Last week, Apple seeded the first beta of the upcoming iOS 9.2 release to developers, and we’ve discovered that the new update will add support for Arabic in Siri. Apple previously built in the fundamental elements of understanding Arabic to iOS by adding Arabic support to the Keyboard Dictation and QuickType features in iOS 8 last year. Apple adding Arabic support to Siri follows up on Apple expanding its retail presence to the United Arab Emirates by opening up a pair of flagship stores in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
A local YouTube video shows off examples of Siri in Arabic:
Apple has not yet said when iOS 9.2 will be released, but the new update will also bring support for improved Safari support in third-party App Store applications, WiFi-based calling via Macs for AT&T users, and it will also likely bring support for the new American Express Apple Pay partnership for Canada and Australia. Since launching Siri in the fall of 2011, Apple has slowly added new languages in both major and minor iOS updates, and iOS 9.2 will be the latest to follow that pattern.
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Given the programming challenges of right to left text, unicode characters and the male Siri voice, This looks impressive. After doing well in China, this seems like a good affluent market for Apple to go after. The privacy features of iPhones coupled with these advancements will have them do well there, IMO. They should work on Apple Pay next.
Never mind the human rights violations and the appalling treatment of women and gay people eh? As long as there’s money to be made.
Right, because the only people that speak Arabic are the ones living in the middle east.
You’re the same guy who said the UI on the ATV4 for Netflix and then admitted to never own an ATV2/3. Such a relatable source of information you are.
I’m sorry but what does that have to do with siri?
Oh, ’cause life is perfect in the USA, huh? Your comment is imbecilic and ignorant.
Tested Arabic support with a friend, it’s a nice foundation but had some issues. He criticized dialect support and diacritical marks support could be improved in future updates, however Arabic keyboard support is great. Of note there is no female Arabic Siri.
It’s should be in Lebanese accent with a female voice.
“Apple previously built in the fundamental elements of understanding Arabic to iOS by adding Arabic support to the Keyboard Dictation and QuickType features in iOS 8 last year.”
QuickType does not support Arabic @MarkGurman.