diff --git a/browser/base/content/tabview/ui.js b/browser/base/content/tabview/ui.js
index 0b279b4af16..915af8f56bb 100644
--- a/browser/base/content/tabview/ui.js
+++ b/browser/base/content/tabview/ui.js
@@ -360,6 +360,11 @@ let UI = {
     if (this._isTabViewVisible())
       return;
 
+    // initialize the direction of the page
+    let chromeReg = Cc["@mozilla.org/chrome/chrome-registry;1"].
+                    getService(Ci.nsIXULChromeRegistry);
+    document.documentElement.setAttribute("dir", chromeReg.isLocaleRTL("global") ? "rtl" : "ltr");
+
     var self = this;
     var currentTab = this._currentTab;
     var item = null;
diff --git a/browser/base/content/test/tabview/Makefile.in b/browser/base/content/test/tabview/Makefile.in
index aa75098575e..32acbc0acf7 100644
--- a/browser/base/content/test/tabview/Makefile.in
+++ b/browser/base/content/test/tabview/Makefile.in
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ _BROWSER_FILES = \
                  browser_tabview_launch.js \
                  browser_tabview_orphaned_tabs.js \
                  browser_tabview_privatebrowsing.js \
+                 browser_tabview_rtl.js \
                  browser_tabview_search.js \
                  browser_tabview_snapping.js \
                  browser_tabview_startup_transitions.js \
diff --git a/browser/base/content/test/tabview/browser_tabview_rtl.js b/browser/base/content/test/tabview/browser_tabview_rtl.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..148323527cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/browser/base/content/test/tabview/browser_tabview_rtl.js
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+/* ***** BEGIN LICENSE BLOCK *****
+ * Version: MPL 1.1/GPL 2.0/LGPL 2.1
+ *
+ * The contents of this file are subject to the Mozilla Public License Version
+ * 1.1 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
+ * the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/
+ *
+ * Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" basis,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License
+ * for the specific language governing rights and limitations under the
+ * License.
+ *
+ * The Original Code is tabview RTL support test.
+ *
+ * The Initial Developer of the Original Code is
+ * Mozilla Foundation.
+ * Portions created by the Initial Developer are Copyright (C) 2010
+ * the Initial Developer. All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * Contributor(s):
+ *   Ehsan Akhgari <ehsan@mozilla.com> (Original Author)
+ *
+ * Alternatively, the contents of this file may be used under the terms of
+ * either the GNU General Public License Version 2 or later (the "GPL"), or
+ * the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1 or later (the "LGPL"),
+ * in which case the provisions of the GPL or the LGPL are applicable instead
+ * of those above. If you wish to allow use of your version of this file only
+ * under the terms of either the GPL or the LGPL, and not to allow others to
+ * use your version of this file under the terms of the MPL, indicate your
+ * decision by deleting the provisions above and replace them with the notice
+ * and other provisions required by the GPL or the LGPL. If you do not delete
+ * the provisions above, a recipient may use your version of this file under
+ * the terms of any one of the MPL, the GPL or the LGPL.
+ *
+ * ***** END LICENSE BLOCK ***** */
+
+let tabViewShownCount = 0;
+
+// ----------
+function test() {
+  waitForExplicitFinish();
+
+  // verify initial state
+  ok(!TabView.isVisible(), "Tab View starts hidden");
+
+  // use the Tab View button to launch it for the first time
+  window.addEventListener("tabviewshown", onTabViewLoadedAndShown("ltr"), false);
+  toggleTabView();
+}
+
+function toggleTabView() {
+  let button = document.getElementById("tabview-button");
+  ok(button, "Tab View button exists");
+  button.doCommand();
+}
+
+// ----------
+function onTabViewLoadedAndShown(dir) {
+  return function() {
+    window.removeEventListener("tabviewshown", arguments.callee, false);
+    ok(TabView.isVisible(), "Tab View is visible.");
+
+    let contentWindow = document.getElementById("tab-view").contentWindow;
+    let contentDocument = contentWindow.document;
+    is(contentDocument.documentElement.getAttribute("dir"), dir,
+       "The direction should be set to " + dir.toUpperCase());
+
+    // kick off the series
+    window.addEventListener("tabviewhidden", onTabViewHidden(dir), false);
+    TabView.toggle();
+  };
+}
+
+// ---------- 
+function onTabViewHidden(dir) {
+  return function() {
+    window.removeEventListener("tabviewhidden", arguments.callee, false);
+    ok(!TabView.isVisible(), "Tab View is hidden.");
+
+    if (dir == "ltr") {
+      // Switch to RTL mode
+      Services.prefs.setCharPref("intl.uidirection.en-US", "rtl");
+
+      // use the Tab View button to launch it for the second time
+      window.addEventListener("tabviewshown", onTabViewLoadedAndShown("rtl"), false);
+      toggleTabView();
+    } else {
+      // Switch to LTR mode
+      Services.prefs.clearUserPref("intl.uidirection.en-US");
+
+      finish();
+    }
+  };
+}
+