Language of the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a unique blend of cultures, traditions and languages.

Despite its multinational population, Arabic is the official language. However, other languages are widely spoken, especially English, which plays an important role in business and social life.

The historical aspect of language in the UAE

Before the formation of the UAE in 1971, the region was part of various Arab tribal federations that used classical Arabic for writing and religious texts. However, the spoken language was dominated by a colloquial dialect of Arabic, similar to dialects in other Gulf countries. Numerous trade links with Iran, India and East Africa influenced the linguistic environment of the region. As a result, Persian, Urdu and even Swahili loanwords entered the Arabic lexicon.

With the establishment of the British protectorate in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, English began to be actively used in the region, especially in business. After the UAE's declaration of independence in 1971, Arabic remained the official language, but English retained its importance as a language of international communication.

Arabic in the modern UAE

Today, Arabic is the official language of the country. There are several varieties of Arabic used in the UAE:

1. Classical Arabic (Fuskha) is the literary Arabic used in official documents, media, education and religious texts.
2. Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) - used for business, news and formal communication.
3. The Emirati dialect of Arabic is the everyday language spoken by the local population. It is distinct from other Arabic dialects, but shares similarities with those of neighbouring Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Other languages spoken in the UAE

Although Arabic is the official language, there are many languages used in practice in the country. This is due to the fact that about 90% of the UAE's population is made up of newcomers. The most common languages spoken by UAE residents are

1. English is the second most spoken language in the country. It is used in business, education, advertising and official communications. Many government documents, signs and even metro announcements are in English.
2. Hindi and Urdu - widely spoken by the Indian and Pakistani populations working in the UAE.
3. Tagalog - used by the Filipino diaspora.
4. Persian (Farsi) - used by the Iranian community.
5. Russian - has grown in popularity in recent years due to the influx of Russian-speaking tourists and businessmen.

UAE Language Policy

The government is taking steps to preserve and develop Arabic, especially among young people who are increasingly using English in everyday life. In recent years, programmes have been introduced to teach Arabic in schools and to promote the language among the general public. Such initiatives include

1. Arabic Language for the Future Programme - aims to strengthen the role of Arabic in education and the economy.
2. Arabic Language Protection Law - which regulates the use of Arabic in public institutions.
3. Cultural festivals and educational projects that support the learning of Arabic among expatriates.

Language in the UAE is not just a means of communication, but an important part of the country's culture, history and identity.

Arabic remains the key language, but due to globalisation and the UAE's multicultural society, other languages such as English, Hindi and Tagalog also play an important role in the life of the country. In the future, Arabic is likely to retain its official role, but its coexistence with other languages will continue to shape the UAE's unique linguistic landscape.