LATEST ISSUE

February 2026

Advancing Saudi Arabia's Translation Sector

As Saudi Arabia diversifies its economy and expands its international influence, language services emerge as a vital player in the country's transformation. This issue examines the fascinating evolution of the Kingdom's language industry.

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t’s a busy time for Arabic translators and interpreters. With Gulf Cooperation Council countries rushing full steam ahead toward ambitious economic goals — most notably Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 — language services play a key role in a global region seeking to expand its international influence.

With Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day on February 22, this month’s issue of MultiLingual magazine serves as a timely window into the Kingdom’s evolving language industry. Abdulrahman Alsayed opens with an introduction to translation’s vital place within the country’s plans for transformation. Hani Alotaibi outlines language access and education goals, while Nuha Alhejji discusses the nation’s approach to artificial intelligence. To round out this coverage, Amer Qobti documents the rise of Saudi gaming and its implications for the localization sector.

Our February issue also debuts a new column by Claudio Fantinuoli focused on language technology. Additional articles include an op-ed about Silicon Valley’s flawed localization strategy for emerging markets, as well as an examination of ethical issues associated with wartime translation.

Longtime readers might notice that our annual “influencers” issue is not appearing in February this year. But worry not — this industry recognition program has simply been moved to April.

We hope this issue provides a valuable look into a fascinating language market. As always, we wish you happy reading!

Event Recap

ELIA Focus on Project Management 2025: Human Leadership, AI Fluency, and Community in Athens

On December 3–5, the European Language Industry Association gathered project managers from across the localization industry in Athens, Greece, to explore both the human and technological forces shaping their work.

Column

TRANSLATING TECH

When Translation Becomes Invisible

The implications of automatically multilingual digital environments

By Claudio Fantinuoli

The author discusses translation’s evolution in the modern digital landscape: from commissioned service to user-controlled feature, and finally to algorithmic default. He argues that while this transformation brings us closer to the dream of mutual intelligibility at scale, it also comes with downsides like less scrutiny and fewer safeguards.

Perspectives

How Silicon Valley’s Cultural Blind Spot Excluded 4 Billion Users

An analysis of software localization’s 30-year failure

By Muhammad Ikram

The author examines why technology adoption in emerging markets has remained chronically low despite more than three decades of localization efforts. Using Indic languages as an example, he explains how he believes the failure began, why it has persisted for so long, and what it will take to finally resolve it.

Saudi Arabia

Translation as a Tool for Transformation in Saudi Arabia

By Abdulrahman Alsayed

In Saudi Arabia, translation has moved from an auxiliary service to a defining element of a broad national transformation, reflecting a change in how culture and knowledge are understood in the Kingdom. This article outlines the Saudi translation sector’s new structure and its role in strengthening the country’s presence on the global stage.

Language Access and Governance in Saudi Arabia

By Hani Alotaibi

Language access in Saudi Arabia has evolved through a sequence of policy interventions that have positioned language as a functional pillar of broader institutional transformation. By integrating language access into governance structures and public service design, these policies aim to better serve non-Arabic speakers and to provide employment opportunities for Saudi nationals.

Saudi Arabia’s Effort to Align Language Education and Workforce Development

By Hani Alotaibi

In Saudi Arabia, translation and interpreting education is being reshaped by workforce policy, with curriculum reform and graduate employability increasingly treated as measurable institutional obligations. This article delves into how some of the country’s universities are tackling this transformation.

Professional Development and Certification in Saudi Arabia’s Language Industry

By the Saudi Arabia Translation Association

Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission (LPTC) is charged with providing institutional support to linguists through certification, training, and mentorship programs. This article outlines the LPTC’s major initiatives and goals for the future.

Saudi Arabia’s System-Level Approach to AI Translation and Governing Meaning

By Nuha Alhejji

This article describes why Saudi Arabia approaches artificial intelligence (AI) in translation as a question of design, focusing less on speed and more on accountability. The author explains the need to prioritize human judgment as the country develops its AI-enabled translation systems.

The Role of Saudi Arabia’s Translation Association

By Abdulrahman Alsayed

Founded in 2019, the Saudi Arabia Translation Association (SATA) serves as a hub for the nation’s linguists, linking professional practice to the wider cultural landscape. Through educational resources and outreach activities, the organization aims to empower translators to be active agents in the production of meaning.

A New Player Joined the Game

Saudi Arabia and the localization of gaming and esports

By Amer Qobti

Fueled largely by its young population and the multibillion-dollar National Gaming and Esports Strategy, Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming a global gaming and esports hub. The author details the essential role that localization plays in driving this growth.

Translation

Translating War

Objectivity, ideology, and the ethics of testimony

By Hammouda Salhi

This article explores how translation in times of war becomes an act of conscience as much as a linguistic task. Focusing on Gaza and Ukraine, it shows how translators navigate charged vocabularies. Through examples from Arabic and Western media and literary theory, the author reveals how translators balance objectivity with ethical responsibility, shaping how violence, legitimacy, and justice are remembered across languages.