Arabic Translation Services

If you have Arabic-speaking clients, customers, or employees, you will need Arabic translation services in order to reach them in their own language. With over 220 million people living in 20-plus Arabic-speaking countries, Arabic is the 4th most widely spoken language in the world. Although many Arabic speakers have some facility with English, Web sites, software, and documentation should all be translated into Arabic for best results in the Arabic-speaking markets.

Arabic software translation
Arabic document translation
Arabic Web site translation

Arabic translation is just one part of a larger process known as Arabic globalization. Arabic globalization is the process of adapting your products (software, documentation, and Web sites) functionally, linguistically, and culturally for Arabic speakers worldwide.

Web sites
Research by IDC has shown that customers are four times as likely to buy if Web site content is presented in their language. Arabic translation services for Web sites range from simple (such as a straight HTML-based Arabic Web site) to complex (such as a dynamic, database-driven Arabic web application). Your Web site translation company should have the capability to translate text from source files such as HTML/XML, applets, database exports, CGI scripts, Java scripts, graphic files, ASP files, or FLASH files.

Software
Arabic software translation services, more appropriately called “localization” services, are needed to create an authentic Arabic software user experience. Online help, menu commands, and installation instructions should be fully translated into Arabic. Your software translation company should have the capability to deal with programming, scripting, and mark-up languages such as Java, VB and ASP, XML and ASP, C/C++, and Visual Basic.

Documentation
Arabic document translation refers to the translation of printed materials such as books, user guides, promotional brochures, and financial information. Different industries generate different kinds of documents such as instruction manuals, packaging, and marketing materials, all of which must be linguistically and aesthetically consistent with the original. Common layout applications include QuarkXpress, FrameMaker, Word, and InDesign, while graphics are often created and edited in Illustrator or PhotoShop.

For more information on Translation Services, please see our Quick Facts Library or follow one of the links listed above.