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How Arabic IDNs Enhance SEO and Trust for Middle Eastern Brands


Table of Content

1. Introduction
2. What are Arabic IDNs and Why Should they Matter?
3. Key Examples of Arabic IDNs
4. The Benefits of Arabic IDNs for Businesses
5. Challenges and Opportunities for Arabic IDNs
6. A Path Forward
7. Conclusion
8. Related Articles
 

 

1. Introduccion

In our work with businesses entering diverse digital markets, we often hear questions like: Should we invest in Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs)? How do they work? What advantages do they offer?

These discussions highlight the growing importance of understanding IDNs in helping brands connect authentically with audiences by embracing their languages and cultural identities online. So, what exactly are IDNs?

IDNs allow businesses to use non-Latin characters, such as Arabic, in their website addresses.

These domains work by converting the native script into a standardized format called Punycode, which ensures compatibility across the internet while maintaining the original character display for users

For Middle Eastern businesses, this means creating domain names in their native scripts, fostering stronger local connections, as well as greater brand recognition and trust.

In countries like Saudi Arabia, where digital transformation is central to their Vision 2030, localization is a crucial factor for creating effective digital campaigns in the Middle East.  

One impactful way to achieve this is through the use of Internationalized Domain Names.

By adopting IDNs, businesses can show a genuine commitment to local languages and cultural nuances, offering a more personalized experience that resonates with regional audiences, helping businesses succeed in an increasingly digital and diverse marketplace.


2. What are Arabic IDNs and Why Should they Matter?

Arabic is spoken by approximately 313 million people or around 3.9% of the global population and is the fifth most spoken language globally.

Yet Arabic's influence stretches far beyond the 25 countries where it is an official or co-official language, including nations like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE­: it also encompasses a dynamic diaspora across regions such as the U.S., Brazil, and Europe, where Arabic-speaking communities continue to thrive.

Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), used across media, education, and business, serves as a unifying standard across different dialects and regions.

Building on this, Arabic IDNs can leverage this standard to make digital content more accessible and engaging for diverse audiences.

In fact, as the illustration below shows, Arabic is one of the 37 languages supported by the 151 IDN top-level domains (TLDs) currently in use.



Figure 1. 62 IDNs successfully evaluated for 43 countries and territories. Source: Icann.org 2024.

Arabic IDNs
are well represented, with a total of 31 IDNs, including 20 country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) and 11 generic TLDs (gTLDs). The figure is second only to China, which boasts 59 IDNs (7 ccTLDs and 52 gTLDs).



Figure 2. Delegated IDN ccTLDs and IDN gTLDs by Script Group.

Although the number of Arabic IDN registrations remains relatively underrepresented compared to other scripts, the growth potential is significant as more Arabic-speaking regions embrace digital identity and localization.

Adopting Arabic IDNs allows businesses, especially in sectors such as energy, technology, and real estate in petroleum-rich countries like Saudi Arabia, to enhance their digital reach and engagement.

Embracing Arabic IDNs helps companies bridge the gap to Arabic-speaking communities, fostering meaningful connections and strengthening their digital presence across the Arab world and beyond.


3. Key Examples of Arabic IDNs

As we have seen, Arabic Internationalized Domain Names enable businesses to engage with audiences across the Arab world in their own language.

For instance, .شبكة (meaning "network" or "web") was the first fully Arabic-script generic top-level domain (gTLD), making it both relevant and easy to remember.

Here are some other examples:

  • Country-specific IDNs:

    • .ایران (Iran) – Used for local websites in Iran, reinforcing the country’s digital presence in its native script.

    • .امارات (UAE) – The Arabic equivalent of .ae, strengthening the UAE’s online identity and connecting with local markets.

    • .السعودية (Saudi Arabia) – Widely used by businesses and government entities in Saudi Arabia to engage directly with local audiences.

    • .الاردن (Jordan) – Enhances Jordan's digital footprint, catering specifically to the local population.

    • .البحرين (Bahrain) – Supports businesses in Bahrain, giving them a localized domain that is and culturally relevant.

    • .مصر (Egypt) –  the adoption of .مصر (Masr), Egypt’s name in Arabic, complements the existing .eg suffix for Latin-script domains, catering to both local and international audiences.

    • .قطر (Qatar) – Widely used to engage the local Qatari market with relevant and region-specific websites.

    • .فلسطين (Palestinian Territory) – Focused on representing Palestinian digital interests.

  • Company-specific IDNs:

    • .ارامكو (Aramco) – Reflects Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant's brand in Arabic script, enhancing its regional identity.

    • .اتصالات (Etisalat) – Used by Emirates Telecommunications Corporation to secure a dominant presence in the Middle East and North Africa.

    • .موبايلي (Mobily) – Used by GreenTech Consultancy in the telecom sector, helping them resonate with the Gulf market.

    • .بيتك (Baytik) – Popular in the Gulf’s real estate and finance sectors, this domain helps businesses in those industries reach their regional audience.

  • General and Concept-based IDNs:

    • .موقع (meaning "website") – A versatile TLD that represents the general concept of a site, appealing to a wide range of users.

    • .كوم (Arabic for .com) – The Arabic equivalent of the widely recognized global .com extension, making it easy to remember and globally accessible.

    • .ابوظبي (Abu Dhabi) – Directly targeting the capital city of the UAE, this domain resonates with local businesses and governmental entities.

    • .عرب (Arabic for Arab) – Represents the Arab identity and culture, appealing to a wide range of regional users.

By leveraging these Arabic IDNs, businesses can create meaningful connections, enhance engagement, and build stronger relationships with regional audiences.


4. The Benefits of Arabic IDNs for Businesses

Arabic Internationalized Domain Names offer key benefits for businesses targeting Arabic-speaking audiences:

  • Enhanced Branding: Arabic IDNs eliminate the need for awkward transliterations, helping businesses present their names authentically. This strengthens cultural identity and avoids confusion, making branding more effective.

  • Improved User Experience: With familiar scripts and language, Arabic IDNs make websites easier to remember and navigate, leading to a smoother experience and encouraging repeat visits.

  • Increased Domain Availability: Arabic IDNs offer businesses the chance to secure concise, relevant domain names that are often unavailable in English, at a lower cost.

  • Boosted SEO: Arabic domain names align with local search queries, improving search engine visibility and geo-targeting for region-specific businesses.

  • Fostering Trust: Arabic IDNs signal cultural understanding, fostering trust and credibility with Arabic-speaking users.

By adopting Arabic IDNs, businesses are able to enhance their digital presence and connect with regional audiences while staying competitive.

8 Rules for Writing Arabic IDNs in Saudi Arabia

When registering an Arabic Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) under Saudi Arabia’s ccTLD (.السعودية), there are a few important guidelines to ensure your domain is both linguistically and technically correct.

  1. Only Arabic characters are allowed
  2. Vowels or accent marks cannot be used:
        o Not Allowed: سَجّل.السعودية
        o Allowed: سجل.السعودية
  3. Mixing Arabic and Latin scripts is not allowed:
        o Not Allowed: موقع-SaudiNIC.السعودية
        o Not Allowed: SaudiNIC.السعودية
  4. Hyphens are allowed between words to separate them:
        o Allowed: هيئة-الاتصالات.السعودية
        o Allowed: مدارس-خيف.السعودية
  5. Hyphens cannot be used at the beginning or end, and consecutive hyphens are not allowed:
        o Not Allowed: -هيئةالاتصالات.السعودية
        o Not Allowed: هيئةالاتصالات-.السعودية
        o Not Allowed: هيئة--الاتصالات.السعودية
  6. Digits can appear inside the domain name, but not at the beginning or end. And you can use either Arabic-Indic digits or Arabic digits, but not both mixed together:
        o Allowed: 999.السعودية
        o Allowed: اتصل٩٩٩.السعودية
        o Not Allowed: 9٩9للنجدة.السعودية
        o Allowed: اتصل999للنجدة.السعودية
  7. Variants of letters (such as ALEF, YEH, or TEH MARBUTA) are allowed, as long as they don't infringe on others' rights:
        o Allowed: شبكة-الأخبار.السعودية
        o Allowed with Conditions: شبكة-الاخبار.السعودية
        o Allowed with Conditions: شبكه-الأخبار.السعودية
  8. Similar characters from languages using the Arabic script (like Urdu or Farsi) can be treated as valid variants:
        o Allowed: مكة.السعودية (Arabic)
        o Allowed: مكة.السعودية (Farsi)
        o Allowed: مكة.السعودية (Urdu)

These guidelines ensure that Arabic domain names under .السعودية are linguistically accurate and accessible to Arabic-speaking users.


5. Challenges and Opportunities for Arabic IDNs

  • While Arabic IDNs present an exciting opportunity to connect with Arabic-speaking audiences and preserve linguistic heritage, their adoption has faced some challenges.

  • Limited Accessibility for Non-Arabic Users: Arabic IDNs can be difficult for non-Arabic users without Latin aliases. Offering Latin alternatives alongside Arabic domains can improve global accessibility.

  • Script and Formatting Challenges: Arabic's right-to-left script can cause issues on left-to-right platforms, but improving browser and platform support is making Arabic IDNs more user-friendly.

  • Linguistic Complexities: The absence of diacritics (accents and vowels) in Arabic IDNs can cause spelling variations, but solutions and better standards can improve user experience.

  • Branding and Cost Implications: Maintaining both Arabic and Latin domains may increase costs but helps businesses reach wider, diverse audiences and build cultural connections.

  • Registration Barriers and Limited Uptake: Limited local registrars and payment options have slowed Arabic IDN adoption, but expanding these services can help more businesses register Arabic domains.

  • Overreliance on Search Engines: While search engines help find Arabic content, Arabic IDNs remain important for direct access to culturally relevant websites and localized domain experiences.


6. A Path Forward

Despite these barriers, Arabic IDNs represent a valuable opportunity to strengthen regional identity and engage Arabic-speaking audiences. To enhance their adoption:

  • Expanding local registrar networks and improving payment options can lower registration hurdles.

  • Businesses can embrace Arabic IDNs in creative ways that complement global branding strategies, rather than duplicating efforts.

  • Enhanced public awareness and integration with global platforms may help highlight the benefits of Arabic domains, both culturally and economically.

In essence, Arabic IDNs are a significant part of broader efforts, particularly by ICANN, which manages the global Domain Name System, to support linguistic diversity on the internet, ensuring users from Arabic-speaking regions can access the web in their native script.


7. Conclusion

Arabic Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) open doors to more meaningful connections in the Middle East by blending cultural authenticity with digital innovation.

They empower businesses to strengthen their regional presence, enhance trust, and align with local audiences’ linguistic preferences.

Although challenges like accessibility and adoption remain, targeted initiatives to broaden registrar networks and enhance public awareness can drive greater acceptance and utilization.

Ready to elevate your digital presence with an Arabic IDN? Register your Arabic domain name today with Nominus and take the first step toward a stronger connection with Arabic-speaking audiences!


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