Formatting Issues

How to Display Arabic PDF Pages in Right-to-Left Order

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to display an Arabic document saved as a PDF in a right-to-left format, with odd-numbered pages appearing on the left and even-numbered pages on the right.

Product: PDF
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing an exported Arabic PDF document as a two-page spread.
Observed behavior: The PDF layout defaults to a left-to-right spread, requiring the user to find a way to enforce a right-to-left page order for proper Arabic reading.

Before you start

Ensure you have a dedicated PDF reader installed that supports advanced page layout settings, as word processors cannot embed two-page spread viewing directions into the exported PDF file itself.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Page Layout Settings in Your PDF Reader

Change the viewing mode in your PDF reader to display facing pages in a right-to-left order.

While a word processor like Microsoft Word or WPS Writer controls the text and paragraph direction during editing, the final PDF's side-by-side page order is determined entirely by the software used to view the file. You will need to configure your PDF reader to handle right-to-left (RTL) reading.

Open the PDF File

Launch a fully featured PDF reader, such as Foxit Reader, and open your exported Arabic PDF document.

Navigate to the View Tab

Locate the 'View' or 'Page Layout' tab in the top ribbon or menu bar of the PDF software.

Enable Facing Pages

Select the 'Facing' or 'Continuous Facing' layout mode to force the document to display two pages side-by-side.

Set Right-to-Left Order

Look for the reading direction or language settings in the layout menu and select the 'Right-to-Left' layout option. This will arrange the spread so that odd-numbered pages sit on the left and even-numbered pages sit on the right.

PDF Reader Dependency: Not all basic web browsers or built-in PDF viewers support RTL facing pages. You may need to use advanced PDF software like Foxit, Adobe Acrobat, or WPS PDF to access these layout features.

Read and Manage PDFs Easily

Use WPS Office for Comprehensive PDF Viewing

WPS Office features a powerful built-in PDF reader that allows you to easily customize page layouts, manage multi-language documents, and seamlessly view facing pages without needing extra software.

1. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your Arabic PDF file within the application.
2. Access View Settings: Click on the 'View' tab located in the top menu ribbon.
3. Change Page Layout: Select 'Two Pages' or 'Continuous' layout options to view multiple pages side-by-side.
4. Adjust Reading Settings: Utilize the layout and zoom options to properly align your Arabic document for comfortable reading.

Easily switch between single page, continuous, and facing page viewing modesHighly compatible with Microsoft Office formats and standard PDF filesLightweight application that handles large, complex PDFs quicklyFree to download and use for essential document viewing and editing tasks

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set the PDF page direction inside Microsoft Word before exporting?

No, Microsoft Word only controls the text and paragraph direction within the document itself. The left-to-right or right-to-left two-page spread is strictly controlled by the PDF reader used to view the finalized file.

Why are my Arabic PDF pages displaying left-to-right by default?

Most PDF readers assume a standard left-to-right reading order by default. You must manually enable 'Facing' mode and switch the document layout to right-to-left within your specific PDF reader's view settings.

Which PDF readers support right-to-left page spreads?

Advanced PDF readers such as Foxit PDF Reader, Adobe Acrobat, and WPS PDF offer robust layout settings that allow you to change the page spread direction specifically for right-to-left languages like Arabic and Hebrew.

Document & File Issues