Are you someone who recently shifted to the UAE? Are you also struggling to pronounce the name of the Emirates correctly? Well, we all have been there! As an outsider who hears ‘Dubai’ in multiple accents, it’s easy to get confused about what the right pronunciation is for the UAE Emirates. So if you’re looking to sound like a local, here’s what I’d suggest.
Calling Dubai ‘Duh-bai’? This Funny Video Shares The ‘Correct’ UAE Pronunciations
In a recent post by Instagram real estate influencer Investwithar, a.k.a. Abdul Rahman, we are pronouncing the names of the Emirates of the UAE completely wrong.
The video started with the classic Dubai!
The short clip, titled “The Correct Pronunciation of UAE Emirates”, takes a humorous approach to the way people pronounce names such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. And if you have been confidently saying these names your usual way, the video might make you question everything for a few seconds.
Dubai Or ‘Dbai’?
The video starts le Dubai, with the speaker jokingly suggesting that the city should be pronounced “Dbai” rather than how many English speakers commonly say it.
He then moves on to Abu Dhabi, joking that it is pronounced “Bu Dhabi”. The joke continues with the line, “Who’s Dhabi?”, turning the familiar city name into a playful conversation.
Of course, the video is intended for entertainment rather than as a serious language lesson. The clip itself carries a disclaimer stating that it is made purely for fun and entertainment.
What About Ajman?
Next comes Ajman, with the video suggesting pronunciations such as “Eiman” or “Ajman”.
The speaker then takes the joke a step further, saying that if someone were to walk into Ajman and pronounce the city name as “Achman”, locals might not be particularly impressed.
The playful warning? “They will kick you out of Ajman.”
It is clearly exaggerated for comic effect, but it captures the way small differences in pronunciation can become a fun talking point for residents and visitors.
Also Read: This Dubai Restaurant Is Hosting A South Indian Food Festival Where Food Arrives In Drums!
Umm Al Quwain Gets A Pronunciation Makeover
The final stop is Umm Al Quwain, one of the UAE’s seven emirates. According to the video, the name is pronounced “Umm Al Ghiwain”, offering viewers another pronunciation to add to their vocabulary.
While the clip is not presenting an official pronunciation guide, its humour lies in taking familiar UAE place names and giving them a playful spin. For residents, long-time expats and anyone who has ever wondered whether they are saying a UAE city correctly, it is an amusing reminder that local pronunciation can sometimes sound quite different from the English version people are used to.
So, are you saying Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain correctly? After watching this video, you might want to think twice before confidently saying them out loud.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/kamranaydinov, Suradin from Getty Images