You can travel around Saudi Arabia without speaking Arabic: airports, big hotels and many shops work in English, and plenty of service staff speak Urdu, Hindi or other languages. But a handful of Arabic words goes a long way. It makes conversations with drivers and hotel staff easier, it is warmly received, and it helps when English runs out. This guide is organised by the situations visitors actually face, from the arrivals hall to your last shopping trip. Transliterations are simplified to be easy to say.
Greetings: The Start of Every Conversation
In Saudi Arabia most exchanges begin with a greeting, even before asking for directions or a price:
- As-salamu alaykum (peace be upon you): the standard greeting. The reply is wa alaykum as-salam.
- Hayyak Allah: a very common welcome you will hear from drivers and receptionists.
- Ahlan wa sahlan: welcome.
- Shukran (thank you), or shukran jazeelan (thank you very much).
- Jazak Allahu khayran (may God reward you with good): a very common way of thanking people in Makkah and Madinah.
- Ya'teek al-'afiyah: said to someone working or who has just helped you, roughly "may God give you strength".
At Arrivals: Meeting Your Driver
If you have booked ahead, your driver will be waiting with a name sign. You may still need a few phrases if you call him:
- Ana wasalt: I have arrived.
- Ana 'ind al-bawwabah raqam...: I am at gate number...
- Ma'i shunat kathir: I have a lot of bags. Shanta is the everyday word for a suitcase.
- Daqayiq: a few minutes, handy if you are still at passport control.
To see how the airport pickup works, visit our Jeddah Airport taxi page.
In the Car: Giving Directions
- Abgha arooh...: I want to go to... This is the most natural way to ask in Saudi Arabia, for example abgha arooh al-Haram.
- Yameen / yasar: right / left.
- Seeda: straight ahead (local usage).
- 'Ind al-ishara: at the traffic light.
- Ba'd ad-dawwar: after the roundabout.
- Nazzilni hina, law samaht: drop me here, please.
- Shway shway: slowly, take it easy.
In Makkah especially, it helps to know the name of the gate or tower nearest your hotel, since cars cannot always reach the hotel door at busy times. For rides around the city, see our Makkah taxi page.
Local Words You Will Hear in the Hijaz
The dialect of Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah has its own flavour. A few common words:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Eish? | What? |
| Fein? | Where? |
| Daheen | Now |
| Zain / tamam | Good, OK |
| Abshir / sam | Certainly, at your service |
| Khalas | Done, that's enough |
| Mishwar | A trip or ride |
In Riyadh and central Arabia you will hear wesh? for "what?" and wein? for "where?".
At the Hotel
- 'Indi hajz bism...: I have a booking under the name...
- Mumkin atruk ash-shunat 'indakum?: Can I leave my bags with you?
- Mata al-khurooj?: What time is check-out?
- Abgha taxi lil-matar bukra: I want a taxi to the airport tomorrow.
At the Haram
- Bab: gate. Gates are numbered and named, and the gate name is the most useful meeting-point detail.
- Wudu / maydaa': ablution / ablution area.
- Musalla an-nisa: the women's prayer area.
- Mataf / Mas'a: the circumambulation area around the Kaaba / the Sa'i corridor.
Shopping
- Bikam hadha?: How much is this?
- Akhir si'r?: What's your best price? Fine in traditional markets, less so in shops with fixed prices.
- Riyal / halala: Saudi currency; one riyal is 100 halalas.
- Wahid, ithnain, thalatha, arba'a, khamsa: one to five.
When You Need Help
- Sa'idni law samaht: help me, please.
- Ana da'i': I am lost. Give the nearest gate or landmark when you ask for directions.
- Fein aqrab saydaliyya?: where is the nearest pharmacy?
- Ahtaj doktor / is'af: I need a doctor / an ambulance. The unified emergency number in Saudi Arabia is 911.
- Da' jawwali / shantati: I lost my phone / my bag. Both holy mosques have lost-property offices.
Communication Tips
- Send addresses in writing on WhatsApp rather than saying them aloud; it avoids mistakes.
- Keep a screenshot of your hotel name in Arabic to show drivers.
- A smile and a shukran cover most situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do drivers speak English?
Many speak some English, but the easiest approach is to send your address in writing and message us on WhatsApp when booking.
Is the Hijazi dialect hard to understand?
Not if you know some Arabic. The differences are mostly a handful of everyday words like those above.
If I learn only one phrase, what should it be?
As-salamu alaykum. It opens any conversation politely and respectfully.
How can I book a car without much talking?
Send us your pickup point, destination, time and number of people on WhatsApp, and we will reply with a confirmation.
For rides in Madinah, see our Madinah taxi page, or book with Mishwar Al Haramain on WhatsApp at +966582918075 or via the booking page.