SEO for Shopify in the UAE: Markets + hreflang Guide (2025)

TL;DR

For UAE stores, separate URLs per language + correct hreflang + Shopify Markets gives Google the right EN/AR version and prevents duplication. Shopify can auto-output hreflang when languages are published; we still need clean internal links and localized on-page content. Google for Developers+1

1) Make languages “real” URLs

• Publish English + Arabic via Shopify Markets (and Translate & Adapt).

• Use translated handles/slugs, not just UI strings. Shopify includes languages in the sitemap and adds hreflang automatically for published locales. Shopify Help Center

• Keep canonicals self-referential per locale.

Internal link: Point EN pages to /pages/shopify-cro-hub and AR pages to their AR equivalents (once live) to grow topical clusters.

2) Hreflang that actually works

• Use hreflang="en" for English and hreflang="ar" for Arabic; add x-default to the primary language/market.

• Each language page must reference the other (reciprocal). Google recommends distinct URLs for each language. Google for Developers+1

3) On-page localization (beyond translation)

• Translate titles, meta, headings, image alt, and URL slugs.

• Mirror offers, currencies, and CTAs for UAE context.

• Keep AR numerals (1,2,3) and right-to-left typography consistent on AR pages (theme styles).

4) Internal linking: build EN/AR twins

• From each EN article, link to (a) an EN service page; (b) the AR version of the same article with rel="alternate" handled by Shopify.

• Create a consistent footer language switcher (Markets selector).

5) Pitfalls to avoid

• Soft translations on the same URL (no alternate URL): hurts indexing.

• Half-translated menus that strand Arabic users on English sections.

• For blogs: don’t duplicate EN content with auto-AR without editing headlines/keywords and examples for Arabic readers.

6) Checklist (weekly)

• EN + AR pages exist as distinct URLs and appear in the sitemap

• hreflang EN/AR + x-default are present (Spot-check with View Source) Shopify Help Center

• Titles, metas, H1s, slugs are translated

• Internal links exist in both languages (service hubs + related posts)

• GSC property includes domain + language coverage; fix any “Alternate page with proper canonical” spikes

Example internal links (place once)

• EN: Shopify CRO Hub · Google Ads / PPC — Dubai · AI Model Generator · Case Studies

• AR: (use your Arabic paths when live; same anchors)

References (external)

• Google Search Central — Multilingual & multiregional sites + hreflang. Google for Developers+1

• Shopify Help — Localization & translation (Markets auto-hreflang + sitemap). Shopify Help Center

FAQs 

Do I need separate URLs for Arabic and English?
Yes. Google recommends distinct URLs per language; Shopify adds hreflang for published locales. Google for Developers+1

Will Shopify add hreflang automatically?
For published languages under Markets, Shopify outputs hreflang and includes them in sitemaps. Still validate in source and Search Console. Shopify Help Center

What if my Arabic page is machine-translated?
Tidy it. Fix headings, CTAs, currency, and examples for UAE readers to avoid thin/duplicate content.

Do I need x-default?
Recommended. Point x-default to the primary language/market homepage.