Arabic Workplace Vocabulary: Jobs, Meetings and Everyday Office Language

Working in or with Arabic-speaking countries means meeting a distinct set of vocabulary. This selection covers the words you'll see most often in job adverts, contracts and meetings.

Workplace basics

• عمل ('amal) — work
• وظيفة (wazifa) — job, post
• شركة (sharika) — company
• مكتب (maktab) — office, desk
• مدير (mudir) — manager, director
• موظف (muwazzaf) — employee
• زميل (zamil) — colleague
• عميل ('amil) — client
• فريق (fariq) — team

Hiring and contracts

• مقابلة (muqabala) — interview
• سيرة ذاتية (sira dhatiya) — CV or résumé
• عقد ('aqd) — contract
• راتب (ratib) — salary
• إجازة (ijaza) — leave, holiday
• تأمين (ta'min) — insurance
• تجربة (tajriba) — trial, experience

Meetings and communication

• اجتماع (ijtima') — meeting
• جدول أعمال (jadwal a'mal) — agenda
• بريد إلكتروني (barid iliktruni) — email
• تقرير (taqrir) — report
• عرض تقديمي ('ard taqdimi) — presentation
• موعد (maw'id) — appointment or deadline
• مشروع (mashru') — project

Finance and admin

• فاتورة (fatura) — invoice
• ميزانية (mizaniya) — budget
• دفع (daf') — payment
• توقيع (tawqi') — signature
• ختم (khatm) — stamp, seal

Useful phrases

• متى موعد الاجتماع؟ (mata maw'id al-ijtima'?) — When is the meeting?
• هل يمكنك إرسال التقرير؟ (hal yumkinuka irsal at-taqrir?) — Can you send the report?
• أنا أعمل في شركة… (ana a'mal fi sharika…) — I work at a company…

Working week

The weekend varies across the region, with some countries observing Friday and Saturday and others different combinations. Check the working days and public holidays before scheduling meetings, particularly around Ramadan and Eid, when hours are often shorter.

Etiquette

Business relationships in many Arab countries often begin with personal conversation before business. Greetings, asking about family and drinking coffee or tea are part of building trust. Rushing straight to the agenda may feel abrupt.