Google announces initiative to promote Arabic on Internet

PanARMENIAN.Net - Google announced a month-long initiative to promote Arabic on the Internet. The program is called “Arabic Web Days” and aims to increase the amount of online content in Arabic, a language that is under-represented on the Internet, Mashable reports.

“Arabic content on the web represents just 3 percent of the total digital content online,” Google said in its blog announcement. “Yet Arabic speakers make up more than 5 percent of the global population.”

Along with various partners, Google is organizing a series of online and offline events, including Google Hangouts with “industry experts,” an infographic competition and the celebration of “Arabic Web Day” on December 12.

“It’s all about the users,” said Maha Abu Elenein, Google’s head of communications in the Middle East and North Africa. “We want the internet to be relevant for Arabic speaking users.”

Google also launched an Arabic only blog, and a promotional YouTube video in Arabic.