Omani Arabic

Omani Arabic (Arabic: اللهجة العمانية, romanized: al-Lahjah al-ʻUmānīyah; also known as Omani Hadari Arabic) is a variety of Arabic spoken in the Al Hajar Mountains of Oman and in a few neighboring coastal regions. It is the easternmost traditional Arabic dialect. It was formerly spoken by colonists in Kenya and Tanzania, but these days, it mainly remains spoken on the island of Zanzibar.

It is also spoken in parts of East Africa, especially in Zanzibar, due to Oman’s historical presence there. Omani Arabic is considered a variety of Gulf Arabic but includes unique features in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar that set it apart from other regional dialects. It varies between rural and urban speakers, and across different regions of Oman. The dialect is used mainly in informal settings, while Modern Standard Arabic is used in schools, media, and official contexts.