Skateboarding dogs, sneezing pandas and countless other internet offerings are now a little more accessible in the Middle East after the launch of YouTube in Arabic.
The video-sharing website launched its long-awaited Arabic service last week in a move that could bolster the site's already strong user base in the region.
It was already possible to post videos and comments in Arabic on the site, but it now has a dedicated Arabic interface.
In a blog entry, YouTube said the Arabic site was one of seven new local-language versions.
The others include Slovenian, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. Its parent company, Google, which bought the site for US$1.65 billion (Dh6.06bn) in 2006, confirmed the launch of the Arabic service. "We are always looking for ways to improve the online video experience for our incredibly diverse global community," Google said.
"By offering the YouTube site in Arabic we both acknowledge and celebrate our global roots while enabling a new group of people to engage with YouTube videos and enjoy our platform in their language."
YouTube is the second most popular website in Saudi Arabia and the third most popular in Egypt, according to the internet traffic monitor Alexa.com. The video-sharing site is free to use, making its money through advertising.
Managers of regional websites downplayed the impact the new service could have on the traffic and revenue of smaller Arabic-language players.
Majied Qasem, the chief executive of the Arabic web portal d1g.com, did not expect the launch to prompt a significant influx of new YouTube users. "I don't think there will be a massive new adoption because of the Arabic interface … the adoption is already there," Mr Qasem said.
"We don't see it as a problem per se. [YouTube] is going to compete for the ad dollars … that competition is fierce. But I don't see the competition [from] YouTube's Arabic interface shifting the landscape."
The d1g portal includes a video-upload service and other social-networking capabilities. About 10 per cent of the videos on d1g are embedded files from YouTube. But it is also possible to upload videos of unrestricted length on to the site directly, said Mr Qasem.
He added that the Arabic language was not the only "differentiator" for d1g, as the site had moderators ensuring content met with local sensibilities.
He said the site offered "multi-faceted content", not just video.
bflanagan@thenational.ae
dgeorgecosh@thenational.ae
