The official national language in Abu Dhabi is Arabic, spoken widely among the native Arab community. The high concentration of expatriates from the Indian subcontinent has made Hindi, Urdu and several other languages from the region like Malayalam also fairly common.

English of course is the unofficial official language, even though Arabic is the official business language. Most of the official documentation is in Arabic, and some applications like educational and marriage certificates are accepted in this language only.

Road signs, street names and other public signages are always displayed in both Arabic and English. Berlitz UAE offers courses in a number of languages at its Abu Dhabi centre, including Arabic and English and is located at:

Zayed the First Street Bin Haiyai Bldg.
P.O.Box: 41720 Abu Dhabi
Tel.: +971 (2)6672287
Fax: +971 (2) 6672289
E-mail: berlitz@emirates.net.ae

The Arabic Language Center, 'The Mother Tongue' specializes in the teaching of the language to non-native speakers, and can be contacted at:

Zayed 1st., M 2, Bin Fardan Building, Khalidaya
P.O. Box : 108566 Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel.: +971 2 639 3838
Fax: +971 2 639 3855
Email:admin@mothertongue.ae

As for children's education in Abu Dhabi, there is a wide choice of international schools. Expat communities from Europe, Australia, US, Indian and a host of others have established schools in Abu Dhabi which generally follow the curriculum followed in their home country, along with the internationally recognised GCSEs, A-levels, French and International Baccalaureate.

Some of the schools in Abu Dhabi:

The Abu Dhabi International Private School
P. O. Box 25898
Abu Dhabi
Tel: 971 2 4434 433
Fax: 971 2 4436 052
http://www.ais.sch.ae

The British School – Al Khubairat
Airport Road
Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 4462280
Fax: +971 2 4461915
http://www.britishschool.sch.ae

American International School
29th Street, Airport Road
P.O.Box: 5992, Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 4444-333
Fax +971 2 4444-005
Email aisa@emirates.net
http://www.aisa.sch.ae

Raha International School
Al Raha Gardens Development
Khalifa City 'A'
Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 556 1567
Fax: +971 2 556 1568
http://www.taaleem.ae

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