'Where is Arabic?' UAE residents push for menus in national language

More young Arabs in the UAE are calling out restaurants and cafés that offer menus only in English. What began as a campaign led by Emiratis concerned about older citizens is now evolving into a broader push by younger residents, who say the absence of Arabic in public spaces feels like a deeper cultural oversight.

While most of them are fluent in English, they argue it’s not about comprehension, it’s about identity, respect, and visibility in an Arab country.

“It's not that I can’t read English. But when I open a menu in my own country and don’t see Arabic, I feel undervalued,” said Yasir Al Za’abi, a 35-year-old Emirati working in Dubai. “It’s like we’re guests in our own cafés."

Yasir Al Za'abi. Photo: Supplied by him

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Recently, some residents have taken matters into their own hands by directly contacting restaurants and cafés to request Arabic menus, messaging businesses through Instagram or email to let them know that, as valued customers, this is their wish.

“I saw this café I always pass by post an Instagram story, so I DM’d them: ‘Can you please add Arabic to your menu?’” said Fatima Shams, a 28-year-old from Abu Dhabi. “Their reply was that it’s in the works. It wasn’t about whether I could read English or not. It’s about seeing my language, my culture, reflected in the place I visit. We deserve to be represented and respected in our own country.”

Fatima also encourages local entrepreneurs and young startups to prioritise including Arabic in their branding and customer experience. She says that around the world, identity, culture, and language are celebrated as key parts of a brand’s identity, and the UAE should be no different. “Arabic is our heritage, and it should be visible and valued in every business here,” she added.

The concern persists despite regulations in Dubai that clearly state Arabic menus are required. As far back as 2015, local authorities fined 29 restaurants for not complying. Earlier, in 2008, over 900 outlets were warned to add Arabic or risk penalties. Still, many restaurants and cafés today operate without Arabic translations, especially in high-traffic or tourist-heavy areas.

Salma Nour, a 22-year-old university student from Sharjah, says that absence sends the wrong message.

“I order in English all the time, that’s not the issue,” she said. “But when I don’t see Arabic, I feel like they’re not thinking about us at all. It’s like being Arab isn’t cool enough for the menu.”

Unlike the earlier push tied to accessibility for older generations, this new wave of demand seems rooted in a rising awareness of cultural preservation. For many, asking for Arabic on menus is not a trend or a campaign, but a basic expectation — one they hope becomes the norm rather than the exception.

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