For most GCC products, supporting Arabic isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s the difference between an app that feels local and one that feels imported.
RTL is a layout decision, not a text one
Arabic reads right-to-left, so the entire interface should mirror: navigation, icons, back buttons, sliders and alignment all flip. Done well, an Arabic user feels the app was built for them.
Localisation > translation
- Numbers, dates and currency formatted the way locals expect.
- Tone and phrasing that read naturally in Arabic, not literal translations.
- Typography — Arabic type needs its own care for line height and legibility.
- Imagery and examples that feel regionally relevant.
Build it in from the start
The cheapest time to add Arabic is the beginning. Retrofitting RTL into an English-only app is slow and error-prone. We build language switching and full RTL support into the foundation — as we did on healthcare and commerce products serving Gulf users in both languages. Let’s build it bilingual from day one.