Selling in RTL Languages: Arabic & Hebrew on Shopify

Arabic is one of the most-spoken languages on earth, the Gulf region has some of the highest e-commerce spending per capita, and most stores completely ignore it. Why? Because right-to-left (RTL) languages need more than swapping words — they need the whole interface to flip direction.

Get it right and you tap into markets with low competition and high purchasing power. Get it wrong and you ship a broken-looking store that no one trusts. Here's how to do it properly on Shopify.

What makes RTL different

In right-to-left languages — Arabic, Hebrew, Persian (Farsi), and Urdu — text flows from right to left, and so should the layout:

• Navigation, logos, and menus mirror to the right
• Text alignment flips
• Icons with direction (arrows, carousels, progress bars) reverse
• Numbers and embedded Latin text (like brand names) stay left-to-right within the RTL flow (this is "bidirectional" text)

Translation alone gives you right-to-left words in a left-to-right layout — which looks visibly wrong to native speakers.

Step 1 — Translate the content correctly

Start with accurate translation that handles bidirectional text properly. Quality AI translation preserves your HTML and keeps embedded Latin terms (brand names, SKUs, units) in the correct direction. If you're new to translating your store, begin with our complete translation guide.

StoreLingo supports Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu among its 47 languages, and preserves formatting so your content stays intact.

Step 2 — Make sure your theme supports RTL

This is where most stores fall down. Your content can be perfect while your layout stays left-to-right. Check:

• Theme RTL support. Many modern Shopify themes (including Dawn) include RTL styles that activate for RTL locales. Verify yours does.
• The dir="rtl" attribute. The storefront should set text direction based on the active language.
• Mirrored components. Test menus, product grids, cart drawer, and carousels in the RTL language — not just a product page.

If your theme lacks RTL support, you may need a theme that does, or custom CSS using logical properties (margin-inline-start instead of margin-left, etc.).

Step 3 — Handle fonts

Default Latin fonts often render Arabic and Hebrew poorly or not at all. Use fonts with proper script coverage:

• Arabic: Cairo, Tajawal, Noto Sans Arabic
• Hebrew: Heebo, Rubik, Noto Sans Hebrew

Set these in your theme for RTL locales so text is legible and on-brand.

Step 4 — Localize beyond text

True localization for these markets includes:

• Currency and number formats (Shopify Markets handles currency per region)
• Date formats where shown
• Culturally appropriate imagery on key landing pages
• Local payment methods where relevant

These build the trust that converts browsers into buyers.

Step 5 — RTL and SEO

The good news: RTL doesn't change multilingual SEO fundamentals. You still need:

• Published languages with proper hreflang
• Translated meta titles and descriptions
• Natural, locally phrased keywords

Everything in our Shopify multilingual SEO guide applies — RTL just adds the layout layer on top.

A realistic launch checklist

• Content translated with correct bidirectional handling
• Theme RTL support verified (test the whole flow, not one page)
• dir="rtl" applied for RTL locales
• Arabic/Hebrew-capable fonts loaded
• Currency and formats localized via Markets
• hreflang + translated meta fields in place
• Tested by a native speaker if possible

The opportunity

RTL markets are underserved precisely because they take a little extra effort. That's the opportunity: less competition, high spend, and customers who notice — and reward — a store that respects their language properly.

Translation is the foundation. StoreLingo translates your products, collections, pages, and articles into Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Urdu, and 43 other languages with AI, preserving formatting and bidirectional text, with review before anything goes live.

Open up RTL markets the right way. Add StoreLingo on the Shopify App Store →

FAQ

Does Shopify support RTL languages? Yes. Shopify stores RTL content, and many modern themes include RTL layout support. Always test your specific theme across the full storefront.

Is translating to Arabic enough to sell in the Gulf? Translation is necessary but not sufficient — you also need RTL layout, suitable fonts, local currency, and ideally local payment methods.

How many people speak RTL languages? Hundreds of millions: Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Hebrew together represent very large, high-value, and under-targeted e-commerce markets.