Global technology group e& has announced the launch of a new free smart Arabic keyboard designed to encourage everyday use of the Arabic language in digital communication. The innovative keyboard mirrors the familiar “Arabizi” typing layout, allowing users to write in Arabic without changing their existing typing habits. By placing Arabic letters in the same positions as their English equivalents, the keyboard removes friction, retrains muscle memory, and makes Arabic typing more intuitive and accessible.
This user-centric approach reflects e&’s commitment to preserving cultural identity through technology, particularly at a time when rapid digital transformation and evolving communication behaviors are reshaping how younger generations interact, type, and express themselves online.
Arabizi, an informal system of writing Arabic using English letters and numbers, emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s alongside the rise of mobile phones and online chat platforms. It enabled Arabic speakers to communicate before devices fully supported non-Latin scripts. While practical, Arabizi gradually reduced the everyday use of Arabic script, especially among youth. e&’s smart keyboard addresses this challenge by offering a seamless bridge back to Arabic writing—without sacrificing speed or convenience.
The announcement aligns with World Arabic Language Day, celebrated annually on 18 December, commemorating the United Nations’ adoption of Arabic as an official language in 1973. The timing reinforces the importance of Arabic as a language of culture, knowledge, and civilisation in the digital age.
Commenting on the launch, Fares Hamad Fares, Vice President, Digital Marketing at e&, said, “Digital habits evolve faster than language can adapt. If Arabic is to remain present in everyday communication, we must design tools that meet people where they are. Our smart keyboard uses familiar layouts to make Arabic typing feel natural again, helping younger generations reconnect with their language in a way that aligns with their digital lifestyles. Preserving Arabic today is not only an educational mission—it is a technological and social responsibility.”
Beyond the keyboard, the initiative includes a series of cultural, educational, and media activations. These include a short film developed in partnership with Diwan Publishing, which reprints well-known Arabic literary classics entirely in Arabizi. The film demonstrates how meaning, emotion, and identity are diminished when Arabic script is removed, before highlighting how the smart keyboard helps restore authentic expression by reviving muscle memory and familiar typing patterns.
In parallel, e& will collaborate with schools, libraries, cultural institutions, and thought leaders to deliver interactive experiences, digital content, and on-ground initiatives that strengthen the relationship between people and the Arabic language in their daily digital lives.
The initiative comes at a critical moment, as Arabic faces growing challenges in the digital ecosystem, particularly due to fast-typing behaviors on smartphones and the dominance of English-language interfaces. By enabling effortless Arabic typing, e& aims to empower young people to express themselves confidently in their native language while maintaining the speed and ease they expect from modern technology. The keyboard also supports the use of correct Arabic in professional environments, reinforcing clarity, credibility, and institutional identity in the workplace.
As part of its broader commitment, e& is forming partnerships with schools, universities, and cultural organizations to expand the initiative through writing competitions, reading programs, youth-focused educational content, and collaborations with creators and language experts. These efforts demonstrate how technology can actively support Arabic language preservation rather than replace it.
Additionally, e& is working to increase Arabic representation in AI training datasets, addressing a major imbalance in global artificial intelligence development. Although Arabic speakers number more than 400 million worldwide, Arabic content accounts for less than 1% of online digital content, according to international estimates. This gap limits AI systems’ ability to accurately process Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects, underscoring the need for richer, high-quality Arabic data to ensure culturally inclusive AI solutions.
e&’s long-standing support for Arabic culture also includes its flagship initiative, the International Prize for Arabic Children’s Literature, which has helped cultivate a vibrant ecosystem of authors, illustrators, and publishers across the region. Through such initiatives, e& continues to invest in knowledge-driven futures, demonstrating how innovation, language, and cultural identity can progress together in the digital era.
