Android RTL Rendering Mathematical Symbols and Number Groups Backwards

[steinalex]

Description

Since upgrading to Expo 53/54, we are seeing a big change in how numbers are rendered in Arabic mode (RTL) on Android.

Here are some examples of differences we're seeing (tested on both Expo 53 and Expo 54 using 0.79.5 and 0.81.5 respectively)
Expo 52 (RN 0.76.9): -123.456
Expo 53 (RN 0.79.5): 123.456-
Expo 54 (RN 0.81.5): 123.456-

Expo 52 (RN 0.76.9): +455.234
Expo 53 (RN 0.79.5): 455.234+
Expo 54 (RN 0.81.5): 455.234+

Expo 52 (RN 0.76.9): 12 - 13 = 25
Expo 53 (RN 0.79.5): 25 = 13 - 12
Expo 54 (RN 0.81.5): 25 = 13 - 12

I'm unable to find any documentation regarding this change which is not being applied on iOS (causing a lot of differences between the two devices). Please see the attached screenshots for more details.

Expo 52 repo: https://github.com/steinalex/expo-52-arabic-numbers
Expo 54 repo: https://github.com/steinalex/expo-54-arabic-numbers

Is there a way to opt out of this on Android and always render numbers with mathematical symbols in LTR mode?

The only way around it so far is to manually inject the LRT unicode character '\u200E' everywhere, but that's not a viable solution for our very large project.

Whilst I'm using Expo templates to help generate a minimal example, I do not believe this is an Expo specific issue.

Steps to reproduce

1. Install the minimal retro
2. Observe the difference in the numbers being rendered between React Native versions

React Native Version

0.79.5+

Affected Platforms

Runtime - Android

Output of npx @react-native-community/cli info

System:
  OS: macOS 15.7.1
  CPU: (10) arm64 Apple M1 Pro
  Memory: 156.45 MB / 32.00 GB
  Shell:
    version: "5.9"
    path: /bin/zsh
Binaries:
  Node:
    version: 22.17.1
    path: /Users/alex.stein/.asdf/installs/nodejs/22.17.1/bin/node
  Yarn:
    version: 1.22.19
    path: /Users/alex.stein/.asdf/shims/yarn
  npm:
    version: 10.9.2
    path: /Users/alex.stein/.asdf/plugins/nodejs/shims/npm
  Watchman:
    version: 2025.03.10.00
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/watchman
Managers:
  CocoaPods:
    version: 1.16.2
    path: /opt/homebrew/bin/pod
SDKs:
  iOS SDK:
    Platforms:
      - DriverKit 25.1
      - iOS 26.1
      - macOS 26.1
      - tvOS 26.1
      - visionOS 26.1
      - watchOS 26.1
  Android SDK: Not Found
IDEs:
  Android Studio: 2024.3 AI-243.24978.46.2431.13208083
  Xcode:
    version: 26.1.1/17B100
    path: /usr/bin/xcodebuild
Languages:
  Java:
    version: 11.0.16.1
    path: /Users/alex.stein/.asdf/shims/javac
  Ruby:
    version: 2.6.10
    path: /usr/bin/ruby
npmPackages:
  "@react-native-community/cli": Not Found
  react:
    installed: 19.1.0
    wanted: 19.1.0
  react-native:
    installed: 0.81.5
    wanted: 0.81.5
  react-native-macos: Not Found
npmGlobalPackages:
  "*react-native*": Not Found
Android:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found
iOS:
  hermesEnabled: Not found
  newArchEnabled: Not found

Stacktrace or Logs

N/A

MANDATORY Reproducer

https://github.com/steinalex/expo-54-arabic-numbers

Screenshots and Videos

Expo 52 (Android)	Expo 54 (Android)

[Thotaharshavardhani]

@steinalex, Thanks for reporting this issue. I was able to reproduce it using the reproducers, and I can confirm it occurs on Android only and does not reproduce on iOS.