· 6 min read · Enum Grow
How to Build a Bilingual Arabic–English Website the Right Way
Short answer
A proper bilingual Arabic–English website gives each language its own URL (like /en and /ar), sets dir="rtl" and lang="ar" on Arabic pages, uses an Arabic font, mirrors layout with logical CSS properties, links the two versions with hreflang tags, and writes Arabic copy natively instead of machine-translating.
1. Give each language its own URL
Search engines index URLs, not language toggles. Serving Arabic and English at the same address means only one version gets indexed. Use separate paths — /en/... and /ar/... — so each page can rank in its own language.
2. Right-to-left is a layout, not text alignment
Setting dir="rtl" on the html element flips the reading direction, but layouts built with left/right values stay stuck. Use logical properties — start and end instead of left and right — so margins, icons, and positioned elements mirror automatically.
Directional icons like arrows must flip too; a "next" arrow pointing right reads as "back" in Arabic.
3. Typography rules for Arabic
Latin fonts usually contain no Arabic letters, and some English styling breaks Arabic:
- Load a dedicated Arabic font, such as IBM Plex Sans Arabic or Cairo.
- Remove letter-spacing on Arabic text — it breaks how Arabic letters join.
- Avoid uppercase styling and very small sizes; Arabic needs slightly more line height.
4. Connect the versions with hreflang
Add hreflang tags to every page pointing to its English and Arabic versions, plus an x-default. This tells Google which version to show each searcher and prevents the two from competing. Include both versions in your sitemap with the same alternates.
5. Pick the default language carefully
Redirect the root URL by visitor preference — a saved choice first, then country (for example Arabic for visitors in Egypt), then English. Always show a visible language switch and remember the visitor's choice. Never hide one language from search engines.
6. Write Arabic, don't translate it
Arabic readers notice machine translation immediately. Write headlines and calls to action natively, use the terms your customers actually search (for example برنامج حسابات ومخازن rather than a literal translation of ERP), and keep brand and product names consistent across both languages.
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