Abstract
Theories of semiotics and how they relate to the use of web interfaces have been a topic of research for decades. However, little attention has been paid to the perception of semiotics from the perspective of technology users in the Arabic speaking populations. In this paper, we delve into interpretations of semiotics in icons used in open government data (OGD) portals from the perspective of native Arabic speakers in the Arab Gulf. We consider how semiotics are used and understood in technology-mediated OGD environments among this population, paying particular attention to the role of social and cultural norms in the visual design of symbols and semiotics. We then offer culturally sensitive design principles and suggestions for future research that incorporates previously unexplored characteristics of semiotics, which play a role in how users perceive icon-based navigation schemes in open data portals. Implications for the design of intelligent OGD portals, and translation of applied semiotics into technological innovations for intelligent navigation in complex OGD portals are discussed.