Guidelines for Testing Arabic Websites

Hi All,

This blog focuses on the essential guidelines to follow while testing Arabic websites. During my tenure as a Sr.Quality Engineer at Sapient, I tested an Arabic website and would like to share the key practices and considerations for Arabic language website testing.

1. Content Preparation

• Ensure that correct Arabic content is provided by the client before testing begins. Testing cannot be accurate without validated content.

2. UI Considerations

• The website UI should be specific to Arabic, as Arabic websites differ significantly from other language versions.
• Arabic word lengths can be longer than English, and font sizes may need to be increased to maintain readability and proper alignment.
• Check the placement of asterisks (*) and full stops for correctness.
• The text cursor appears on the left when entering Arabic text, which may differ from standard design expectations—ensure it behaves correctly.
• On forms, drop-down icons and other UI elements should match the Arabic design specifications provided by the client.
• Arabic websites may be mirrored versions of English sites, but confirm whether only text orientation changes or if the full layout—including images and elements—needs adjustment. Flipping elements unnecessarily may cause visual issues.
• Icons and icon-text combinations should be reviewed with the client for correctness.
• Scrollbars usually remain unchanged, but if the site has a custom scrollbar, its orientation should be checked for proper RTL display.

3. Functional Testing

• Conduct functional testing on all supported browsers and devices.
• Validate dates, times, and currencies for Arabic formats and obtain confirmation/closure from the client regarding correctness.
• Ensure that error messages are displayed correctly in Arabic.
• Test sorting and filters, especially for lists containing Arabic content.
• Verify form field constraints to ensure Arabic input is accepted and validated correctly.

4. Database and Backend Testing

• Database entries should correctly handle Arabic characters to ensure proper storage and retrieval.
• Files generated from the website, such as order confirmations, must display Arabic content accurately.

5. Email and Notifications

• Test emails sent from the website for correct Arabic content. Emails can sometimes show encoded characters if not handled properly.

6. Special Considerations for Arabic Text

• Arabic requires proper handling of character reordering, combining characters, word breaking, line breaking, and text justification rules.
• Confirm whether URLs include Arabic characters derived from page titles.
• Ensure video players, plugins, captchas, and reCAPTCHAs function correctly and remain language-agnostic.

7. Additional Points to Consider

• RTL vs LTR testing: Verify proper rendering in right-to-left (RTL) orientation.
• Responsive design: Ensure Arabic text does not break layouts on mobile and tablet devices.
• Performance testing: Arabic content may affect page load times due to longer text or custom fonts.
• Accessibility: Ensure screen readers and other accessibility tools support Arabic content properly.
• SEO considerations: Arabic meta tags, headings, and alt text should be properly localized.

This checklist ensures that Arabic websites are both functionally robust and visually user-friendly, maintaining a seamless experience for users.