Global technology group e& has announced the launch of a new free smart keyboard designed to bring the Arabic language back into everyday digital communication. The smart keyboard mirrors the layout that Arabizi users already know, placing Arabic letters in the same familiar positions as their English counterparts. The company reported that this approach reduces barriers to writing in Arabic and gradually retrains muscle memory. It also revealed that the initiative aims to help users reconnect with the language in a way that feels natural, reflecting e&’s commitment to cultural identity at a time of rapid technological change.

Arabizi is an informal method of writing Arabic using English letters and numbers to represent sounds that do not exist in English. It emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the rise of mobile technology and limited device support for non-Latin scripts.

The announcement aligns with the upcoming celebration of World Arabic Language Day on 18 December, marking the United Nations’ 1973 adoption of Arabic as an official language. This date continues to highlight its cultural and civilisational significance.

Fares Hamad Fares, Vice President of Digital Marketing at e&, said that today’s digital habits evolve faster than language can adapt. He stated that the smart keyboard meets users where they are instead of asking them to change the way they type. He reported that the tool retrains muscle memory through familiar layouts and makes writing in Arabic easier for younger generations. He added that safeguarding the Arabic language has become a technological and social responsibility as well as an educational one.

The initiative includes several cultural and media components. e& is collaborating with Diwan Publishing on a film that reprints Arabic literary classics entirely in Arabizi. The film demonstrates how meaning and identity shift when Arabic letters are removed. It then shows how the smart keyboard helps readers and writers reconnect with accurate Arabic through intuitive layouts.

Additionally, the company will work with libraries, schools, and cultural figures to deliver interactive content and on-ground experiences. These efforts aim to strengthen users’ relationship with the Arabic language in digital spaces.

This announcement follows growing concerns about the challenges facing Arabic in the digital landscape. Fast-typing habits on smartphones have contributed to the decline of correct Arabic usage. e& aims to empower young people to express themselves in their native language without sacrificing convenience. It also supports proper Arabic writing in workplaces where linguistic accuracy is tied to professionalism and institutional identity.

The company is partnering with schools, universities, and cultural institutions to expand the initiative. Activities will include writing competitions, youth-oriented educational content, and collaborations with experts and creators to showcase how technology can empower the Arabic language.

Some key elements of the initiative include:
• A smart keyboard designed to revive Arabic typing habits
• Cultural programmes highlighting the impact of Arabizi
• Partnerships with educational and cultural organisations

e& also revealed that it is working to increase Arabic representation in AI training datasets. Despite more than 400 million Arabic speakers worldwide, Arabic content online represents less than one per cent of global digital content. This gap affects AI models’ ability to understand Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects. The company reported that expanding diverse, high-quality datasets is essential for AI solutions that accurately reflect the region’s linguistic identity.

e& continues to support Arabic culture through initiatives such as the International Prize for Arabic Children’s Literature, which promotes excellence among authors, illustrators, and publishers. The group said this forms part of its commitment to empowering knowledge-driven futures and preserving Arabic language and culture.

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