How does hreflang work?

The hreflang attribute signals the language and regional targeting of a page.

For instance, en-ae indicates English content targeted at UAE users, while ar-sa targets Arabic speakers in Saudi Arabia.

Correct implementation prevents duplicate content issues across markets and ensures users see the most relevant version of your site.

Incorrect setup (like missing return tags) can confuse Google, leading to wrong regional results. Always validate hreflang with Search Console’s International Targeting report.