How to Localize Your Website for the UAE Market

Introduction: Why Website Localization Matters in the UAE

The UAE is more than just a hotspot for luxury shopping, tourism, and innovation—it's one of the most dynamic and diverse digital markets in the Middle East. From Emirati nationals to expatriates from over 200 countries, businesses need websites that resonate with multiple cultures, languages, and user behaviors.

Here’s the deal: If your website doesn’t feel local, you’re missing out—on visibility, credibility, and conversions.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to localize your website for the UAE market—and we’ll show why partnering with Devherds, the best web development company Dubai offers, is a smart move.

What is Website Localization?

Localization goes beyond translation. It’s the process of adapting your website to the language, culture, legal standards, and user expectations of a specific region.

In the UAE, that means:

Language support (Arabic and English at minimum)

Culturally relevant imagery, design, and copy

Legal and regulatory compliance

Regional payment and contact methods

Time zone and currency settings

It’s about making your website feel native—as if it was built right here in Dubai.

Why Localize for the UAE?

The UAE has a unique blend of:

Emirati citizens

South Asian expatriates (Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis)

Western professionals

Tourists from all over the world

This demographic mix demands a personalized experience. You can’t just launch a generic English website and expect results.

Top Reasons to Localize:

Build trust with regional users

Improve local SEO rankings

Comply with UAE’s digital regulations

Boost conversions through familiarity

Gain a competitive edge

Step 1: Understand Your UAE Audience

Localization begins with research.

Questions to Ask:

Who are your primary users? (Locals, expats, tourists?)

What languages do they prefer?

What platforms do they use to browse? (Mobile is huge in the UAE.)

What are their shopping or service habits?

Working with a local website development company Dubai businesses trust—like Devherds—helps you uncover this data effectively.

Step 2: Translate the Right Way (Arabic First!)

In the UAE, Arabic is the official language—so it must be a part of your website.

But here's the key: don't rely on Google Translate. Professional human translation ensures:

Context is preserved

Idioms and tone feel natural

Messaging connects with culture

Best Practices for Translation:

Prioritize Arabic and English

Avoid direct word-for-word translations

Use Arabic RTL (Right-to-Left) formatting

Don’t forget CTAs, buttons, headers, footers

A professional website developer in Dubai will handle these technical challenges for you.

Step 3: Culturally Adapt Your Content

Your content should reflect the values, preferences, and sensitivities of UAE users.

Tips for Culturally Adapting Content:

Use modest visuals: Avoid overly revealing images

Highlight family, community, and trust themes

Use colors like green, gold, white, and black—which resonate in Arab culture

Avoid cultural faux pas like inappropriate humor or slang

Designing with cultural awareness is something a seasoned web design company Dubai based like Devherds does instinctively.

Step 4: Design for Right-to-Left (RTL) Languages

Arabic websites use Right-to-Left (RTL) formatting, which means everything from the layout to navigation must be mirrored.

What Needs RTL Design?

Navigation menus

Breadcrumbs and buttons

Carousels and sliders

Forms and contact pages

Important:

Don’t just flip the text—mirror the entire layout. This includes icons, padding, and image alignment.

Devherds, a top web development company Dubai, offers complete RTL support during development and design.

Step 5: Use Local Domain & Hosting (.ae)

Why You Should Use a .ae Domain:

Builds trust with local users

Signals to Google you’re targeting the UAE

May improve visibility in local search results

Also, consider local hosting to ensure:

Faster load times in the UAE

Compliance with data laws

Lower latency for mobile users

If you’re not sure how to set this up, Devherds offers complete website development services Dubai companies need—including domain registration and hosting.

Step 6: Accept Local Currencies & Payment Gateways

If you sell products or services online, payment localization is crucial.

Popular UAE Payment Options:

Credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard)

Apple Pay & Google Pay

Tabby, Tamara (Buy Now, Pay Later)

Bank transfers

Cash on delivery (still popular)

Also, always display prices in AED (Dirhams). That small change increases buyer confidence and reduces cart abandonment.

Step 7: Adjust Date, Time & Measurements

Simple details like date formats, working hours, and measurements can affect usability.

Customize These for UAE:

Date format: DD/MM/YYYY

Time zone: Gulf Standard Time (GST)

Working week: Sunday to Thursday

Units: Metric system (km, kg, liters)

A great website development company in Dubai like Devherds will build these settings into your CMS for easy updates.

Step 8: Optimize for Local SEO

Localization also means optimizing your site to be found by local users in Google UAE.

Key Local SEO Strategies:

Use Arabic and English keywords

Create location-based pages (e.g., “Web Design Company Dubai”)

List your business on Google Maps and local directories

Use structured data for UAE businesses

Build backlinks from UAE-based sites

SEO is baked into all website development services in Dubai by Devherds—so you don’t have to worry about rankings falling behind.

Step 9: Add Local Contact Information & Support

If you're targeting UAE users, they should be able to reach you locally.

Include:

A local UAE phone number

WhatsApp chat (very popular in Dubai)

Local office address (even if it's a virtual one)

Business hours in GST

Also, if you offer support, provide it in both English and Arabic.

Step 10: Test, Monitor & Improve

Localization is not a one-time job—it’s ongoing.

What to Track:

Bounce rate per language

Time on page for localized content

Conversion rates in AED vs USD

Feedback from users in different cultures

Devherds provides regular audits and performance tracking as part of its web development services in Dubai—so your site evolves as your audience grows.

How Devherds Helps You Localize the Right Way

Localization involves design, development, translation, SEO, hosting, and testing. It’s complex—but Devherds handles it all under one roof.

Devherds Offers:

Full Arabic and English localization

Cultural UX design

Local SEO setup

RTL development

Payment and hosting integrations

Content localization strategy

No wonder they’re known as the best web development company Dubai businesses trust.

Conclusion: Speak to the UAE in Their Own Language—And Culture

If your website doesn’t reflect the language, values, and expectations of UAE users, they’ll click away. But when you localize smartly, you’re telling your audience:

“We understand you. We’re one of you.”

From multilingual support to local payments, local SEO to design tailored for right-to-left users—localization makes your website feel at home in the UAE market.

And with Devherds by your side, the process is seamless, strategic, and results-driven.