Amazon brings Alexa, compatible with English and Arabic, to the UAE

Amazon has confirmed that Alexa, the cloud-based voice service that powers the company’s Echo devices, is coming to the UAE.

It will offer customers localised language experience in Khaleeji Arabic as well as in English.

Echo devices are voice-controlled speakers while Alexa runs in the cloud. Alexa can, for example, answer questions, play music, read the news, recite the Quran, set timers and alarms, provide sports scores, among other things.

Echo devices can also be used to control lights at home, to switch on a lamp or dim the lights. Its home security feature, Ring, integrates cameras, video doorbells, and alarm systems to help secure homes. Alexa also works with other compatible smart home devices such as smart lights and plugs from brands including Philips Hue, Xiaomi, TP-Link, among others.

In the UAE, Alexa’s services include interacting verbally in local pronunciations and intonations.

Alexa is here, and she is speaking Khaleeji! Amazon is excited to announce that Alexa is now available to customers in the UAE in the Arabic language, and she understands you – in your local Emirati dialect! ??#AskAlexa@Alexa99 pic.twitter.com/9EhEefa4lm

— Amazon AE (@AmazonAE) December 7, 2021

“We’re incredibly excited to bring Alexa and the Echo family of devices to the UAE,” said Tom Taylor, senior vice president, Amazon Alexa. “The team has worked hard to create an all-new Khaleeji Arabic experience designed from the ground up for Arabic-speaking customers and to optimise the Alexa experience in English for English-speakers to enjoy.”

At launch, customers will be able to enjoy nearly 200 skills available in the UAE. They can, for example, learn all about Expo 2020, book a Careem ride, get recipes and cook along instructions with Fatafeat, or order food through Domino’s and even listen to an audiobook with the Storytel.

Manal Al Bayat, chief engagement officer at Dubai Expo 2020, added: “Not only is Alexa coming to the region with Arabic capabilities but Expo 2020 Dubai content is very much part of its introduction. It has been an amazing experience to work with Amazon on this, and to create new and inspiring ways of delivering Expo’s message to the world.”

Amazon has also collaborated with the likes of Anghami for the roll out of Alexa in the region. “We’re thrilled to team up with Alexa, providing customers with access to millions of international and Arabic songs and podcasts,” said Elie Habib, co-founder and CTO of Anghami.

The hands-free, voice-controlled Echo device with a built-in speaker, features a 3-inch woofer, dual-firing tweeters, and Dolby processing.

All Echo devices are designed with multiple layers of privacy protection, including physical microphone and camera controls. Customers can choose to delete their Alexa voice recordings in multiple ways, by voice or through the Alexa app or they can use the Alexa app to delete their voice recordings all at once, ot have their voice recordings automatically deleted after three or 18 months, or even choose not to have them saved at all.

At launch, customers will be able to enjoy nearly 200 skills available in the UAE. They can, for example, learn all about Expo 2020, book a Careem ride, get recipes and cook along instructions with Fatafeat, or order food through Domino’s and even listen to an audiobook with the Storytel.

Echo devices including Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Dot with clock, Echo Show 5, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 10 will start shipping on December 14.

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