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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.
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Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform
Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.
Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.
The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.
Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.
Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.
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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.
“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.
Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.
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