United Arab Emirates

Summary

Official Name: United Arab Emirates
Population: 9,916,000
Principal Languages: English, Standard Arabic
Literacy Rate: 95% (2015 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Sebeok 1970
Deaf Population: 109,200
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for United Arab Emirates is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 1 is indigenous and 11 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 7 are developing, and 2 are vigorous. Also listed are 22 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz: Long-established scattered communities. Users: 676,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Gulf Spoken afb: Widespread. Users: 3,710,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Alternate Names: Emirati Arabic, Gulf Arabic Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Hijazi Spoken acw: Scattered. Users: 395,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Libyan Spoken ayl: Users: 48,500 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken acm: Users: 38,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Scattered. Users: 244,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Omani Spoken acx: Scattered established communities. Users: 324,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Shihhi Spoken ssh: Ra’s al Khaymah emirate: Musandam peninsula, Persian Gulf coast. Users: 20,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Total users in all countries: 37,900. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Al-Shihuh, Shihhi, Shihu, Shihuh Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, South Levantine Spoken ajp: Scattered. Users: 532,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard arb: Widespread. Users: 3,090,000 in United Arab Emirates (2014 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 7). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Sudanese Spoken apd: Users: 79,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken acq: Users: 60,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Balochi, Southern bcc: Long-established scattered communities. Users: 404,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Baloci, Baluchi, Baluci Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Balochi
Bengali ben: Scattered. Users: 817,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
English eng: Widespread. Users: 7,078,900 in United Arab Emirates, all users. L1 users: 78,900 in United Arab Emirates (2019). L2 users: 7,000,000 (Shafiq and Afzal 2020). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 250,000 in United Arab Emirates (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Hindi hin: Users: 938,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Korean kor: Users: 10,900 in United Arab Emirates (2019 Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Malayalam mal: Scattered communities. Users: 329,000 in United Arab Emirates (2021 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Malayalam
Nepali npi: Users: 157,000 in United Arab Emirates (International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2019), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, Eastern Pahari
Pashto, Northern pbu: Scattered. Users: 404,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Pakhtoo, Pashtu, Passtoo, Pushto, Pusto Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto
Pashto, Southern pbt: Users: 154,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto
Persian, Iranian pes: Dubayy emirate. Users: 324,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Persian, Western Farsi Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Punjabi, Eastern pan: Users: 214,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi
Rohingya rhg: Users: 50,000 in United Arab Emirates (2017 The Arakan Project), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Sindhi snd: Users: 109,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Northwestern, Sindhi
Sinhala sin: Scattered. Users: 129,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern, Sinhalese-Maldivian
Somali som: Scattered. Users: 101,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
Swahili swh: Scattered. Users: 21,400 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)
Tagalog tgl: Scattered. Users: 402,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Tamil tam: Users: 400,000 in United Arab Emirates (Rajan and Rajan 2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Telugu tel: Users: 485,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, South-Central, Telugu
Turkish tur: Users: 5,480 in United Arab Emirates (2010 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Urdu urd: Users: 239,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Article 7). 3,090,000 in United Arab Emirates (2014 SIL), all users.

3 (Wider communication)

Arabic, Gulf Spoken

[afb] 3 (Wider communication). 3,710,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

English

[eng] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. 7,078,900 in United Arab Emirates, all users. L1 users: 78,900 in United Arab Emirates (2019). L2 users: 7,000,000 (Shafiq and Afzal 2020).

5 (Dispersed)

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken

[arz] 5* (Dispersed). 676,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] 5* (Dispersed). 244,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 250,000 in United Arab Emirates (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

Pashto, Northern

[pbu] 5* (Dispersed). 404,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Persian, Iranian

[pes] 5* (Dispersed). 324,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

5 (Developing)

Arabic, Hijazi Spoken

[acw] 5* (Developing). 395,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Balochi, Southern

[bcc] 5* (Developing). 404,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

6a (Vigorous)

Arabic, Omani Spoken

[acx] 6a* (Vigorous). 324,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Arabic, Shihhi Spoken

[ssh] 6a* (Vigorous). 20,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020). Total users in all countries: 37,900.

Unestablished

Arabic, Libyan Spoken

[ayl] Unestablished. 48,500 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken

[acm] Unestablished. 38,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Arabic, South Levantine Spoken

[ajp] Unestablished. 532,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Arabic, Sudanese Spoken

[apd] Unestablished. 79,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken

[acq] Unestablished. 60,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Bengali

[ben] Unestablished. 817,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Hindi

[hin] Unestablished. 938,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Korean

[kor] Unestablished. 10,900 in United Arab Emirates (2019 Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs), based on nationality.

Malayalam

[mal] Unestablished. 329,000 in United Arab Emirates (2021 Joshua Project).

Nepali

[npi] Unestablished. 157,000 in United Arab Emirates (International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2019), based on nationality.

Pashto, Southern

[pbt] Unestablished. 154,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Punjabi, Eastern

[pan] Unestablished. 214,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Rohingya

[rhg] Unestablished. 50,000 in United Arab Emirates (2017 The Arakan Project), based on nationality.

Sindhi

[snd] Unestablished. 109,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Sinhala

[sin] Unestablished. 129,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Somali

[som] Unestablished. 101,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Swahili

[swh] Unestablished. 21,400 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Tagalog

[tgl] Unestablished. 402,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Tamil

[tam] Unestablished. 400,000 in United Arab Emirates (Rajan and Rajan 2019).

Telugu

[tel] Unestablished. 485,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Turkish

[tur] Unestablished. 5,480 in United Arab Emirates (2010 census).

Urdu

[urd] Unestablished. 239,000 in United Arab Emirates (2020).

Maps

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in United Arab Emirates with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for United Arab Emirates is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in United Arab Emirates with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for United Arab Emirates is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for United Arab Emirates in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of United Arab Emirates ($149.95, 20 page PDF)

United Arab Emirates

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action