Running a website that serves audiences in multiple languages is more complex than most businesses realise. While expanding to new languages opens opportunities for growth, it also introduces challenges that can frustrate users if not handled properly. Many websites struggle with usability issues, making it difficult for visitors to navigate, understand content, or complete tasks. These problems can lead to high bounce rates, reduced conversions, and a poor perception of your brand.
For businesses in Dubai and the UAE, catering to a multilingual audience is especially important. From Arabic and English to Hindi and Urdu, users expect websites to provide clear, seamless, and culturally appropriate experiences. Simply translating your content isn’t enough. Understanding and fixing usability issues is essential to make multi-language websites functional and user-friendly.
This guide explores common usability issues in websites, practical solutions for fixing usability issues, and tips for ensuring your multi-language website meets the expectations of every visitor.
Understanding Usability Issues in Multi-Language Websites
Usability refers to how easily users can interact with your website and achieve their goals. When a website fails in this regard, users experience frustration, confusion, or disengagement. In multi-language websites, usability issues often appear in ways that are not immediately obvious:
Common Usability Issues
- Poor Translation or Literal Text:
 Automated translations can misrepresent meaning, leading to confusion. Even professionally translated content may fail if it doesn’t consider context, tone, or local expressions. - Navigation Inconsistencies:
 Menus and links that differ across language versions make it hard for users to find information. Navigation labels must remain consistent while still being culturally appropriate. - Text Expansion or Shrinking Issues:
 Some languages take more space to communicate the same message. Without flexible layouts, this can break page design and make content hard to read. - Cultural Mismatches:
 Icons, images, and colour schemes that work for one audience may not resonate with others. For example, red may signal danger in some cultures and luck in others. - Form and Input Errors:
 Forms must accommodate different address formats, phone numbers, and date conventions. Without localisation, form submission rates drop. - Right-to-Left Language Challenges:
 Websites supporting Arabic or Hebrew often struggle with alignment, text flow, and design elements, creating visual inconsistencies.
Understanding these issues is the first step toward fixing usability issues and creating a website that works well for all users.
Conducting a Usability Audit
Before implementing changes, a thorough audit identifies problem areas and prioritizes improvements. A multi-language usability audit should include:
- Reviewing content for translation accuracy and tone
- Testing navigation, buttons, and links in all languages
- Checking layout and text alignment for mobile and desktop versions
- Assessing cultural relevance of visuals, icons, and CTAs
- Analysing user interactions through heatmaps and session recordings
A usability audit provides a clear roadmap for improvements, ensuring your multi-language website functions smoothly across all audiences.
Improving Navigation and Structure
Navigation is a critical factor in user experience. For multi-language websites:
- Maintain consistent menu structures across all language versions.
- Use clear labels that are culturally appropriate, rather than literal translations.
- Ensure drop-down menus and submenus adapt to different reading directions (LTR and RTL).
- Highlight important sections with easily recognizable icons or visual cues.
When navigation is intuitive, users spend less time searching and more time engaging with your content.
Designing for Multiple Languages
Text and layout challenges are common in multi-language websites. Key design considerations include:
- Flexible Layouts:
 Use responsive designs that accommodate text expansion without breaking the page. Avoid fixed-width containers for paragraphs or buttons. - Readable Fonts:
 Choose fonts that support multiple scripts and remain legible at different sizes. Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic scripts often require special attention. - Whitespace and Alignment:
 Proper spacing prevents clutter and ensures content is easy to read, regardless of the language length or reading direction. - Visual Consistency:
 Icons, images, and banners should work across all languages. Consider cultural symbolism to avoid misinterpretation.
Effective design reduces usability issues in websites and ensures a seamless experience for all users.
Localising Forms and Functional Elements
Forms are often overlooked but can be a major source of frustration. To improve usability:
- Adapt date, time, currency, and phone number formats for local users.
- Include contextual help in the user’s language.
- Label fields clearly and consistently.
- Use validation messages in the same language as the form.
By focusing on localisation, businesses increase form completion rates, engagement, and customer satisfaction.
Mobile Optimisation
Mobile browsing is dominant in the UAE. Multi-language websites must perform equally well on smartphones.
- Buttons and menus should be tap-friendly.
- Page load speed must remain fast for all language versions.
- RTL support is crucial for Arabic mobile users.
A mobile-optimised multi-language website eliminates friction and increases repeat visits.
Testing and Iteration
Testing is essential to identify hidden usability issues:
- Conduct user testing with native speakers of all languages.
- Observe navigation paths and form completions.
- Gather feedback on clarity, readability, and layout.
- Iterate improvements based on real user behaviour.
Regular testing ensures your multi-language website continues to meet user expectations.
Maintaining Usability Long-Term
Usability is not a one-time task. Continuous monitoring ensures long-term performance:
- Track analytics for drop-offs and friction points.
- Update translations whenever content changes.
- Regularly review design, layout, and CTAs for new languages.
- Stay informed about regional and cultural trends that may affect usability.
Proactive maintenance prevents new usability issues in websites from affecting your audience.
The Role of Web Designing Companies
For businesses seeking professional guidance, partnering with web designing companies is highly beneficial. These companies specialise in:
- Designing websites that function seamlessly across multiple languages
- Addressing navigation, layout, and cultural issues
- Optimising mobile experiences and forms
- Conducting usability testing and audits
A professional Dubai web designing company ensures your website is user-friendly, visually appealing, and capable of engaging a diverse audience.
Practical Tips for Businesses
- Avoid Literal Translations: Work with professional translators who understand local nuances.
- Prioritise Key Pages: Focus on high-traffic pages first for usability improvements.
- Test Across Devices: Ensure both desktop and mobile experiences are smooth.
- Use Analytics: Track behaviour to identify where users drop off.
- Engage Local Users: Collect feedback from native speakers to refine content and layout.
Implementing these tips alongside professional design support ensures that your multi-language website functions efficiently and improves user satisfaction.
Conclusion
Multi-language websites present challenges that require careful attention. By understanding and fixing usability issues, businesses can provide clear navigation, culturally appropriate content, and seamless interactions across all devices.
In Dubai’s competitive market, where audiences speak multiple languages, addressing usability issues in websites is critical for engagement, conversions, and brand reputation. Partnering with experienced web designing companies in Dubai ensures your website meets user expectations and maximises its potential.
Start improving your website today. Focus on fixing usability issues to create a smoother, more enjoyable experience for every visitor, no matter their language or device.
