Arabic B for Non-Native Speakers in Dubai: What Parents Need to Know

If you are an expat family in Dubai, there is one subject that probably causes more confusion (and stress) than any other: Arabic. Your child comes home with homework in a script you cannot read, asks for help you cannot give, and you are unsure whether the struggles they are facing are normal or a sign they need more support.

This guide explains everything you need to know about Arabic B — the non-native Arabic track — in Dubai schools. We cover what your child is expected to learn, why it is compulsory, the most common challenges families face, and practical ways to help.

Arabic A vs Arabic B — What Is the Difference?

Dubai schools offer two Arabic tracks:

• Arabic A (Native Track) — For students registered as Arab nationals on their Emirates ID. This track covers advanced grammar (nahw and sarf), classical Arabic literature, essay writing, and formal composition. It is taught at a level comparable to English for native English speakers.
• Arabic B (Non-Native Track) — For students registered as non-Arab nationals, whatever language is spoken at home. This track focuses on practical communication: basic vocabulary, conversational phrases, reading simple texts, writing short sentences, and developing listening comprehension. The pace and expectations are significantly lighter than Arabic A.

Schools assign the track by the nationality on the child’s Emirates ID: students registered as Arab nationals take Arabic as a first language, and everyone else takes Arabic as an additional language. Parents of a non-Arab child may ask the school for the first-language track; the school may enrol the child on it where appropriate assessments show they can cope with that curriculum.

KHDA Requirements for Arabic in Dubai

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is the government body that regulates private schools in Dubai. KHDA mandates that:

• All private schools must teach Arabic as a core subject
• Arab students must follow Arabic as a first language — the Ministry of Education curriculum, which KHDA inspection reports and schools shorten to “Arabic A”
• Non-Arab students study Arabic as an additional language (“Arabic B”) from Grade 1 / Year 2 up to and including Grade 9 / Year 10 — four 40-minute lessons a week in KHDA’s allocation — and it is optional after that
• Under a separate KHDA resolution, Arabic is being introduced for younger children too, starting with four- to six-year-olds
• Schools are inspected on the quality and outcomes of their Arabic provision

This means Arabic is not optional in the years it applies — for a non-Arab child, that is Year 2 to Year 10 (Grade 1 to Grade 9). Understanding this helps frame Arabic not as an obstacle but as a genuine skill your child will build over years of schooling. (KHDA Mandatory Subjects Guidelines 2025-26; KHDA Administrative Resolution No. 48 of 2025 — last verified 17 September 2026.)

What Children Learn in Arabic B

Arabic B at primary level typically progresses through these stages:

Foundation Stage / Year 1–2: Letter recognition and formation (right-to-left writing), basic greetings and classroom vocabulary, colours, numbers, days of the week, family members, and simple songs and rhymes.

Year 3–4: Reading simple sentences and short texts, writing basic sentences, developing conversational skills (asking and answering questions), vocabulary building around everyday topics (food, school, weather, hobbies), and basic grammar (masculine/feminine, singular/plural).

Year 5–6: Reading comprehension of longer passages, writing paragraphs and short compositions, more complex grammar (verb conjugation, sentence structure), oral presentations and discussions, and preparation for secondary-level Arabic B.

Common Challenges for Non-Native Speakers

Arabic B presents several unique difficulties that parents should understand:

• The script is entirely different — Arabic is written right-to-left with an alphabet that looks nothing like Latin script. Letters change form depending on their position in a word. This is genuinely difficult and takes time.
• Sounds that do not exist in English — Arabic has guttural and emphatic sounds (like ain, ghayn, ha, kha) that have no English equivalent. Children often struggle to hear and produce these sounds.
• Grammar complexity — Arabic grammar is highly structured with root-pattern word formation, gender agreement, and complex verb conjugation. Even Arabic B simplifies this considerably, but it can still feel overwhelming.
• Lack of home practice — Unlike English or maths, many parents cannot help with Arabic homework because they do not speak the language. This means children get practice only at school, which is rarely enough.
• Motivation and attitude — Some children develop a negative attitude toward Arabic because they find it difficult and do not see its relevance. This can become a self-fulfilling cycle of avoidance and falling behind.

How to Support Arabic at Home (Even If You Do Not Speak It)

You do not need to speak Arabic to make a meaningful difference. Here are strategies that work:

• Show interest and respect for the language — Ask your child to teach you a new Arabic word or phrase each day. Display genuine curiosity. Children mirror their parents’ attitudes.
• Create a regular Arabic practice time — Even 10 minutes daily of flashcard review, reading practice, or homework completion builds consistency.
• Use Arabic media — Arabic cartoons on YouTube (like Spacetoon or Adam wa Mishmish), Arabic children’s songs, and bilingual apps (like Duolingo Arabic or Kalimat) make exposure feel natural rather than like schoolwork.
• Label objects at home in Arabic — Put Arabic labels on common items (door, window, fridge, table). This builds reading recognition in a natural context.
• Celebrate progress — Arabic is hard. Every new word learned, every sentence read, deserves recognition.
• Stay in touch with the Arabic teacher — Ask what topics are being covered and where your child needs practice. Schools appreciate parents who take Arabic seriously.

When to Consider an Arabic Tutor

Consider specialist Arabic tutoring if:

• Your child is consistently struggling with Arabic and falling behind class expectations
• You cannot help with Arabic homework because you do not speak the language
• Your child has developed a negative attitude and avoids Arabic study
• The school has flagged Arabic as an area of concern
• Your child is transitioning to a new school where Arabic expectations are higher
• Your child needs to catch up after starting at a Dubai school mid-year

A specialist Arabic tutor who is a native speaker can provide what most parents cannot: consistent practice with correct pronunciation, patient explanation of grammar, and — critically — the ability to make Arabic feel achievable rather than impossible. Our tutors work with both Arabic A and Arabic B students in British-, American- and IB-curriculum schools, from primary school through to the final year.

At GetYourTutors, Arabic is taught only by native Arabic speakers — a language qualification, not a nationality — and sessions take place at your home, matched to your child’s track, school curriculum and year. Whether your child needs the script from the beginning or support with reading and writing at the level the school assesses, the placement starts with a free trial lesson at your home that doubles as the level check.

Looking for support in other primary subjects? Explore our primary English tutoring, primary maths tutoring, and primary science tutoring services. Or browse our full range of Arabic tutoring from Year 2 to Year 13.