Arabic and English Name Embroidery on Scrubs: Layout, Fonts and Proofing

Bilingual name embroidery on scrubs works when Arabic and English are treated as two equal lines, not a translation squeezed under a name. Choose a clear Naskh-style Arabic font, stitch the Arabic slightly larger than the English so the dots and joins survive, and have a native Arabic reader check every name on the proof. Most mistakes come from typed-in Arabic, not from the embroidery machine.

This guide focuses on what is different about Arabic and bilingual layouts. For general advice on fonts, sizes and running a name list, start with our guide to name embroidery on scrubs.

Why bilingual names make sense in the UAE

UAE clinics serve Emirati families, long-term residents from across the Arab world and patients who read only English. A name in both scripts lets an elderly patient who reads Arabic and an expatriate patient who reads English both identify their nurse or doctor at a glance. It also signals that the clinic takes its local patients seriously.

Bilingual embroidery is not only for Arabic-speaking staff. Some clinics write every staff member's name in both scripts, including non-Arab staff, so the whole team looks consistent. Others embroider Arabic only for staff who request it. Either approach works; decide once and apply it across the team.

How Arabic differs from Latin text in embroidery

Direction and joining

Arabic runs right to left and most letters join to their neighbours, changing shape depending on whether they sit at the start, middle or end of a word. Digitising software has to handle this correctly. If a file has been built from text pasted into a program that does not support Arabic shaping, the letters can appear disconnected or reversed. That is the most common and most embarrassing error, and it is invisible to anyone who cannot read Arabic.

Dots and small marks

Many Arabic letters are distinguished only by the number and position of dots: ب (b), ت (t) and ث (th) share the same base shape. At small sizes, or on textured stretch fabric, dots can merge into the stroke or disappear, which changes the letter and therefore the name. This is why Arabic normally needs to be stitched a little larger than English, and why you should check a sewn sample, not just the screen proof.

Short vowel marks (harakat) are usually left out of names on uniforms, just as they are on most signage. Including them adds tiny details that rarely stitch cleanly.

Vertical height

Arabic letters have long descenders and some tall ascenders, so an Arabic line at the same nominal size can look smaller in its body and taller overall than the English line. Allow extra line spacing between the two scripts so descenders do not collide with the English below.

Choosing Arabic fonts

Style	Look	Use on scrubs
Naskh	Clear, rounded, the style of most printed text	Best default for names; readable at small sizes
Kufi (simplified/geometric)	Angular, modern	Works with a geometric English font; check dots carefully
Thuluth, Diwani	Decorative, calligraphic	Avoid for names; too much detail for embroidery
Ruq'ah	Handwriting style	Avoid; letters can be hard to read when stitched

Try to pair styles. A clean Naskh with a simple sans-serif English font is balanced and readable. If your brand already has an Arabic typeface for its logo and signage, ask whether a simplified version can be used for names, but do not use a decorative logo face for small text.

Layout options

Stacked: Arabic above English

The most common layout on scrubs. The Arabic name sits on the first line and the English below, both centred or both aligned to the same edge.

• Works well under a chest logo.
• Keeps the block narrow, leaving room for a pocket.
• Add the role on a third line only if space genuinely allows; often the role is better shown in English alone or left to colour coding.

Side by side

English on the left, Arabic on the right, each reading towards the centre. This suits wide chest areas or jackets, but on a smaller women's top it can push the text close to the armhole seam.

Split placement

Arabic on one side of the chest and English on the other, or Arabic on the cap and English on the top. This can look tidy but makes it harder for a patient to see both at once. It is usually better for caps and jackets than for the main top.

Alignment rules

• Centre-align both lines when stacked; left-aligning Arabic looks wrong to Arabic readers, and right-aligning English looks wrong to everyone else.
• Keep the two lines visually similar in width. If a short Arabic name sits above a long English one, a slightly larger Arabic size often balances the block.
• Use the same thread colour for both scripts.

Spelling and transliteration

The same Arabic name can be written in English in several ways: Mohammed, Muhammad, Mohamed; Abdulla, Abdullah; Fatima, Fatma. Equally, a non-Arab staff member's name can be rendered in Arabic in more than one way. Never let the supplier or an online tool choose.

1. Ask each staff member for their name exactly as they want it in English, matching their work documents if they prefer.
2. Ask Arabic-speaking staff to type their own Arabic name, or supply it as a clear image, rather than having someone else transcribe it.
3. For non-Arab staff who want an Arabic version, have a native Arabic speaker on the team propose it and the staff member approve it.
4. Record both versions in the master list in separate columns, so the Arabic text is never retyped.

Sending Arabic in a spreadsheet as real text (not a screenshot) also lets the embroiderer paste it directly into Arabic-capable software, avoiding errors from copying shapes by eye.

Proofing bilingual embroidery

Proofing is where bilingual orders succeed or fail. Build in two checks the English-only process does not need.

1. Digital proof check by an Arabic reader. Someone who reads Arabic fluently should check every name for correct letters, joins, dots and direction. Do not rely on comparing shapes visually.
2. English proof check by the person named. As with any name list, staff confirm their own spelling.
3. Sewn sample of the hardest name. Choose the longest Arabic name and one with many dotted letters close together, stitch it on the actual fabric and colour, and check it at arm's length.
4. Check against the fabric. Dots are more likely to vanish on a textured stretch fabric or with a thread that blends into the fabric colour.
5. Sign off and save the file. Keep the approved digitised files so later orders use exactly the same Arabic shaping.

Bilingual embroidery checklist

• Policy agreed: Arabic for everyone, or on request
• Arabic font style (preferably Naskh) and English font paired
• Arabic size set slightly larger than English; extra line spacing allowed
• Layout chosen: stacked, side by side or split
• Names supplied as typed text by the staff themselves
• Transliterations approved by each staff member
• Digital proof checked by a fluent Arabic reader
• Sewn sample of the most complex name approved
• Approved files saved for reorders

Logos and other bilingual elements

Many UAE clinics already have a bilingual logo. If so, check how the names will sit beneath it: a wide bilingual logo plus a stacked bilingual name can make a tall block. Reducing the logo slightly or moving names to a pocket often fixes it. Our article on custom scrubs with your clinic logo covers logo sizing and mock-up approval, and the sample approval guide explains what to check before bulk production.

Getting a quotation

MISHAREN makes medical scrubs to order at its own unit in Konni, Kerala, India, with logos and staff names embroidered before delivery, and clinics can approve a sample before the full order. Send your name list, including any Arabic names, and your preferred layout through our contact page and we will prepare a quotation.