How do you write emails and formal letters in Arabic?

Writing formal letters and emails in Arabic is not difficult. Here are some sentences and expressions for the salutation (المخاطبة) and examples of opening sentences.

Last updated: 2 months

Writing letters or emails in Arabic is actually not that difficult. Once you have started writing letters or emails, you will get used to the standard phrases pretty quickly. Never forget the most important rule: try to be polite!

This is part 1 of the series How do you write emails and formal letters in Arabic? (Here is part 2.)

Writing letters and email in Arabic – address and salutation Hide
  1. Address
  2. Salutation
  3. Phrases to start the letter

Address

Okay, this is very traditional. But maybe you still have to send a written letter.

صندوق بريد
P.O. box
(Postfach) 1234
يصل ويسلم ليد السيد بركات
For the attention of Mr. Barakat
Zu Händen von Herrn Barakat

Salutation

The proper and respectful greeting is very important in Arab culture.

السادة المحترمون جدًا
Dear gentlemen
Sehr geehrte Herren
السيدات المحترمات والسادة المحترمون
Dear ladies and gentlemen
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren
السيد سالم المحترم جدًا
Dear Mr. Salem
Sehr geehrter Herr Salem
السيد الدكتور سالم المحترم
Dear Dr. Salem
Sehr geehrter Herr Dr. Salem
أمي الحبيبة
Dear Mother
Liebe Mama
عزيزي حسن
Dear Hassan
Lieber Hassan
عزيزتي فاطمة
Dear Fatima
Liebe Fatima
فضيلة الشيخ
Esteemed Sheikh
Geschätzter Scheich
حضرة القاضي
Your Honor
Herr Vorsitzender (Anrede eines Richters)

Phrases to start the letter

Here are some example that may be useful if you have to write a letter or an email.

نحن نشكركم على المعلومات التي نهتم بمعرفتها
We thank you for your information which we found interesting.
Wir danken Ihnen für Ihre Informationen, die wir mit Interesse zur Kenntnis genommen haben.
.نحن نشكركم على طلبكم 7 أغسطس
We thank you for your order dated 7th August.
Wir danken Ihnen für Ihre Bestellung vom 7. August.
.شكرًا جزيلا على العرض الذي قدمتموه يوم 15 أغسطس
Thank you very much for your offer dated 15th August.
Herzlichen Dank für Ihr Angebot vom 15. August.
.ردًا على خطابكم, أرسل لكم
In response to your letter I hereby send…
In Antwort auf Ihren Brief sende ich Ihnen…
.نود أن نجيب عن استفساركم بشأن
We are happy to respond to your inquiry regarding…
Wir beantworten gerne Ihre Anfrage bezüglich…
نظرًا لعدم وجود عنوان للاتصال بالمكان المطلوب, فإني ﻷرجوكم أن تبعثوا بهذا الخطاب إلى الجهة المختصة
In the absence of a contact address, I turn to you with a request to forward this letter to the right place.
Mangels einer Kontaktadresse wende ich mich an Sie mit der Bitte, diesen Brief an die richtige Stelle weiterzuleiten.
:أنا أود أن أحجز لديكم كما يلي
I would like to make the following reservation:
Ich möchte bei Ihnen Folgendes reservieren:
برجاء إبلاغنا بسعر 3 غرف مزدوجة بالحمام/التواليت وبالفطور في الفترة من 5-8 أغسطس
Please tell us the rate for 3 double rooms with bathroom/WC, breakfast included, for the period of 5th to 8th August.
Bitte teilen Sie uns den Preis für 3 Doppelzimmer mit Bad/WC und Frühstück für die Zeit vom 5. bis 8. August mit.
.نحن نتقدم بالشكر الجزيل على مكالمتكم
We thank you for your call.
Wir danken Ihnen für Ihren Anruf.
بالإشارة إلى خطابكم المؤرخ 4 أغسطس لهذا العام يؤسفنا أن نبلغ حضرتك أننا لا نستطيع
Concerning your letter dated 4th August 2018, we are very sorry to inform you that we are not able to…
Mit Bezug auf Ihr Schreiben vom 4. August dieses Jahres müssen wir Ihnen leider mitteilen, dass wir nicht in der Lage sind…
إنه يؤسفني أن أشكو لسيادتكم سوء الخدمة في فندقكم والذي نعرضت له خلال فترة إقامتي الأخيرة لديكم
Unfortunately, I have to complain about the poor service of your hotel during out last stay.
Leider muss ich mich über den schlechten Service Ihres Hotels während unseres letzten Aufenthalts beschweren.

Now, how should we finish a formal letter? Check out part two!

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Sara
Sara
3 years ago

Amazing, please try also to give tutorials and write a book on formal Arabic letters

T
T
4 years ago

Whoaaa nice! You also got them in German.

Badrul Aini Shaari
Badrul Aini Shaari
6 years ago

In the future, I would like to suggest you to write a book on writing skills in Arabic, especially on the stylistics, and the common terms and expression usage.

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