Skyscanner Rolls Out Arabic Language Option for ME Users

In an effort to offer travellers in the Middle East a more localised and user-friendly experience, leading global travel marketplace Skyscanner has rolled out the Arabic language offering across all domains, including UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Travellers visiting Skyscanner on the desktop, mobile web or via the app will now be able to select Arabic as a language option to access more localised content, including local currency and a better user experience when linking to partner sites to complete their travel bookings.

Travel is returning in the region at a strong pace. On Skyscanner, interest in both domestic and international flights have increased steadily from UAE travellers, with a lift of 23 per cent in searches and even more dramatically from Saudi travellers, where there was an increase of 110 per cent in searches from February to March of this year.

UAE

23 per cent month-over-month increase in searches on Skyscanner, March 2021 vs February 2021

Top searched countries in March

• India

• Philippines

• Pakistan

• United Kingdom

• Russia

Saudi Arabia

110 per cent month-over-month increase in searches on Skyscanner, March 2021 vs February 2021

Top searched countries in March

• Saudi Arabia

• India

• Pakistan

• Philippines

• Egypt

According to a recent YouGov survey, commissioned by Reed Exhibitions, ahead Arabian Travel Market 2021, the money that Middle East travellers spend on international leisure travel will begin to exceed 2019 levels in as little as three years.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer travellers in the Middle East a far more relevant experience on desktop, allowing them to plan and book travel in their local language and currency,” said Gavin Harris, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Skyscanner. “Arabic is one of the 5th most spoken languages in the world and outbound travel from the UAE and Saudi Arabia accounts for a significant proportion of the total travel market. We previously launched the Skyscanner app in Arabic to great success, so it was a logical next step to bring the localised experience to desktop users too. We’re excited about the opportunity this will afford our partners in the region as well.”

Now, travellers in the Middle East will be able to choose Arabic as their language of choice when visiting Skyscanner, giving them access to all of Skyscanner’s leading flight search, comparison and booking functionality and features. When travellers select a flight option with a partner, they will automatically be redirected to the Arabic locale on the partner’s site, where it is offered as a language option, ensuring for a smoother, more user-friendly experience.

Skyscanner is already a well-established player in the region, with Etihad Airways, Emirates and Air Arabia all participating in the travel marketplace’s direct booking platform to sell tickets directly to Skyscanner users. Skyscanner offers partnership opportunities for airlines, destination management companies, travel operators and companies from a range of sectors, such as advertising, data & analytics solutions, as well as a world leading affiliates programme and flights APIs to power flight search on partner websites and apps.