e& has introduced a new free smart keyboard designed to make Arabic a natural part of daily digital communication once again. Rather than forcing users to change their typing habits, the keyboard retains the familiar “Arabizi” layout—placing Arabic letters in the same positions as their English equivalents. This design lowers the barrier to Arabic writing, helping users rebuild muscle memory and reconnect with their language in a seamless, intuitive way. The initiative reflects e&’s commitment to preserving cultural identity amid rapid technological change.
“Arabizi” emerged in the late 1990s as an informal way to write Arabic using English letters and numbers—born from early days of limited script support on mobile devices. While it helped Arabic speakers communicate online, it gradually displaced written Arabic in digital spaces. The launch coincides with World Arabic Language Day on December 18, which commemorates the United Nations’ 1973 recognition of Arabic as an official language, highlighting its enduring cultural significance.
Fares Hamad Fares, Vice President of Digital Marketing at e&, said, “Today’s digital habits move faster than language can adapt. If we want Arabic to remain present in everyday communication, we must create tools that meet people where they are, not ask them to abandon the way they type. Our new smart keyboard does this by using familiar layouts to retrain muscle memory and make writing in Arabic feel easier again. It helps younger generations reconnect with their language in a way that is intuitive and aligned with their digital lives. At e&, we believe that protecting the Arabic language is no longer only an educational responsibility; it is also a technological and social one, and an essential part of safeguarding cultural identity.”
The initiative extends beyond the keyboard itself. It will feature cultural and educational programs, including a film created in partnership with Diwan Publishing. The film reprints beloved Arabic literary texts entirely in “Arabizi” to show how meaning and emotion are lost when the Arabic script is removed. It then reveals how e&’s new keyboard makes Arabic writing feel natural again by reactivating muscle memory.
In parallel, e& will collaborate with libraries, schools, and cultural figures to deliver workshops, digital content, and on-ground experiences that deepen people’s daily engagement with Arabic. The company also plans to launch writing and reading competitions, produce youth-focused educational materials, and showcase how technology can empower language preservation.
This announcement comes at a time when smartphone habits and digital shorthand challenge the Arabic language’s visibility online. e& aims to encourage younger users to express themselves comfortably in their native language while supporting the use of accurate Arabic in professional communication.
Beyond this initiative, e& is also investing in the representation of Arabic within AI training datasets. Though Arabic is spoken by more than 400 million people, it accounts for less than 1% of global digital content, limiting AI’s ability to understand the language’s complexity and regional dialects. Enhancing Arabic data sources will play a vital role in ensuring AI systems reflect regional linguistics and cultural identity.
e& remains deeply committed to Arabic culture and literature. Through initiatives such as the International Prize for Arabic Children’s Literature, the company continues to cultivate a creative community of authors, illustrators, and publishers. By championing such efforts, e& reinforces its vision of a knowledge-driven, culturally grounded digital future where technology and tradition thrive together.
