For a investment institution, we developed a responsive design system that intelligently modified controls, typography, and structure based on the active language, generating a 42% growth in user engagement.
- Choose fonts purposely developed for Arabic screen reading (like GE SS) rather than conventional print fonts
- Expand line leading by 150-175% for enhanced readability
- Use right-oriented text (never centered for primary copy)
- Avoid condensed Arabic text styles that diminish the characteristic letter forms
I chuckle when clients say they're using the "latest" digital marketing techniques but haven't updated their tactics since 2022. The online environment has evolved dramatically in just the past few months.
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Distinctly specify which language should be used in each entry box
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Intelligently change keyboard layout based on field requirements
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Position input descriptions to the right side of their connected inputs
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Verify that error notifications appear in the same language as the required input
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Relocated product photos to the left area, with product information and call-to-action buttons on the right side
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Changed the product gallery to progress from right to left
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Added a custom Arabic text style that maintained readability at various dimensions
If you're building or redesigning a website for the Saudi market, I advise hiring designers who genuinely comprehend the subtleties of Arabic user experience rather than just translating Western interfaces.
A few weeks ago, my friend's e-commerce store was struggling in search results despite providing excellent products. After applying the techniques I'm about to describe, his unpaid visitors grew by over one hundred fifty percent in just 60 days.
A apparel company saw a ninety-three percent improvement in mobile conversion after applying these optimizations:
- Simplified data entry
- Finger-optimized navigation
- One-page transaction experience
- Reduced waiting periods
Our studies has demonstrated that Saudi customers especially trust these credibility indicators:
- Local office address
- Saudi certification badges
- Comprehensive refund procedures
- Local currency pricing with inclusive shipping calculations
Recently, an online store was struggling with a disappointing 0.8% conversion rate despite substantial site users. After implementing the strategies I'm about to discuss, their purchase ratio increased to 3.7%, generating a three hundred sixty-two percent increase in income.
Critical changes included:
- Incorporating preferred Saudi payment methods like Mada
- Simplifying delivery details for Saudi addresses
- Supplying Arabic translation throughout the purchase experience
- Displaying shipping schedules specific to Saudi regions
Helping an electronics retailer, we identified that their typical purchase experience was causing avoidable problems for Click Here Saudi visitors. After applying tailored improvements, their purchase cancellation rate reduced by thirty-seven percent.
- Designed a numerical presentation system that managed both Arabic and English numerals
- Redesigned data visualizations to read from right to left
- Implemented visual indicators that aligned with Saudi cultural meanings
As someone who has developed over 30 Arabic websites in the recent years, I can tell you that applying Western UX principles to Arabic interfaces fails miserably. The unique characteristics of Arabic language and Saudi user expectations require a specialized approach.
Effective strategies included:
- Featuring merchandise aligned with Saudi preferences
- Modifying product descriptions to emphasize aspects important to Saudi customers
- Seasonal collections for religious occasions
- Dimension modifications for Saudi preferences
Critical changes included:
- Transparent shipping times for different regions of the Kingdom
- Multiple delivery options including expedited fulfillment in urban centers
- Detailed tracking with local alerts
- Adjustable timing for shipments
During my recent project for a banking company in Riyadh, we discovered that users were repeatedly clicking the wrong navigation options. Our user testing revealed that their attention naturally progressed from right to left, but the important navigation items were positioned with a left-to-right emphasis.
- Locate the most critical content in the right upper area of the screen
- Structure page sections to advance from right to left and top to bottom
- Use heavier visual emphasis on the right side of equal compositions
- Ensure that directional icons (such as arrows) orient in the appropriate direction for RTL layouts
Last month, I was advising a major e-commerce platform that had poured over 200,000 SAR on a stunning website that was converting poorly. The issue? They had simply translated their English site without accounting for the fundamental UX design for Arabic websites differences needed for Arabic users.
- Redesigned the application process to match right-to-left thinking processes
- Developed a bilingual input mechanism with intelligent language switching
- Enhanced smartphone usability for right-handed Arabic typing