What Language Do They Speak in Saudi Arabia?
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries worldwide.
Learn some Arabic before you go
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Arabic Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.
Languages of Saudi Arabia at a glance
| Official language | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Number of official languages | 1 |
| Countries on this site where Arabic is official | 25 |
| People (demonym) | Saudi Arabian |
| Capital | Riyadh |
| Internet domain | .sa |
Other countries where Arabic is official
Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries covered here:
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Chad
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Languages of neighbouring countries
| Iraq | Arabic, Aramaic, Sorani |
|---|---|
| Jordan | Arabic |
| Kuwait | Arabic |
| Oman | Arabic |
| Qatar | Arabic |
| United Arab Emirates | Arabic |
| Yemen | Arabic |
Saudi Arabia in context
- Saudi Arabia covers 2,149,690 kmยฒ, making it the 12th largest of the 196 countries on this site.
- Its population density of about 16 people per kmยฒ ranks 177th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
- It shares a land border with 7 countries: Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
- With 35,300,280 people, Saudi Arabia holds about 11.7% of the population of Western Asia.
- Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Sunday.
- Saudi Arabia is a member state of the United Nations.
Compare Saudi Arabia
Useful phrases for visitors to Saudi Arabia
Everyday Arabic phrases you will hear and use in Saudi Arabia:
| English | Arabic |
|---|---|
| Hello | ู ุฑุญุจุง (marhaba) |
| Thank you | ุดูุฑุง (shukran) |
| Please | ู ู ูุถูู (min fadlak) |
| Goodbye | ู ุน ุงูุณูุงู ุฉ (ma'a as-salama) |
| Yes | ูุนู (na'am) |
| No | ูุง (la) |
Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.
Languages in Saudi Arabia โ FAQ
What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?
The official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic.
How many official languages does Saudi Arabia have?
Saudi Arabia has 1 official language: Arabic.
Is Arabic spoken anywhere else?
Arabic is also an official language in 24 other countries.
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