Arabic and English, both done properly.
A second language is more than a translated copy of the first. Here is what a bilingual Gulf site involves, what it costs, and how we handle it.
Six things a
bilingual site needs.
Right-to-left layout
Arabic reads right to left, so menus, icons, forms and arrows flip too. The layout is built for both directions, not patched afterwards.
Real translation
A professional translator writes the Arabic, and your team checks it. Machine translation is fine for a first draft, never for a live page.
Arabic type that reads well
Arabic needs its own font, line height and sizes. A Latin font with Arabic fallback looks broken on a phone.
Separate addresses for each language
Each language gets its own web address, so Google can show the Arabic page to Arabic searchers and the English page to everyone else.
Search in both languages
People search differently in Arabic. Page titles and descriptions are written for each language, not translated word for word.
Forms and WhatsApp in both
Enquiry forms, error messages, emails and the WhatsApp message all need an Arabic version, or the customer drops back into English halfway.
How we quote it.
One written figure for both languages, before you pay.
The English site uses the Gulf price list: Starter AED 2,500, Business AED 4,900, Growth AED 8,900 and online shops from AED 6,900.
The Arabic version is quoted on top. The figure depends on the number of pages, how many words you have, and whether you use your own translator or we bring one in. A small Starter site in two languages costs much less than a 1,000-product shop in two languages, so we do not publish one number for every case.
If you are not sure you need Arabic yet, launch in English and add Arabic later. The site is built so a second language can be added without starting again.
Arabic, honestly.
How much does the Arabic version cost?
It is quoted separately, on top of the English site, because it depends on how many pages and words you have and who translates them. The English site starts at AED 2,500. We give you one written figure for both before you pay.
Who writes the Arabic?
A professional translator, either one you already use or one we bring in and name in the quote. Your team checks the Arabic before launch. We do not put machine-translated Arabic on a live site.
Do I need Arabic at all?
It depends on who buys from you. Many UAE and Qatar businesses that sell to expats or to other companies launch in English first. If you sell to Saudi households, or to customers who search in Arabic, plan Arabic from the start.
Can I add Arabic later?
Yes. We build English sites so a second language can be added without a rebuild. The only cost of waiting is that your Arabic pages start building search history later.
Have you published a bilingual Arabic site before?
Not yet. Our Gulf project so far, Street 55 in Qatar, is in English. We have built multilingual sites, including Electonyx, a Sri Lankan shop with English, Sinhala and Tamil. We would rather tell you that than have you assume otherwise.
Related
- Web design for Gulf businesses
- Online shops for Gulf businesses
- Web design in Riyadh, where Arabic matters most
- Contact form
Let's talk about
your website.
The call is free.
30 minutes on a video call with the founder. We learn the business, you decide if we're the right team. Decide nothing else on the call.