Abstract
The aim of this study is to clarify the role of culture when measuring the usability of websites. This study offers a framework that can be used by designers to provide the needs of the users while respecting their background and culture. This research uses heuristic evaluation and user testing methods to collect reliable data from four groups of users who represent two different cultures (Western and Arabic). These participants performed specific tasks, and then completed the usefulness, satisfaction, and ease of use questionnaire and four additional questions based on culture. This research believes that the USE Questionnaire is missing a major usability attribute which it identifies to be culture. In addition, the study confirms the close relationship between the satisfaction of users and their culture. Ease of use, learnability and satisfaction are directly influenced by culture significantly, while usefulness still needs more investigation.