Emirati greetings blend verbal Arabic phrases with culturally significant physical gestures, most famously the nose-to-nose tap (Mak'ashim) symbolizing respect and heritage, alongside verbal greetings like "As-salaam 'alaykum" (peace be upon you) and "Ahlan" (hello). Handshakes are common between men and between women, but physical contact between genders is more conservative, with a smile being universally appropriate.
Ahlan (hello).
This also depends on the relationship between the people. “Ahlan Wa Sahlan” (welcome) is the more formal version of “Ahlan”. The most common reply is “Ahlan bik” to a male or “Ahlan biki” to a female. To reply to more than one person, say, “Ahlan bikum.
Ever seen Emiratis greet with their noses and wondered, what's the story behind it? This traditional gesture is called مخاشم (Mak'ashim) or موايه (Muwayah). It's a symbol of respect, trust, and equality, passed down through generations of Bedouin tradition.
Greeting People
You should address someone by their appropriate title. For instance, you would greet a man as sheikh (chief) and a woman as sheikha. Also, Sayed is Mr., and Sayeda is Mrs. You should in turn expect to be addressed by your title, such as Mr. or Mrs., followed by your first name.
"Yalla wallah" combines two common colloquial Arabic phrases: "Yalla" means "come on," "let's go," or "hurry up," while "Wallah" means "I swear (by God)," used to emphasize truth or express disbelief/surprise. Together, the phrase often acts as an emphatic, informal exclamation meaning something like "Come on, I swear!" or "Seriously, let's go!" depending on the context and tone, conveying urgency or a strong affirmation.
The typical response is wa-'alaikum as-salaam وعليكم السلام which means “and upon you peace”.
Shukran (شكراً)
As a common response, you may hear al-'awfoo (العفو) or 'af-waan (عفواً) which literally means “forgive/pardon”, and is the equivalent of “you're welcome” or “no problem” in English.
4) Ya Hayati (يا حياتي) My Life (which means my love) Pronounced: YA HA-YA-TEE. أنا لحبيبي وحبيبي إلي “I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine”
It's a pleasure to meet you. Hello. It's (very) nice to meet you (too). Pleased / Glad / Good to meet you. It's good to see you again.
That is the three-finger salute made famous by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. The gesture outlines three letters: a W for win, a V for victory, and an L for love.
The greeting was routinely deployed whenever and wherever Muslims gathered and interacted, whether socially or within worship and other contexts. "Wa-Alaikum-Salaam," meaning "And unto you peace," was the standard response.
The gesture was devised by Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy as a salute for the alien Vulcan species, and is popular within the science fiction fandom and nerd culture. The blessing phrase "live long and prosper" (written by Theodore Sturgeon) is frequently spoken alongside it.
يلا – yalla
Meaning: Let's go / hurry up / come on. Dialect: All Arabic dialects. Usage: A commonly used word to prompt action or speed things up: “Yalla, we're going to be late!”
Public displays of affection should be minimal; holding hands is acceptable but kissing and hugging in the public is not. Noise disruptions, bad language, making obscene gestures and showing disrespect in any way to the UAE, its leaders or religion are all forbidden and may land you in legal trouble and deportation.
In Arabic, 'hello' can be expressed as 'As-salamu alaikum' (السلام عليكم), meaning 'peace be upon you', or 'Marhaba' (مرحبا).
Hayati (حياتي)
This endearment term means “my life” (حياتي), stemming from the Arabic word for “life,” haya (حياة). This is another pet name commonly used throughout the Arab world, expressing that your love is so strong, your life would be nothing without it.
Yes, you can say "Habibi" to a girl, especially in casual or affectionate contexts, but the more grammatically specific term for a female is "Habibti" (or "Habibati"); however, "Habibi" is often used generally for anyone (male or female) in many dialects and situations, though using "Habibti" is clearer and more respectful for a female. It's a term meaning "my love" or "darling" used for friends, family, or partners, but be mindful of cultural context and familiarity.
The most common Arabic names for a lover are Habibi (حبيبي) for a male and Habibti (حبيبتي) for a female, meaning "my beloved" or "my darling". Other popular terms express deep affection, such as Qalbi (قلبي) (my heart), Roohi (روحي) (my soul), and Hayati (حياتي) (my life).
“You're welcome” is the “proper” thing to say when someone says “thank you”. In the past it would have been rude to say anything else. Now, however, it is fine to say “no problem” or some other phrase instead. It seems to be generational a lot of times.
The term kifak is an abbreviated informal variant of Kif Haalak the Saudi dialect phrase “how are you?” Kifak is more commonly used in the Levantine dialect. When addressing a woman, you would change it to Kifik. When someone says this to you, you can reply with Lhamdella(thank God) or Mnih (well).
Flirty texts to start a conversation
1) “Hola, ¿qué tal?”