Learn French in Dubai
Dubai sits in the country with the largest French community in the Gulf, and French schools, shops and businesses are part of daily life in several neighbourhoods. Many residents also come from countries where French is widely used, from Lebanon to Morocco.
French in Dubai
Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates and English is the everyday working language for most of Dubai, but French has a visible presence. According to the French foreign ministry, over 26,000 French nationals are registered with the consulate in the UAE, out of an estimated 35,000 French residents, the largest French community in the Gulf. The same source counts seven accredited French lycées in the country with around 11,000 pupils. In Dubai these include the Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou, with campuses in Oud Metha and Dubai Academic City. The UAE became an observer of the International Organisation of La Francophonie in 2018. Next door in Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Abu Dhabi opened in 2017 and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi has taught there since 2006.
Why people in Dubai learn French
Dubai residents learn French for reasons that reflect the city's mix of people. Families with children at a French lycée want to keep up with school life. Professionals in trade, logistics, hospitality and luxury retail deal with clients from France, Belgium, Switzerland and North and West Africa, where French is a common business language. Others are preparing to move to Canada, where a TEF or TCF Canada result is part of many immigration applications, and Alliance Française Dubai runs both tests. Some simply want to talk with French-speaking colleagues and neighbours in their own language. For Arabic speakers, French also opens up the Maghreb and Lebanon.
The French you'll hear
In Dubai you will hear French from France, but also Lebanese, Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian, Belgian, Swiss and West African speakers, each with a different accent. Standard French as taught in France is the best base, because it is what the lycées and the DELF use and every francophone here understands it. Listening practice with several accents helps a lot. Lebanese and North African speakers often move between Arabic and French in one conversation, so do not be surprised to hear an Arabic greeting followed by a full sentence in French.
- Je travaille dans le commerce international.I work in international trade.
- On peut faire la réunion en français ?Can we hold the meeting in French?
- Ma fille est au lycée français.My daughter is at the French lycée.
- Je passe le TEF Canada le mois prochain.I am taking the TEF Canada next month.
- Vous êtes d'où, au Liban ?Where are you from in Lebanon?
French exams in Dubai
Alliance Française Dubai describes itself on its website as the only centre in the UAE acknowledged to deliver official French language certifications. It offers the DELF and DALF for adults, DELF Prim for children, and the TEF and TCF Canada tests used for Canadian and Québec immigration. Sessions follow a published exam calendar, so check its site for the next dates before you plan your preparation.
Check dates and fees with the exam centre directly; they change every session.
Where to start in the course
French Ultimate is an online course, so you can follow it from Dubai or anywhere else. These topics are the most useful here:
Questions about learning French in Dubai
Do I need French for Canadian immigration from Dubai?
French is not required, but a good TEF Canada or TCF Canada result can add points to an application, and some Québec programmes expect French. Both tests are offered at Alliance Française Dubai. Check the current rules on the Government of Canada and Québec sites, as they change. French Ultimate can help you build the level, but it does not run these tests.
Will French from France help me with Lebanese or Moroccan colleagues?
Yes. Lebanese and Moroccan speakers in Dubai use standard French at work and understand the French of France without difficulty. Their accents and some expressions differ, so listen to varied speakers once you reach A2. French Ultimate's unit on French around the world introduces these differences without changing the grammar you learn.
Is French Ultimate connected to a French school in Dubai?
No. French Ultimate is an online course only, with no school, teachers, partners or events in Dubai or anywhere else in the UAE. Parents often use it to follow their children's French homework, and adults use it to prepare for exams taken at Alliance Française Dubai.
Learn French from Dubai, at your own pace
Animated video lessons that stop for your answers, speaking practice, graded stories and DELF/DALF mock exams, from A1 to C2. Start with the free placement test to see where you are.
Take the placement test