Recently, a fashion retailer approached me after wasting over 150,000 SAR on online leading marketing agency Saudi with disappointing returns. After redesigning their strategy, we achieved a 631% increase in return on ad spend.

Unexpected discoveries:

• Temporary channels surpassing Image networks for certain products
• Late promotion dramatically outperforming daytime campaigns
• Motion material generating better ROI than fixed graphics
• Handheld performance exceeding desktop by substantial differences

As someone who has created over 30 Arabic websites in the last half-decade, I can tell you that applying Western UX practices to Arabic interfaces simply doesn't work. The unique characteristics of Arabic text and Saudi user behaviors require a totally unique approach.

Important scheduling discoveries:

• After worship times offering engagement opportunities
• Late evening interaction increases substantially greater than worldwide averages
• Weekend habits notably varied from weekday interaction
• Seasonal variations during Ramadan demanding tailored approaches
• School schedule influences on particular audiences

A friend who runs a restaurant in Riyadh originally hesitated at the extra 12,000 SAR for an booking system, but subsequently shared me it became profitable within a quarter by reducing employee hours spent on phone reservations.

I still think about the astonishment on my brother-in-law's face when he got a quote for 75,000 SAR for his company website. "It's just a site!" he exclaimed. Not long after, he ultimately with a inexpensive 3,000 SAR site that looked terrible and didn't attract a single lead.

Throughout my previous project for a investment company in Riyadh, we observed that users were frequently clicking the wrong navigation items. Our eye-tracking revealed that their focus naturally moved from right to left, but the main navigation elements were placed with a left-to-right emphasis.

For a premium company, we developed a locally-relevant attribution model that recognized the distinctive path to purchase in the Kingdom. This approach discovered that their network expenses were genuinely producing nearly three times more value than previously measured.

Essential medium findings:

• WhatsApp as main messaging channels for user assistance
• Temporary content working remarkably successfully for specific segments
• Video platforms viewing at notably increased levels than international standards
• Twitter substantial effect on public discourse
• Visual platforms notably successful for aspirational companies

Key visual elements to consider:

• Proper portrayal of individuals respecting cultural norms

• Color choices with awareness of local interpretation

• Architecture and settings that resonate with Saudi heritage

• Attention to specifics that demonstrate cultural understanding

• Heritage designs integrated elegantly

• Select fonts purposely developed for Arabic digital display (like Boutros) rather than traditional print fonts

• Increase line height by 150-175% for improved readability

• Use right-aligned text (never center-aligned for body text)

• Avoid narrow Arabic fonts that compromise the unique letter structures

Effective approaches:

• Adding regional transaction options like Mada
• Enhancing Arabic product information
• Featuring Saudi assistance availability
• Including credibility indicators specific to Saudi users

Rather than focusing exclusively on finding the most affordable quote, think about the possible results that a superior website will produce for your business. A properly developed site is an investment that will keep paying dividends for years to come.

For a apparel store, we performed a thorough medium performance evaluation that revealed their most effective channels were totally separate from their worldwide trends. This finding permitted a shift of spending that enhanced their overall ROI by 213%.

Last month, my colleague Nora received quotes ranging from 22,000 to 58,000 SAR for virtually the same business website. The variation? The higher quotes contained custom design components rather than pre-designed methods.

Important elements:

• Longer consideration phases in Saudi buying paths
• Collective input aspects in purchase decisions
• Messaging as a major but hard-to-measure effect platform
• Face-to-face verification as the ultimate purchase trigger

I explored a web design agency in Jeddah last week where they displayed me the distinction between their template-based and unique projects. The aesthetic difference was immediately noticeable – the custom sites appeared clearly more professional and impactful.

Key considerations:

• Formal vs. casual Arabic application

• Geographic dialect variations fitting for the intended users

• Formal addresses employment portraying proper respect

• Faith-based allusions used with awareness

• Expressions that align with regional traditions

• Shifting action buttons to the right area of forms and interfaces

• Reconsidering content prioritization to progress from right to left

• Adapting interactive elements to match the right-to-left viewing pattern