In short, while universities require a certified C1 academic level (IELTS/TOEFL) for writing essays and engaging in theoretical discussions, the job market primarily values practical English—tailored to your field of work and focused on effective day-to-day communication.

Do you think your level of English will be sufficient for traveling to an Arab country, or do you need to improve it?

If you feel you have any limitations, there are programs designed to help you strengthen these skills before you leave. 

Improve Your English Skills

At our language school for immigration purposes, Planeta Immiland Education, we offer online English courses ranging from beginner-level courses for travelers to specialized preparation for the international education and job markets.

Conducting a self-assessment is the first step toward improvement. 

At the following link, you can access a free test to assess your level and learn about our teaching methodology, backed by more than 100 reviews from students, workers, and tourists who have already achieved their immigration goals.

We offer programs designed to support you at every stage of your journey:

🍁 English and French courses.

📚 Preparation for international exams.

🎓 Programs focused on academic and immigration goals.

🌎 Conversation activities to build your confidence in real-life situations.

Visit our online academy and find out which program is right for you:

https://www.planeta-immiland-education.com/

If you liked this article, share it with anyone who will be traveling to Dubai or an Arab country soon.

Remember: When faced with a new and unfamiliar language, English is our greatest asset for connecting with fascinating countries and cultures.

We'll see you very soon with new articles where we'll continue to show that learning a language not only opens doors… it also transforms the way we experience every international adventure.

Marian Valentina Rivas Delgado

With love,

Planeta Immiland Education