Saudi Arabia Language: What Do They Speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Arabic, the country is called المملكة العربية السعودية. Arabic is used in government, education, media and everyday life across the country.
🗣️ Language at a Glance
About the Arabic Language
Classical Arabic is the language of the Quran, and the spread of Islam from the 7th century carried it across the Middle East and North Africa. Modern Arabic lives in two registers at once, a situation linguists call diglossia: Modern Standard Arabic is used in news, books and formal speech across all Arab countries, while everyday life runs in regional dialects (Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, Maghrebi) that differ enough that speakers from distant countries may struggle to follow each other. Arabic is official in some 25 countries, is a United Nations language, and serves as the liturgical language of nearly two billion Muslims. Arabic is a Semitic language, sibling to Hebrew, Aramaic, Amharic and Tigrinya. Like its relatives it builds words from three-consonant roots: from k-t-b (writing) come kitaab (book), maktab (office), kaatib (writer) and kataba (he wrote).
The Arabic script: How Arabic is Written
Arabic is written right to left in a 28-letter script that is always cursive: letters connect and change shape depending on whether they sit at the start, middle or end of a word. Short vowels are normally left unwritten; readers fill them in from context, and the small vowel marks are added only in the Quran, poetry and children's books. It is the world's second most widely used writing system after Latin, also carrying Persian, Urdu and other languages.
Is Arabic a Tonal Language?
No, Arabic is not a tonal language. Its distinctive sounds lie elsewhere: emphatic (pharyngealized) consonants and deep throat sounds like the letter ayn, which have no English equivalents.
🗨️ Useful Arabic Phrases
A few everyday phrases in Arabic, written in a simple romanized pronunciation so you can read them aloud. Tones and exact sounds vary by region, so treat these as a starting point.
How Hard is Arabic to Learn?
The US Foreign Service Institute places Arabic in its hardest category, around 2,200 class hours. The script is actually the easy part, learnable in a few weeks; the real challenges are the root-based word system, sounds that do not exist in English, and diglossia, which effectively means learning Modern Standard Arabic plus a spoken dialect.
Language Tips for Visitors to Saudi Arabia
The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic, which may be unfamiliar to many international travellers. While English speakers can often be found in larger cities and tourist-heavy areas, it is advisable to learn a few basic phrases before your trip. Locals greatly appreciate any effort to use the local language, even if imperfect. Simple greetings, thank-yous and asking for directions in Arabic will go a long way. The country is officially known as المملكة العربية السعودية in Arabic, and the international dialling code is +966.
🌍 Other Countries Where Arabic is Spoken
Arabic is not exclusive to Saudi Arabia; it is also spoken in these countries:
Frequently Asked Questions about Language in Saudi Arabia
What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic.
Is English spoken in Saudi Arabia?
English is not an official language in Saudi Arabia. The main language is Arabic. English may be spoken in tourist areas.
What is Saudi Arabia called in its own language?
Saudi Arabia is called "المملكة العربية السعودية" in Arabic.
What writing system does Arabic use?
Arabic is written in the Arabic script. Arabic is written right to left in a 28-letter script that is always cursive: letters connect and change shape depending on whether they sit at the start, middle or end of a word. Short vowels are normally left unwritten; readers fill them in from context, and the small vowel marks are added only in the Quran, poetry and children's books. It is the world's second most widely used writing system after Latin, also carrying Persian, Urdu and other languages.
Is Arabic a tonal language?
No, Arabic is not a tonal language. Its distinctive sounds lie elsewhere: emphatic (pharyngealized) consonants and deep throat sounds like the letter ayn, which have no English equivalents.
How do you say hello in Arabic?
"Hello" in Arabic is "marhaban / as-salaamu alaykum".
Is Arabic hard to learn?
The US Foreign Service Institute places Arabic in its hardest category, around 2,200 class hours. The script is actually the easy part, learnable in a few weeks; the real challenges are the root-based word system, sounds that do not exist in English, and diglossia, which effectively means learning Modern Standard Arabic plus a spoken dialect.
How many official languages does Saudi Arabia have?
Saudi Arabia has one official language: Arabic.
Do I need to speak Arabic to visit Saudi Arabia?
It is not required but learning basic phrases in Arabic is strongly recommended and appreciated.
What is the calling code for Saudi Arabia?
The international dialling code for Saudi Arabia is +966.
What is the population of Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia has a population of approximately 35.9M, all of whom use Arabic as the official language.