How to wish someone a Happy New Year in Arabic

As we get closer to New Year's Eve, it's time for a refresher on seasonal greetings you can deliver personally, through text messages or e-cards.

Fortunately, the Arabic language is rich and varied enough to encompass diverse phrases focusing on everything from good cheer to family and business dealings. These expressions also provide insight into the character of the region, where spirituality and family are at the core of everyday life.

Here are seven Arabic greetings you can use to wish someone a Happy New Year.

1. Kullu aa’min wa antum bikhair

Translated to “wishing you blessings throughout the year,” “kullu aa’min wa antum bikhair” is the most common phrase used when the clock ticks past midnight. The reply here is “wa antum bikhair”, which means “may you also be blessed”.

2. Kol sana wa anta tayeb

You don’t get a more Egyptian salutation than this.

Essentially meaning: “happy birthday to you,” the term is wonderfully malleable and can be used in most instances when you want to congratulate or wish someone all the best. Like many Arabic greetings, the reply is often repeating the last two words of the saying. In this case, it's “wa enta tayeb”, which basically means “and to you as well”.

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3. Sana helwa

Meaning “sweet year”, it is a favourite Egyptian phrase adaptable to many occasions.

The word helwa, meaning sweet, or its variant helou, is used to express pleasant and happy emotions. Since it's a greeting that doesn't have classical Arabic or religious connotations, it is viewed as one of the more casual greetings that can also be used to commemorate birthdays or anniversaries.

4. Ahlan bil sana al jadeeda

Rooted in the Arab world's vaunted tradition of hospitality, the expression literally translates to “welcome to the new year”. It also begins with ahlan, one of the most common everyday Arabic salutations, which derives from the root word ahl, meaning family. Altogether, it's a family-friendly welcome befitting the communal nature of the celebrations.

5. Sanat khair wa barakat

A lilting greeting with subtle spiritual dimensions, it translates to “a year of goodness and blessings”. The key words here are khair (goodness), an expansive term covering all aspects of life, and barakat, which hopes you are bestowed with divinely inspired favours and spiritual growth.

6. Ayyamukum sa'eeda

Short and sweet, this is a warm and welcome meaning, “May your days be happy.” While often heard during Eid, it is versatile enough to be used in most festive social gatherings, such as New Year’s Eve, birthdays and weddings.

7. Ya rab tkoun sanat khair

Meaning, “Oh Lord, may it be a year of goodness,” this is a heartfelt greeting fit for our challenging times. Also functioning as an emotive prayer, it is a weighty salutation that ultimately hopes for not just a better year, but one where we are also mindful enough to understand its blessings. A classic reply would simply be “insha'Allah,” meaning “if God wishes”.

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10 tips for entry-level job seekers

Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

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