The UAE Search Landscape
Arabic is the official language of the UAE, but business is often conducted in English. Google data shows that roughly 45-55% of searches in the UAE are in Arabic — a massive untapped opportunity for most businesses that focus exclusively on English SEO.
How to Build a Bilingual SEO Strategy
The key is not just translation — it’s localisation. Arabic SEO requires understanding search intent in Arabic, using the right dialect (Modern Standard Arabic vs Gulf Arabic), and structuring your hreflang tags correctly.
Technical Implementation
Use hreflang tags to tell Google which version to show to which audience. Create separate URL structures for Arabic content (/ar/ subdirectory or .ae/ar/). Ensure your CMS handles RTL text correctly.
Quick Wins for Dubai Businesses
Start with your Google Business Profile — add Arabic content there first. Create a core set of service pages in Arabic. Target “near me” searches in Arabic. These three steps alone can meaningfully increase your local visibility.
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