Arabic Localization

Arabic-speaking customers will only search for, find, and read your content if you have completed a thorough Arabic localization of your content. Arabic localization includes the process of adapting the language, appearance, and functionality of a product and/or website for Arabic-speaking markets.

When preparing for an Arabic localization project, you should choose your translation agency carefully. The Arabic language presents a variety of unique challenges to Arabic-speaking localization professionals. Compared to other languages, there is a smaller pool of qualified, Arabic-speaking linguists to choose from in certain market sectors. The Arabic language also has fewer instances of standardized technical terminology. You will find many of these issues covered in two of our previous localization blog posts,  Arabic Translation and Localization Challenges and  Arabic SEO and Localization.

The only way to ensure Arabic consumer receptivity to your localized Arabic software, Arabic website, or Arabic documentation is to work with a qualified translation company that has extensive experience in the Arabic region. Your Arabic language service provider should employ teams of native Arabic-speaking localization specialists who understand how to detect and resolve the many potential Arabic localization challenges.

The following table summarizes some common Arabic localization issues:

Arabic Internationalization

Arabic Internationalization (I18n) can be defined as the process of enabling back-end technologies to function or support the Arabic language and the locales in which it is used. In contrast, localization deals primarily with front-end or linguistic and cosmetic aspects of an Arabic-language software application or Website; this includes locale-specific content, cultural correctness, translations, and design.

Some of the reasons for internationalization are to ensure that your Arabic-language application or Web site:

• Supports non-English characters and the bidirectional (right-to-left) writing system used in Arabic.
• Handles the different address, time, date, and numerical formats used in Arabic.
• Sorts based on Arabic language rules.
• Allows the externalization of all translatable text strings (i.e., separating text from code).

The process of Arabic internationalization may include the following four steps:

1. Discovery - Includes the preparation of an Arabic internationalization kit and an analysis of the current internationalization readiness of the source Website or software application.
2. Assessment - Includes review and analysis of the following:
   • Source architecture and source code of Website or software application.
   • Global marketing plans and requirements.
   • Design, development and build processes.
   • Current I18N and localization strategies.
3. Implementation - Includes the following:
   • Externalizing text strings for ease of localization.
   • Resolving any currency, time, date, or numbers issues.
   • If necessary, enabling double-byte characters or bidirectional writing.
   • Creating an I18n-friendly build methodology.
   • Preparing an I18n test plan.
   • Preparing a localization kit.
   • Carrying out training on I18n.
   • Introduction of I18n tools and any required tool training.
4. Testing - Includes client-driven I18n and DBCS-enablement testing, bug reporting/fixing and regression testing.

For information on the Arabic Language and Arabic Translation, please see our Arabic Language Library.

You may also check out our Arabic website for complete information about our translation services in Arabic Language:

• Arabization
• Arabic Translation Services