Most "Arabic" Shopify stores in the Gulf are English stores with a translation app on top: arrows pointing the wrong way, menus opening from the wrong side, machine-translated text. We build Arabic Shopify stores inside the theme, alongside an English version of the same standard, because UAE and Gulf shoppers buy in both languages.
Translated store vs a real Arabic store
| Store translated with an app | Arabic store by ShopiBuild | |
|---|---|---|
| RTL | Gaps in sliders, menus and filters | Complete and tested on mobile |
| Font | A Latin font that "supports" Arabic | An Arabic font designed for screens |
| Copy | Machine translation | Written for Gulf shoppers |
| Speed | Extra app scripts | No translation or RTL apps |
| SEO | Depends on the app | A URL per language with hreflang |
| Subscriptions | Ongoing monthly fees | None |
What's included
- A bidirectional theme: Arabic right-to-left and English left-to-right, in every element.
- Readable, fast-loading Arabic and English fonts.
- A language switcher that keeps the same page and remembers the shopper's choice.
- Separate URLs per language with hreflang, plus SEO titles and descriptions in each language.
- Checkout and notifications in Arabic and English.
- Core copy written in Arabic in words your customers use.
Who it's for
- Gulf brands that want an Arabic store worthy of them.
- English stores that want to add Arabic properly.
- Existing Arabic stores with broken layout that need fixing. See Shopify store redesign.
More technical detail in our guides to the Arabic Shopify store and the bilingual Shopify store.
FAQ
Are all your stores in Arabic and English?
Yes. Every store we build includes both languages in the package.
Can you add Arabic to my existing English store?
Yes. We assess your current theme: sometimes we add Arabic to it, and sometimes a new theme is faster and cheaper.
Do I need a paid translation app?
No. We use Shopify's free tools to manage translations, and direction is built into the theme.
How much does it cost?
Packages start at AED 2,000 and include both languages. See our packages.