AI Turbocharges Translation in Gulf's Booming Economies

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is experiencing a surge in demand for language services, fueled by its booming economies, growing international business ties, and a rising tide of technological innovation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of this transformation, significantly accelerating the growth of the translation and transcription sectors.

"The AI-powered segment of the language services market, encompassing both translation and transcription, is projected to reach a staggering US$5. 72 billion by 2030, reflecting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17. 2%, " revealed Abdul Wasey, CEO of Media Pitch, a New Delhi-based content creation firm. This significant industry shift is driven by the increasing adoption of AI solutions like Trans Pitch, a platform recently unveiled by Media Pitch.

Trans Pitch utilizes AI to translate and transcribe audio or video files into text within minutes, supporting over 100 languages. Wasey emphasizes the critical role such innovative solutions play in the current technology-driven environment, particularly within the MENA region and the GCC countries.

"There's a burgeoning demand for language services in sectors like business, healthcare, and tourism across the MENA region, and the GCC is no exception, " he explained. "This demand is a major driver of growth in the language services industry. "

Beyond core translation and transcription, Trans Pitch offers unique features like clip-by-clip translation for line-by-line verification of translated or transcribed text. Additionally, its paraphrasing feature allows users to directly convert audio or video content into various formats like news reports, features, or interviews.

The surge in the language services industry across the GCC is fueled by the region's dynamic economies, particularly those of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These countries attract substantial foreign investment and business operations, creating a pressing need for extensive localization and translation services.

"As multinational corporations expand into the Gulf, there's a critical need for translations, particularly into Arabic, to cater to local market demands, " Wasey noted.

While Arabic remains the most requested language for translation in the region, the diverse expatriate community and international business landscape drive significant demand for other languages as well. Chinese, Russian, Hindi, and other Indian languages are frequently required, reflecting the broad economic ties and diverse populations in countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

"Advanced technologies like AI and Machine Translation (MT) are fundamentally transforming the language services landscape in the Gulf, " said Hamood Siddiqui, the mastermind behind Trans Pitch. "These technologies significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of translation and transcription services, which is crucial for sectors like e-commerce and digital content, where timely and culturally relevant communication is paramount. "

Siddiqui pinpointed the rising demand for audio-to-text translation and transcription services in the GCC region. This growth is attributed to various factors, including the proliferation of audiovisual content across diverse industries. "This trend is partly fueled by the shift towards remote work environments, which has significantly expanded the need for these services across business, healthcare, tourism, and other sectors, " Siddiqui added.

According to a study by Astute Analytica, the AI-powered segment of the language services market, encompassing both translation and transcription, is projected to reach around $45 billion by 2025. "This projected growth is driven by the widespread adoption of AI technologies, which enhance translation accuracy and speed across various sectors, " the report states.

The broader global language services market is also poised for significant growth, with Mordor Intelligence predicting a CAGR of 6. 32% from 2024 to 2029. This indicates strong and sustained demand for translation and related services worldwide, including in the dynamic economies of the Gulf region.