Summary
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To get the "Middle East version" of Adobe Illustrator, you don't need a separate subscription; rather, you need to change your installation language in the Creative Cloud settings to unlock full Right-to-Left (RTL) support for languages like Arabic and Hebrew. 1. How to Install the Middle East Version illustrator middle east version full
If you already have Illustrator installed and it doesn't support Arabic (letters appear backwards or disconnected), follow these steps:
Open Creative Cloud Desktop: Click the Creative Cloud icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (macOS).
Access Preferences: Click your Account icon (top right) and select Preferences. Change Install Language: Select Apps in the sidebar. Find the Default install language dropdown.
Choose English يدعم العربية (English Arabic) or English תומך עברית (English Hebrew). Reinstall Illustrator:
If Illustrator is already installed, you may need to Uninstall the standard version first.
Once the language is changed, click Install for Illustrator. This will download the Middle Eastern components. 2. Activating Middle Eastern Features
After installation, you must enable the specialized composers to make text flow correctly:
Adobe Illustrator Middle East (ME) edition is a specialized version of the software designed specifically for designers working with Right-to-Left (RTL) scripts like Arabic and Hebrew. Key Features Right-to-Left (RTL) Support Review: Illustrator Middle East Version — Full Summary
: Specialized tools enable correct text flow for Arabic and Hebrew while maintaining standard Left-to-Right support for English. Adobe World-Ready Composers : Includes specific engines like the Middle Eastern Single-line Every-line
composers to handle complex ligatures and character shaping. Advanced Typography
: Provides options for Kashidas (text justification through elongated characters), diacritic positioning, and varied digit types (e.g., Hindi vs. Arabic digits). Bi-directional Mixing
: Allows seamless mixing of RTL and LTR languages within the same paragraph or document. Installation & Configuration The "full" version is typically accessed through a standard Creative Cloud All Apps subscription by following these specific steps:
How to enable Right to left text in InDesign and Illustrator.
The "Middle East version" of Adobe Illustrator—often referred to as the MENA edition—is a specialized installation of the standard Illustrator software that provides comprehensive support for Right-to-Left (RTL) languages like Arabic, Hebrew, Persian (Farsi), and Urdu.
While modern versions of Illustrator (CC 2024–2025) have integrated many RTL features, designers working extensively with Middle Eastern scripts often still require the dedicated MENA installation for professional-grade layout control. Core Features Comparison Standard Version (NA/EU) Middle East (MENA) Version Basic RTL Typing Possible after enabling "Indic Options" in preferences. Fully integrated from launch. Paragraph Direction Often limited to "Align Right" without true RTL flow.
Native RTL/LTR toggle buttons for correct punctuation placement. Special Characters Manual insertion of glyphs. The Middle East (ME) version of Adobe Illustrator
Support for Kashidas (text elongation) and diacritic positioning. Numeral Support Standard Western digits. Support for Arabic, Farsi, and Hindi numeral styles. Composers Adobe World-Ready Composer. Middle Eastern Single-line and Every-line Composers.
These tutorials provide step-by-step guidance on enabling and mastering Middle Eastern text features in Adobe Illustrator:
Let’s walk through using the Full ME Version to create a bilingual poster.
Step 1: Create a New Document Set artboard size to A3. Notice the ruler is on the left. Go to View > Rulers > Change to Right-to-Left Ruler.
Step 2: Type Text
Select the Type Tool. Draw a text frame. Change the Paragraph panel from Left to Right (default icon) to Right to Left (icon shows paragraphs aligned right).
Step 3: Type Arabic Switch your keyboard layout to Arabic (Windows: Windows + Space; Mac: Cmd + Space). Type "مرحبا بالعالم". The letters join instantly.
Step 4: Apply Kashida Justification Select the text. In the Paragraph panel, open the justification menu. Under "Kashida," choose a value (e.g., 50%). Now when you justify text, Illustrator will stretch the internal strokes of letters (المد) instead of just adding white space. This is the hallmark of professional Arabic typography.
Step 5: Numbers Go to Type > Type Direction > Use Eastern Digits. The numbers "123" will automatically render as "١٢٣".
Depending on your budget and legality, there are three routes:
If you hate subscriptions, you can buy a used license for Adobe Illustrator CS6 Middle East Edition from resellers (eBay, specialized forums). Warning: These are expensive ($300–$600) because they are discontinued. You also cannot open newer .AI files (Post-2020).