A Guide to Creating an Arabic Shopify Store

The e-commerce landscape in the Arab world is booming, with millions of potential customers eager to shop online. If you’re ready to tap into this market, creating an Arabic Shopify store is a fantastic first step. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from setting up the basics to ensuring a user-friendly experience for your Arabic customers.

Setting the Stage: Shopify for Arabic Stores

Shopify offers a user-friendly platform perfect for creating your Arabic online store. Here’s why it’s a great choice:

• Multilingual capabilities: Shopify allows you to configure your store in Arabic, including product descriptions, menus, and checkout processes.
• RTL (Right-to-Left) layout support: Arabic text reads from right to left. Shopify offers themes and apps that ensure your store layout functions correctly for this format.
• Payment gateway integration: Integrate popular payment gateways used in the Arab region, allowing customers to pay with familiar methods.

Building Your Arabic Shopify Store: Step-by-Step

1. Sign Up and Plan Selection: Head to the Shopify website and sign up for a free trial. Choose a plan that suits your business needs.
2. Theme Selection: This is crucial for establishing a visually appealing and functional Arabic storefront.

• Shopify Theme Store: Explore Shopify’s theme store for themes with built-in RTL. (NOT RECOMMENDED AS MOST OF SHOPIFY DEVELOPERS DON’T SPEAK ARABIC)
• Third-Party Themes: Consider reputable marketplaces like us Scrowp or ThemeForest for themes specifically designed for Arabic stores. (Below is a preview of English/Arabic demo store made by Scrowp theme )

3. Theme Customization (Optional): If you’re comfortable with code, you can tweak your theme further to match your brand and enhance the Arabic user experience. Alternatively, consider hiring a Shopify theme developer.
4. Adding Products: Here’s where you showcase your offerings!

• Product Information: Translate all product descriptions, titles, and tags into clear and concise Arabic. Use high-quality images that showcase your products from all sides.
• Collections: Organize your products into relevant categories (in Arabic) to help customers navigate easily.

5. Arabic Language Configuration:

• Shopify Admin: Navigate to “Online Store” > “Themes” and select your theme. Look for a “Language” option where you can choose Arabic.
• Theme Customization: For some themes, additional steps might be required for complete Arabic functionality. Refer to the theme documentation for specific instructions.

Optimizing Your Arabic Shopify Store for Success

• RTL Formatting: Ensure proper layout for Arabic text throughout your store. This includes menus, buttons, and product details.
• Arabic Fonts: Choose clear and readable Arabic fonts that complement your brand identity. Google Fonts offers a wide selection of free Arabic fonts.
• Currency and Measurement Units: Display prices in the local currency (e.g., AED, SAR) and use metric units (centimeters, kilograms) to cater to your Arabic audience.
• Payment Methods: Integrate popular payment gateways in the Arab region, such as Cash on Delivery (COD), Mada (Saudi Arabia), and Fawry (Egypt).

Going the Extra Mile: Building Customer Trust

• Customer Support in Arabic: Offer customer support in Arabic through email, live chat, or phone calls.
• Right-to-Left Reviews: Ensure product reviews are displayed correctly in RTL format.
• Shipping and Returns: Clearly outline your shipping and return policies in Arabic, including estimated delivery times and return procedures.
• Localization: Consider cultural nuances when crafting marketing messages and promotions.

Marketing Your Arabic Shopify Store

• Social Media Marketing: Promote your store on popular social media platforms in the Arab world, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Utilize Arabic language content and target relevant audiences.
• Influencer Marketing: Partner with Arabic social media influencers to reach a wider audience and build trust.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your store content with relevant Arabic keywords to improve search ranking on Arabic search engines like Google.

Apps to Enhance Your Arabic Shopify Store

Shopify offers a vast app store with tools to elevate your Arabic storefront. Here are some helpful options:

• Translation Apps: Apps like Translate&Currency or Translate My Store can automatically translate your store content into Arabic.
• RTL App: Consider apps like RTL Master that offer comprehensive Arabic language support, including layout adjustments, font options, and translation tools.
• Payment Gateway Apps: Integrate specific payment gateway apps for popular Arabic payment methods.

Would you like to create an Arabic or a Multilanguage Shopify store ? Get a Free consultation with Marouane RHAFLI, the first Shopify expert who has build an Arabic Shopify theme

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