Multilingual SEO Architecture: Mastering Hreflang in UAE
Targeting English and Arabic speakers? Content is secondary if your technical structure is broken. A guide to correct Hreflang implementation.
In a diverse market like the UAE, serving content in multiple languages is common. However, simply translating pages often leads to duplicate content issues. The secret weapon is the Hreflang tag—a line of code that tells Google which language version to show to which user.
The Technical Challenge
We don't claim to be Arabic linguistic experts. Our expertise lies in the architecture. We ensure that when an Arabic speaker searches, Google serves the /ar/ version, and when an English speaker searches, they get the /en/ version. Without this signal, your pages cannibalize each other.
Common Hreflang Errors
| Error | Impact |
|---|---|
| Missing Return Links | Google ignores the tag completely. |
| Incorrect ISO Codes | Using "uk" instead of "gb" for UK English. |
| No x-default | Users in unspecified regions get random versions. |
Global Architecture
Planning to expand? Ensure your site structure can handle multiple regions.
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