News

Notion Adds Arabic Language Across Its Workspace Platform

Productivity app localizes for Arabic speakers as Gulf startups and enterprises push deeper into digital tools.

Published

6 months ago

January 26, 2026

Nour Nasir

Notion

Notion has introduced full Arabic language support across its workspace platform, extending localization to its web interface, desktop software and mobile apps in what marks the company’s first dedicated product move for the Middle East.

From this week, users can switch the entire experience into Arabic, including navigation, settings and core features. The update brings the AI-powered productivity tool in line with how many teams across the region already operate, often juggling Arabic and English across documents and workflows.

The rollout follows years of steady local adoption rather than a formal market entry. Notion says it now counts millions of users across the Middle East, with hundreds of thousands in the UAE alone. Regional customers include Emirates Foundation and Emirates Investment Bank, while more than 1,000 UAE startups have gone through the company’s Startups Program.

“The Middle East has emerged as one of our most engaged communities, as the region’s vibrant startup ecosystem and rapid digital transformation have made it a natural fit for Notion’s flexible, AI-powered approach to work,” said Mick Hodgins, GM EMEA at Notion. “We now have millions of users across the region who have adopted Notion to build startups, manage teams, and create their life’s work. Arabic support is a foundation for what comes next, as we deepen our commitment to the region and the teams building the future here”.

Also Read: UAE-Built Falcon-H1 Arabic Leads LLM Benchmarks

For Notion, language coverage is also a practical lever: Public-sector bodies, banks and large enterprises across the Gulf increasingly require Arabic interfaces before rolling out software at scale. Vendors without it are often filtered out early.

The company paired the release with a recent Make with Notion Showcase event in Dubai, a sign it wants closer ties with the local ecosystem rather than treating the region as remote demand.

Arabic becomes Notion’s 21st supported language. The change turns a widely used foreign tool into something that feels native, and signals that the company sees the Gulf as more than a side market.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

4 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.