Process & Briefing

Video for Gulf and bilingual brands: planning English and Arabic versions

By Bhavesh Vaghela · October 31, 2026 · 2 min read

Illustration for: Video for Gulf and bilingual brands: planning English and Arabic versions
Quick answer

For Gulf or bilingual audiences, plan separate language versions from the start: design the layout for right-to-left text, use a native translator and voice artist, review content for cultural fit, and keep text separate from animation so versions are easy to produce.

Brands in the Gulf region often publish in English and Arabic. A video built for one language can be hard to convert later, so plan for both at the start.

Design for both directions

Arabic is written right to left. Layouts, icons, arrows and progress bars may need mirroring. Build text in separate layers so it can be swapped without redoing the animation.

Use native speakers

Use a native translator and a native voice artist. Machine translation is not enough for brand language. I edit and animate the video, and I work with the translated text and audio you supply. My portfolio includes videos in French and Hindi.

Subtitles or voice-over

Decide whether each version has its own voice-over, or subtitles over one audio track. Voice-over feels more local, and subtitles are faster and cheaper.

Cultural review

Ask someone from the target audience to check imagery, colors, clothing and references before you publish.

Versions and sizes

Plan wide and vertical versions for each language. See video aspect ratios explained.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Baking text into the animation so it cannot be replaced
  • Using machine translation for brand wording
  • Forgetting to mirror directional elements

Frequently asked questions

Can you edit videos in Arabic?

I edit and animate videos using the text and audio you provide. Send a native translation and voice-over, and I will build the version around them.

Should I make separate videos for each language?

Often yes, built from the same design, with text and voice replaced.

Do I need subtitles if I have voice-over?

Subtitles still help viewers who watch without sound.

Can you make bilingual versions?

Yes. Tell me the languages and the formats you need.

Bhavesh Vaghela

Bhavesh Vaghela

Freelance video editor and motion designer in Rajkot, India. I make short-form videos, motion graphics, SaaS explainers, logo animations and AI video for clients worldwide.

Ready to start a video project?

Send me the details and I'll reply with ideas and a clear price.