Alexa can now speak Arabic – launches officially in Saudi Arabia and UAE with Echo devices

Amazon has officially introduced Alexa to the Middle East starting with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The virtual assistant can now speak in Arabic and understands local dialects from the region.

Work started almost two years back to develop the personality and Arabic language with Alexa. Local customers volunteered to help Alexa learn the language through an app by going through scripted event. Following that, Amazon employees started testing it internally that has now lead to the launch of it in the Middle East.

Amazon hasn’t just made a literal translation of Alexa commands from English to Arabic. Instead, it has gone through the nuance of different dialects from the region along with adding cultural references. Alexa can tell you when the next prayer time is or when the next Eid falls.

Echo devices launch in the UAE and Saudi Arabia