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Twitch Launches Arabic Right-To-Left Interface For Web & Mobile
The livestreaming service has expanded access and inclusion for Arabic-speaking users, unlocking new opportunities for creativity, and growth.
Livestreaming service Twitch has launched a global Arabic Right-to-Left (RTL) interface across its desktop and mobile platforms, marking a major step in its commitment to supporting Arabic-speaking communities. The update allows users to navigate the site in Arabic, with RTL alignment enabled throughout the interface.
Arabic language settings are now available worldwide and can be activated through Twitch account preferences or by adjusting a device’s language settings. Further localization — such as RTL support for notifications and emails — is expected to roll out later this year.
The launch reflects Twitch’s broader strategy of purposeful localization and community investment. “By delivering Arabic RTL, we’re enabling access and supporting streamers to build vibrant communities in their own language,” said Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch. “Our long-term vision is to localize with purpose and invest in the people behind the content”.
Usage trends point to Twitch’s growing presence in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2024, MENA viewers spent more than 209 million hours watching Twitch content. Top categories in the region include Just Chatting, Valorant, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Overwatch 2 — indicating a broad mix of esports, gaming, and conversational content.
The Arabic RTL experience arrives amid rising investment in the regional gaming economy, which is projected to exceed $6 billion by 2027. National digital strategies and youth-led innovation continue to drive growth, and platforms like Twitch are expanding local support to meet the demand.
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Streamers in the region have welcomed the update as a meaningful move toward inclusion. Saudi Arabia – based Twitch Partner Meshael MR commented, “This update makes Twitch feel more like home. It removes barriers for new streamers and shows that Twitch sees our community and is building with us”.
Globally, Twitch remains the leading platform for interactive live streaming, capturing over 60% of the market and logging more than 655 million hours watched in 2024. The Arabic RTL launch adds to its ongoing efforts to build safer, more inclusive spaces for creators and audiences across all regions.
News
NEOPAY Wants To Follow Merchants Across Channels And Borders
A controlling 65% stake in noon payments would give NEOPAY access to marketplace sellers, online merchants and the payment flows they generate.
It’s been a long time since checkouts were single defined places. A merchant might take payments at a physical register, on its own website and through an online marketplace, sometimes in more than one country. NEOPAY wants to follow those transactions wherever they happen.
The UAE payments company has entered into an agreement to acquire a 65% controlling stake in noon payments. NEOPAY already runs the acquiring infrastructure that lets merchants accept card payments, along with omnichannel acceptance and a merchant services platform. This new deal would add noon payments’ embedded payments platform, e-commerce gateway and merchant network across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. That would considerably expand both NEOPAY’s digital commerce capabilities and its regional reach.
For merchants, the attraction is a single provider for online and in-store payments, plus faster settlements, data and analytics, and value-added financial services.
“Payments should be simple, reliable, and built for the markets they serve,” said Faraz Khalid, CEO of noon. His counterpart at NEOPAY, Vibhor Mundhada, added: “We have built a strong payments business in the UAE, and our ambition is now to take that capability across the region”. The acquisition, Mundhada added, would “expand our footprint into Saudi Arabia and Egypt” while reinforcing NEOPAY’s position at home.
Also Read: In Kuwait, Your Surgeon Might Be Operating From Another Country
NEOPAY is also keen to point out potential payment volume increases. The company says noon payments’ integrations with marketplace sellers and online merchants create high transaction density in some of the region’s fastest-growing digital commerce segments. It also believes control of the business would give it access to those merchant relationships and payment flows, and speed up the rollout of alternative payment methods and installment options.
The combined roadmap targets faster merchant onboarding, better payment performance, tighter fraud controls and embedded financial services. The deal could also strengthen cross-border payments and settlement along key regional commerce corridors.
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