Learn Arabic online in the United Arab Emirates

Learning Arabic from the United Arab Emirates

Most UAE residents are expatriates and English is the working language in much of business, so many people live in the Emirates for years without learning Arabic. Arabic is nevertheless a compulsory school subject in the UAE, and parents often want extra reading support for their children. There is also a sizeable Moroccan community across the Emirates.

Lisanova Academy is an online academy run from Morocco. It has no classroom, branch, office or locally based tutor anywhere in the Gulf: every lesson is a live one-to-one video lesson with a Moroccan teacher.

Modern Standard Arabic lessons in the United Arab Emirates

In the UAE, MSA learners are usually parents supporting a child’s school Arabic, or professionals who want to read official correspondence, government service pages and the news. Lessons can follow your child’s school topics; Lisanova is not linked to any school curriculum or exam.

Lisanova teaches Modern Standard Arabic and Moroccan Darija only. It does not teach Gulf (Khaleeji), Najdi, Hijazi or any other local Gulf dialect, so lessons will not train you in the everyday speech you hear in local shops and offices.

Moroccan Darija lessons in the United Arab Emirates

Darija is the Arabic of the Moroccans you meet in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Learners include spouses in Moroccan families, children of Moroccan parents growing up in the Emirates, and people planning to move to or travel in Morocco.

Quran lessons online in the United Arab Emirates

UAE families often arrange Quran lessons at home after school or during the weekend, for children and for adults who want to improve their recitation. Lisanova’s Quran teachers hold Ijazah in recitation and Tajweed.

Quran lessons available: reading from the first letters, recitation with correction, Tajweed rules, memorization (Hifz) with revision, and understanding the meanings. They are arranged on WhatsApp so the academy can confirm the teacher, the explanation language (English, French, Spanish or Arabic) and a realistic scope. No memorization outcome or Ijazah for the learner is promised.

Quran and Islamic Studies: single class $12 per hour; Monthly Package 1, 8 hours per month, $80; Monthly Package 2, 12 hours per month, $110. Families get 15% off for each additional sibling. Discover Islam sessions are free.

Lesson times

the United Arab Emirates is on Gulf Standard Time. This is UTC+4 all year with no daylight saving. Morocco keeps UTC+1 for most of the year and UTC+0 during Ramadan, so your local time is usually three hours ahead of Morocco and four hours ahead during Ramadan. Since 2022 the official working week ends at midday on Friday and the weekend is Saturday and Sunday; many private employers follow this, so weekday evenings and Saturdays are the most common lesson times.

When you book the free trial or ask on WhatsApp, send your city and two or three preferred local times. The academy replies with a proposed time written in your local time and in Morocco time; the lesson is fixed only once you both confirm. No timetable is published in advance and no hour is guaranteed.

Explanation language

Teachers explain in English, French, Spanish or Arabic depending on availability; the Arabic you learn is a separate choice from the explanation language. Tell us your preference when you enquire and we confirm a suitable teacher before you commit.

Prices and getting started

Private Arabic and Moroccan Darija: one 60-minute lesson $20; 8 hours $120; 12 hours $170; 16 hours $200. Prices are in US dollars; no riyal, dirham, dinar or other local-currency price is offered. The first trial lesson is free.

Book the free Arabic/Darija trial with your name, WhatsApp number and preferred package; the academy arranges the time with you on WhatsApp. Quran enquiries are arranged on WhatsApp. Cancellation and refund conditions are on the Terms page.