Expanding into global markets requires more than just translation. For countries across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia, many languages are written from right to left (RTL), such as Arabic and Hebrew. These markets present significant business potential, but RTL languages introduce unique design and technical challenges that go beyond simple translation. Mess the formatting up and you’ll frustrate users. Get it right and you’ll create outstanding experiences.
What Languages Are Written from Right to Left?
Before you start localizing, you need to know which languages use RTL scripts. Here are the big ones:
Arabic: 422 million people speak Arabic across 22 countries. These include Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the UAE, and Morocco. You’ll see Modern Standard Arabic in newspapers and formal settings, but every region has its dialect. The Arabic-speaking market represents over $3.5 trillion in combined GDP. Gulf states are leading digital transformation initiatives.
E-commerce in the MENA region is projected to reach $57 billion by 2026. This growth is driven by mobile-first consumers and government digitalization programs. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s digital economy strategies create significant opportunities for localized digital products.
Hebrew: About 9 to 10 million speakers, mostly in Israel. Six million are native speakers. Here’s something intriguing: Hebrew was dead for 2,000 years before scholars brought it back to life in the 1800s. It’s the only language that’s ever been successfully revived.
Israel’s tech sector accounts for 20% of the country’s economic output and secured over $12 billion in funding in 2024. The country has 90% internet penetration and high mobile adoption rates. Israel leads in fintech, cybersecurity, and SaaS solutions. This makes Hebrew localization valuable for B2B technology companies.
Persian (Farsi): 130 million speakers across Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Iran’s got a young, tech-savvy population that’s driving digital growth. Iran’s 85 million population includes 64 million internet users. Mobile commerce is growing rapidly despite economic constraints. Afghanistan and Tajikistan represent emerging markets with increasing smartphone penetration and digital payment adoption.
Urdu: This is Pakistan’s national language, plus it’s big in parts of India. According to 2022 estimates by Ethnologue and The World Factbook, Urdu is spoken by 230 million total speakers worldwide. Pakistan’s digital economy is booming, making Urdu translation more valuable.
The country’s digital economy reached $4.6 billion in 2024. Fintech and e-commerce are leading this growth. The country has 111 million internet users. Rising smartphone adoption is particularly strong among the growing middle class.
You’ve also got Kurdish, Pashto, Sindhi, Aramaic, and Dhivehi (spoken in the Maldives). Each one brings its cultural quirks and technical challenges.
How to Localize Right-to-Left Languages
Adapting for RTL languages needs a systematic approach that tackles both language and technical challenges. Here are six expert tips for better results:
1. Design with RTL Support in Mind
Good RTL adaptation starts with planning during the initial design phase. Don’t treat RTL as an afterthought. Instead, include RTL considerations in your original design system and development framework.
Modern frameworks increasingly offer built-in RTL support, but the feature needs proper setup from the beginning. Use CSS logical properties instead of physical properties. Implement flexible grid systems that handle both directions. Consider how your information layout translates to RTL designs, as users scan content from right to left.
Understanding multilingual user interface principles helps ensure your design system accommodates different reading patterns and cultural expectations from the beginning.
2. Choose the Right Fonts and Typography
RTL typography needs careful consideration beyond simple font selection. Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and other RTL scripts have unique features affecting readability and user experience.
Select fonts specifically designed for RTL scripts that support proper character shaping, connections, and contextual forms. Arabic text requires fonts to handle connected letterforms correctly, as characters change shape depending on their position within words.
Consider text expansion rates when planning layouts. Arabic text typically requires 20 to 25% more space than English. Hebrew and Persian have different expansion patterns. Plan for these variations during the design phase to prevent layout breaks and cut-off text.
Font sizing also needs adjustment for RTL languages. Arabic and Hebrew lack uppercase letters and can appear smaller next to Latin text. Increase RTL font sizes by 1-2 points for buttons, labels, and titles to maintain visual balance and hierarchy.
3. Mirror Layouts While Preserving Functionality
Layout mirroring goes beyond simply flipping content from left to right. You need to understand which elements should be mirrored and which should stay in their original direction.
Mirror your navigation elements, page layouts, form layouts, and reading flow indicators. Key design elements include logo position, main navigation, sidebar placement, and content alignment. These elements must follow RTL conventions to create natural navigation patterns for RTL users.
But not everything should be mirrored. Media controls and real-world direction icons (north arrows and clocks) should keep their original direction. Scientific diagrams should also stay unchanged. Brand logos should also stay unchanged.
4. Adapt Visuals and Icons for RTL Layouts
Visual elements need thoughtful adaptation for RTL layouts. Images with direction cues, arrows, or implied movement need attention. They may need modification or replacement to align with RTL reading patterns.
Icons suggesting progression or direction should be horizontally flipped. Navigation icons, arrows, and hierarchy elements need RTL direction. But maintain the original direction for universally recognized symbols and culturally neutral icons.
Consider the visual weight and balance of your layouts in the RTL direction. Elements creating a strong directional pull in LTR designs may feel unbalanced when mirrored. Test your visual hierarchy to ensure it remains effective in RTL format.
Charts, graphs, and data visualizations need special attention. Adjust axes, data flow direction, and reading order to match RTL conventions while maintaining data accuracy and understanding.
5. Use Native Translators Familiar with RTL Languages
RTL languages go beyond the technical setup to language and cultural nuances. Only native speakers can properly address these details. Professional translators should understand both source and target cultures for quality results.
Native RTL translators understand mixed-direction text requirements and cultural context. They know regional variations within RTL languages. Arabic, for example, has significant regional differences across different countries and markets. A translator familiar with your target market ensures the use of appropriate dialect, terminology, and cultural references.
Professional RTL translators understand technical constraints and provide translations that work within your UI limitations while maintaining quality throughout the process.
6. Test RTL Content on Real Devices
Testing is essential for RTL localization. Test your content on smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers with different operating systems and browsers. RTL rendering varies across platforms.
Use native speakers in your testing process. They can spot issues that automated testing might miss, including cultural problems, unclear navigation, or awkward phrasing. Native testers make your content feel natural rather than mechanical.
Focus on form inputs, search functionality, and interactive elements. These components create difficulties in RTL layouts and need extra testing. Comprehensive testing across multiple devices and platforms ensures consistent RTL functionality. Test edge cases like mixed LTR and RTL content when users input names, URLs, or technical terms.
Conclusion
Effective adaptation requires understanding cultural context, user behavior, and script features beyond technical adjustments. These six tips create natural RTL experiences that maintain brand integrity. The outcome opens access to hundreds of millions of users and major economic opportunities. Companies see improved user engagement, conversion rates, and brand recognition.
Adaptation is an ongoing process, not a one-time project. Products need continued attention to design, development, and testing.
Proper RTL implementation shows respect for international users and positions your brand as globally minded. Such implementation establishes a competitive edge, given that many companies often overlook RTL.
At EC Innovations, we have extensive experience helping companies successfully navigate RTL localization challenges. We provide comprehensive localization services for Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, and other RTL languages. Our team includes native translators and technical experts who know what’s involved in creating authentic RTL experiences. Are you prepared to venture into RTL markets? Are you in the process of translating but seeking enhanced outcomes? Contact us, and we’ll show you how to reach Middle Eastern, North African, and other RTL-speaking audiences.
