Sunnah way of making dua

Walekumussalam warahmatullahi wabaraktuh,

The Sunnah method of making dua can be summarized as follows:

Begin by praising and glorifying Allah, for example, by saying Alhamdulillah.

Then send blessings (Durood) upon the Prophet ﷺ.

After that, ask Allah for your needs, with humility and certainty.

It is also Sunnah to ask Allah through His beautiful names.

Finally, send Durood upon the Prophet ﷺ again.

It is narrated from Fadalah ibn Ubayd (رضي الله عنه) that the Prophet ﷺ heard a man making dua. He neither praised Allah nor sent blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ said that this man had been hasty. He then said that when one of you makes dua, he should first praise and glorify Allah, then send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, and then ask for whatever he wishes.

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1481; Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3477)

Similarly, facing the Qiblah, raising the hands, and showing humility are among the etiquettes of dua. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Indeed, Allah is Shy and Generous. When His servant raises his hands to Him, He is shy to return them empty.”

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1488; Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3556)

And remember: It is not necessary to make dua only in Arabic. Outside of salah, you may ask Allah for your needs in your own language as well.

And Allah knows best.