Before you read this article, open your own website and just look at the home page. Firstly imagine what it might look like if translated into Arabic.
And remember, Arabic reads from right to left. Next, take a look at the content, and check whether it is appropriate for an Arabic reader. Look at the pictures and check whether they are culturally acceptable. Think about your target audience – are you mainly targeting your website at Arabic speakers living in the UK, or are you targeting your website at Arabic speakers based overseas in Arabic-speaking countries? If the latter, any text on your website referring to specific geographical locations in the UK will not really be relevant. You’ll need to localise the site to suit the target audience and their geographic location. Should your logo and any brand names be translated?
There are also some other basic considerations regarding the Arabic language. There are many terms in modern business that simply don’t exist in Arabic, or could be considered to be ambiguous. An example could be that Arabic makes no distinction between “administration” and “management”. Essentially you need an Arabic translator experienced in finding the best localisation solutions to ensure your message does not get lost in translation.
Need help?
If we can help you with your Arabic localisation or website translation project, do please get in touch.
