Published on 02/02/2026 · 6 min read
Arabic-first design: common mistakes in RTL interfaces
From icon direction to number and date formatting, small details make the difference for Arabic users.
Direction is more than text alignment
Flipping the layout to the right is not enough. Arrows, progress bars and table column order must follow the reading direction, otherwise the interface feels translated rather than designed.
Numbers, dates and currency
We use Latin digits, the DD/MM/YYYY date format and currency shown as 1,250 LYD. Standardising these across the system prevents confusion in reports and invoices.
Typography sets the first impression
A clear Arabic typeface such as Tajawal with comfortable line spacing improves readability on mobile — the device most clients in Libya use.