The Creative Cloud app selects the installer language based on your app's locale.
The Middle East version of Illustrator is essential for professional Arabic/Hebrew typography. For Creative Cloud subscribers in eligible regions, installation is straightforward via the CC app with a MENA account. If you’re outside those regions, you’ll need to either change your Adobe ID region, use language pack switching (hit or miss), or rely on workarounds.
For most designers, the simplest path is: Purchase Illustrator through an official MENA reseller – the slight extra effort saves endless manual text-reversing and broken ligatures.
Mastering Right-to-Left Design: How to Install Adobe Illustrator with Middle Eastern Support
Designing with Arabic, Hebrew, or Persian script in Adobe Illustrator requires more than just picking a font; you need the Middle Eastern (ME) version to handle right-to-left (RTL) text direction and complex character ligatures properly.
While Adobe no longer sells a separate "ME Edition" software disc, the functionality is fully integrated into the Creative Cloud Desktop app. Here is the step-by-step guide to setting it up. 1. Configure Your Creative Cloud Preferences adobe illustrator middle east version install
Before installing the app, you must tell the Creative Cloud Desktop app to look for the version that includes Middle Eastern features. Open the Creative Cloud app on your computer.
Click your Account Icon in the top right corner and select Preferences. In the sidebar, click on Apps. Look for the Default install language dropdown menu.
Select either English (Arabic) or English (Hebrew). This tells Adobe to provide the English interface with added ME text engines. 2. Install (or Re-install) Illustrator
If you already have Illustrator installed in standard English, you will likely need to uninstall and reinstall it for the change to take effect. Go to the Apps tab in Creative Cloud.
Locate Illustrator. If it is already installed, click the three dots (...) and select Uninstall. The Creative Cloud app selects the installer language
Once removed (or if installing for the first time), click Install. Because you changed your language preferences in Step 1, the version downloaded will now include the Middle Eastern and South Asian composers. 3. Enable RTL Features in the Workspace
Simply installing the version isn't enough; you have to activate the specific text engine within your project.
Open Preferences: Go to Edit > Preferences > Type (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > Type (Mac).
Show Indic Options: Check the box for Show Indic Options (this also enables ME options) and click OK.
Set the Paragraph Composer: Open your Paragraph Panel (Window > Type > Paragraph). Click the flyout menu (the tiny lines in the top right corner) and select Middle Eastern & South Asian Single-line Composer. Why the ME Version Matters there is a workflow hack:
Without these steps, your Arabic or Hebrew text will likely appear backward, and letters will not "stick" together as they should. By using the Middle Eastern composer, Illustrator correctly evaluates word spacing, hyphenation, and right-to-left flow.
For advanced calligraphic effects, you can also use the Glyphs panel (Type > Glyphs) to manually insert Kashidas (elongated characters) to better fit your layout.
Install Hebrew or Arabic versions of InDesign and Illustrator
Yes. The text engine is built into the application binary. You cannot switch the text engine from "International English" to "Middle Eastern" via a setting inside the app without reinstalling the specific ME version.
For enterprise users who struggle with installation, there is a workflow hack: