أهلاً وسهلاً بك في دبي
ahlan wa sahlan bik fi dubayy
أهلاً وسهلاً بك في دبي (ahlan wa sahlan bik fi dubayy) is the Arabic phrase for welcome to Dubai.
This phrase is a greeting used to welcome someone who has just arrived in the city of Dubai.
How do you pronounce it?
ahlan wa sahlan bik fi dubayy
Did you know?
- In Dubai and other Gulf regions, a welcome is often accompanied by the offering of gahwa (Arabic coffee) served in small handleless cups. It is traditional for the host to keep refilling the guest's cup until the guest gently shakes the cup from side to side to signal they are finished.
- The expression أهلاً وسهلاً literally wishes that the guest arrives as 'family' and finds a 'plain' or 'easy' place to stay. It is a combination of two separate welcoming concepts merged into one standard greeting.
- The word في (fi), meaning 'in', may share ancient roots with the Proto-Semitic word for 'mouth' or 'entrance', implying the act of entering a space or a means of access.
Examples in context
- أهلاً وسهلاً بك في دبي.Ahlan wa sahlan bika fi Dubai.Welcome to Dubai.
- أهلاً وسهلاً بك في دبي، أتمنى لك رحلة سعيدة.Ahlan wa sahlan bika fi Dubai, atamanna laka rihla sa'ida.Welcome to Dubai, I wish you a happy trip.
Example conversation
Ahmed greets Noor at the airport.
- أحمد Ahmedأهلاً وسهلاً بك في دبي، يا نور.Ahlan wa sahlan biki fi Dubai, ya Noor.Welcome to Dubai, Noor.
- نور Nourشكراً جزيلاً لك يا أحمد.Shukran jazilan laka ya Ahmad.Thank you very much, Ahmed.
- أحمد Ahmedهل كانت رحلتك مريحة؟Hal kanat rihlatuki muriha?Was your flight comfortable?
- نور Nourنعم، كانت الرحلة جيدة جداً.Naam, kanat al-rihla jayyida jiddan.Yes, the flight was very good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries في, CC BY-SA 4.0.
