Right-to-left (RTL) languages represent some of the most lucrative and underserved app markets in the world. Arabic alone is spoken by over 400 million people across 25+ countries. Hebrew, Persian, and Urdu add hundreds of millions more. Yet most app developers treat RTL localization as an afterthought — if they address it at all.
Getting RTL screenshots right requires more than running text through a translator. It demands a fundamental shift in how you think about visual layout, reading flow, and cultural context.
Understanding RTL Reading Flow
In RTL languages, users do not just read text from right to left — they scan the entire page from right to left. Their eyes naturally land on the top-right corner first, then sweep leftward and downward. This has profound implications for your screenshot layout.
Your visual hierarchy must flip. The most important element should be positioned where RTL readers look first — the top-right area. Call-to-action elements should align to the right. Progress indicators should flow from right to left.
What Needs to Mirror (And What Doesn't)
Always Mirror
Text alignment: All text should be right-aligned (or right-to-left justified)
Navigation elements: Back arrows point right, forward arrows point left
Progress indicators: Steps flow from right to left
Lists and bullet points: Bullets appear on the right side
Layout flow: If your LTR layout has an image on the left and text on the right, the RTL version should swap them
Never Mirror
Logos and brand marks: These should remain in their original orientation
Phone number and numeric data: Numbers are read left-to-right even in RTL languages
Media controls: Play, pause, forward, and rewind buttons follow universal conventions
Clocks and timelines: These follow universal left-to-right or circular conventions
Images and photographs: Do not flip photos — a person facing left should still face left
Typography for Arabic and Hebrew
Arabic Typography
Arabic is a connected script — letters change form depending on their position in a word (initial, medial, final, or isolated). This means you cannot use just any font. Your chosen typeface must support all four forms and render ligatures correctly.
Recommended fonts for Arabic app screenshots include Cairo, Tajawal, IBM Plex Arabic, and Noto Sans Arabic. These are modern, clean, and render well at small sizes. Avoid decorative Arabic fonts — they reduce readability at screenshot scale.
Arabic text is generally more compact vertically than Latin text but can be wider horizontally. Plan for 10-20% additional horizontal space compared to English.
Hebrew Typography
Hebrew is simpler typographically — it is not a connected script, so font support is less of an issue. However, nikud (vowel marks) can appear in certain contexts and require fonts with proper diacritics support. For app screenshots, unvocalized Hebrew (without nikud) is standard and cleaner.
Good Hebrew fonts include Heebo, Assistant, Rubik, and Noto Sans Hebrew.
Cultural Considerations
RTL markets are not monolithic. What works in Saudi Arabia may not work in Israel, and what resonates in Iran differs from Egypt. Key cultural factors to consider:
Color symbolism: Green has positive connotations across most Arabic-speaking countries. Red can signal danger in some contexts but celebration in others. Blue is universally safe.
Imagery: Be mindful of cultural sensitivities in imagery. What is considered appropriate casual imagery varies significantly across RTL markets.
Formality level: Arabic-speaking markets generally expect a more formal tone in text. Casual slang that works in English may come across as unprofessional.
Date and number formats: Some Arabic-speaking countries use Eastern Arabic numerals (٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩), while others use Western Arabic numerals (0123456789). Know your target market.
Testing RTL Screenshots
Always get your RTL screenshots reviewed by native speakers before publishing. Common issues that automated tools miss:
Mixed LTR/RTL text rendering incorrectly (e.g., English brand names within Arabic text)
Punctuation marks appearing on the wrong side
Text that is technically correct but sounds unnatural or overly literal
Cultural faux pas in imagery or messaging
Implementation With Shotlingo
Shotlingo's template system supports automatic RTL layout mirroring. When you select an RTL language, text elements automatically switch to right alignment, and the layout direction adapts. You can also manually override specific elements — keeping logos unmirrored while flipping the overall layout.
Investing in proper RTL screenshots is one of the highest-ROI localization activities. The markets are large, spending power is significant, and competition from well-localized apps is still relatively low. Developers who get RTL right today have a meaningful first-mover advantage.
Originally published on Shotlingo — an AI-powered tool for localizing App Store screenshots to 40+ languages. Free tier available at shotlingo.com.
