Learn Arabic Online in the UAE: A Guide for Expat Kids in International Schools

Expat children in UAE private schools study Arabic as a required subject for many years, and many find it hard when no one speaks Arabic at home. One-to-one online Arabic classes give them the extra listening, speaking and reading practice they need, at home and at a time that suits the family. This guide explains the school requirement, the most common difficulties, and how a weekly plan can help.

Arabic in UAE Private Schools

In UAE private schools, Arabic as an additional language is compulsory for non-Arab students from Grade 1 (Year 2) to the end of Grade 9 (Year 10), usually with four lessons a week, according to a GEMS Education overview of the requirements. Rules can change, so check your school’s current policy.

Why Many Expat Children Struggle

• No Arabic at home: school lessons are the only exposure, so words are forgotten between lessons.
• New sounds: letters such as ع, ح, خ, ق and ض do not exist in English, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog or many other home languages.
• Right-to-left script: joined letters change shape, which makes reading slow at first.
• Large classes: there is little time for each child to read and speak aloud.
• Different starting points: a child who joins a UAE school in Grade 5 has to catch up on years of Arabic.

How One-to-One Online Arabic Helps

• Speaking time: in a 30-minute one-to-one class, the child speaks and reads for most of the lesson.
• Pronunciation from a native speaker: the teacher models each sound and corrects it immediately.
• The child’s own pace: a child who is behind can rebuild the basics; a child who is ahead can move on.
• Explanations in English: classes are taught in English, Arabic and French, so children understand the grammar and new words.
• Confidence: children who practise at home often start to participate more in school lessons.

A Learning Path for Expat Kids

1. Reading foundation: letters, sounds and joining, with the Noor Al-Bayan course.
2. Vocabulary and simple sentences: everyday words for home, school, food, family and numbers.
3. Listening and speaking: short conversations about daily life.
4. Reading short texts: building speed and understanding.
5. Writing: copying, then writing short sentences.

Our Arabic for kids course follows this path from 6 years old.

A Weekly Plan That Works in the UAE

The UAE time is 2 hours ahead of Cairo in winter and 1 hour ahead in summer, so after-school classes fall at normal daytime hours for teachers. Classes run 24/7. A common pattern:

Signs Your Child Needs Extra Arabic Support

• Homework in Arabic takes much longer than other subjects, or a parent has to do it.
• Your child reads very slowly, or guesses words from the first letter.
• They understand individual words but not short sentences.
• Arabic marks on school reports are falling, or the teacher has raised concerns.
• Your child says they “hate Arabic” or avoids it.

A First Month for a Child in Grade 4

1. Week 1: a level check: which letters, sounds and words the child already knows.
2. Week 2: fixing the letters and joins that slow reading down.
3. Week 3: vocabulary from the current school unit, with short spoken sentences.
4. Week 4: reading a short text aloud, answering simple questions, and the first monthly progress report.

Arabic and Quran Together

Muslim expat families often want their children to read the Quran as well as pass school Arabic. The two support each other: Arabic reading skills make Quran reading easier, and Quran recitation trains pronunciation. Some families split the week, for example two Arabic classes and two Quran classes on the 16-class plan. See our Quran classes for kids and Tajweed for children.

Tips for Parents Who Do Not Speak Arabic

• Ask the teacher for a short list of the week’s new words and put it on the fridge.
• Let your child teach you a word or two after each class.
• Use Arabic in everyday life in the UAE: signs, shop names and menus are good practice.
• Keep the same class times every week, including during school holidays if you are in the country.
• Read the monthly progress report together with your child.

Prices

• $5 per 30-minute one-to-one class.
• $40 a month for 8 classes, or $80 for 16.
• 20% off annual plans; a 10% family discount for siblings.
• A free trial class with no payment.

Payment is by PayPal, Visa, Mastercard or bank transfer. All teachers are certified from Al-Azhar University. Elbayan Academy is an independent online academy based in Cairo and is not a school or exam provider.

For Quran classes too, read online Quran classes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for busy families.

Arab family living in Turkey? Read online Quran and Arabic classes in Turkey.

Living in Qatar? Read online Quran and Arabic classes in Qatar.

Start with a Free Trial Class

Elbayan Academy teaches one-to-one, 30-minute online classes with certified teachers from Al-Azhar University, each holding an Ijazah with a connected Sanad. Female teachers are available, classes run 24/7, and you receive a monthly progress report. Plans are $40 a month for 8 classes or $80 for 16. Book a free trial class on WhatsApp.

Keep Reading

Online Quran Classes in Switzerland and Austria for Families3 min read →How to Teach Seerah to Kids: Age-by-Age Tips4 min read →Online Quran and Arabic Classes in Jordan for Expats and International School Kids3 min read →