diff --git a/backend/globaleaks/handlers/recipient/export.py b/backend/globaleaks/handlers/recipient/export.py
index 2a9d0d37b6..a1028ac441 100644
--- a/backend/globaleaks/handlers/recipient/export.py
+++ b/backend/globaleaks/handlers/recipient/export.py
@@ -71,13 +71,18 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         def header(self):
             self.set_font(self.report_default_font, "", 9)
             self.cell(80)
+            self.set_text_shaping(use_shaping_engine=True, direction="ltr")
             self.cell(30, 10, self.title, align="C")
+            self.set_text_shaping(use_shaping_engine=True, direction=self.report_direction)
             self.ln(20)
 
+
         def footer(self):
             self.set_y(-15)
             self.set_font(self.report_default_font, "", 9)
+            self.set_text_shaping(use_shaping_engine=True, direction="ltr")
             self.cell(0, 10, f"{self.page_no()}/{{nb}}", align="C")
+            self.set_text_shaping(use_shaping_engine=True, direction=self.report_direction)
 
         def output(self, *args, **kwargs):
             for font in list(self.fonts.keys()):