أهلا بك في بيتنا

You say this the moment someone crosses your threshold. It is very flexible. You can say it to a close friend or a new neighbor. Just remember to change the ending for the person you are talking to. Use bika for a man and biki for a woman. If a whole family shows up, use bikum. It is like a verbal 'Welcome' mat that actually means it.

Use it whenever you host someone. It is perfect for dinner parties or casual coffee hangouts. If a friend stops by to drop something off, say it. If your boss comes over for a formal visit, say it too. It works beautifully when showing someone around your new apartment. It makes the space feel lived-in and friendly immediately.

Don't use this in a public place like a park. It sounds a bit weird if you don't actually own the space. Avoid using it in a strictly professional office unless you are the owner. If you are a guest yourself, definitely don't say it to other guests! That would be like trying to host someone else's party. Stick to your own four walls for this one.

Arab culture is world-famous for hospitality, or Karam. There is an old saying that a guest is a 'guest of God.' This means you treat anyone who enters your home like royalty. This phrase is the first step in that tradition. Often, people will follow it with Al-bayt baytak, which means 'the house is your house.' It is all about making people feel like they belong.

You will often hear أهلا وسهلا (Ahlan wa Sahlan) alongside this. It is the most common way to say welcome. Another variation is نورت البيت (Nawwart al-bayt), which means 'you have lit up the house.' If you want to be extra fancy, you can say أهلا بك في بيتنا المتواضع. This means 'welcome to our humble home.' It is a classic way to show modesty even if your house is amazing.