Dubai gets ready to handle French-speaking visitors

Dubai - The first batch of 12 officers and staff from the GDRFA-Dubai received their diplomas on Monday after undergoing an intensive three-month training.

Immigration officers at Dubai airports have been undergoing French language training in preparation for the huge influx of foreigners expected for the World Expo 2020. And they are harnessing their language skills to speak beyond the usual "Bonjour/ bonsoir, bienvenue! Passeport s'il vous plait."
The first batch of 12 officers and staff from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai received their diplomas on Monday after undergoing an intensive three-month (100-hour) training conducted by Alliance Française Dubai.
Bernard Frontero, director of Alliance Française Dubai, told Khaleej Times: "The immigration staff will be the first who is going to face the French-speaking visitors when they arrive in Dubai.
"It will make them more comfortable and happy if they are welcomed by someone who can talk to them in French. The training was held for three months (three hours of session per day; three times a week for a total of 11 weeks).
The immigration officers were given situations related to their daily jobs - like introducing themselves in a professional manner, dealing with arrival and departure procedures and being able to hand out information, services and directions at the airport."
"The conversation can go beyond the usual 'hi and hello' as the officers can also explain to the visitors some basic information about Dubai in French. It will ease the flow of tourists at the airport," added director of Alliance Française Dubai.
The World Expo 2020 is expected to receive a host of visitors from France, North Africa and Canada. According to Frontero, French is ranked as the sixth most widely spoken language in the world (after Chinese, English, Hindi, Spanish and Arabic). French is also one of the working languages of the United Nations alongside English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese.
Zaineb Saleh, one the graduates, said she feels proud and confident that she will be able to handle French-speaking visitors. "Some visitors may not be able to speak in English but that will not be a problem as we can talk to them in French," Saleh said.
Mohammed Khamis said it was not hard to learn French especially if someone can speak English. "It was fun learning another language and on a personal level I'm planning to take advance French lesson here or outside the country," he told Khaleej Times.
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• Dubai