diff --git a/apps/src/tests/single-feature-tests/split/index.ts b/apps/src/tests/single-feature-tests/split/index.ts
index fb71522122..d2ca9e7e37 100644
--- a/apps/src/tests/single-feature-tests/split/index.ts
+++ b/apps/src/tests/single-feature-tests/split/index.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
 import type { ScenarioGroup } from '@apps/tests/shared/helpers';
 import TestTopColumnForCollapsing from './test-top-column-for-collapsing';
 import TestCommandShowColumn from './test-command-show-column';
+import TestDirection from './test-split-direction';
 
-const scenarios = { TestTopColumnForCollapsing, TestCommandShowColumn };
+const scenarios = {
+  TestTopColumnForCollapsing,
+  TestCommandShowColumn,
+  TestDirection,
+};
 
 const SplitScenarioGroup: ScenarioGroup<keyof typeof scenarios> = {
   name: 'Split',
diff --git a/apps/src/tests/single-feature-tests/split/test-split-direction.tsx b/apps/src/tests/single-feature-tests/split/test-split-direction.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..492aec5fd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/src/tests/single-feature-tests/split/test-split-direction.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import React, { useState } from 'react';
+import type { ScenarioDescription } from '@apps/tests/shared/helpers';
+import { createScenario } from '@apps/tests/shared/helpers';
+import { Split, SplitHostDirection } from 'react-native-screens/experimental';
+import { StyleSheet, Text, View, Button } from 'react-native';
+
+const scenarioDescription: ScenarioDescription = {
+  name: 'Prop: direction',
+  key: 'test-split-direction',
+  details: `
+    Test the direction prop in Split component.
+  `,
+  platforms: ['ios'],
+};
+
+export function App() {
+  const [direction, setDirection] = useState<SplitHostDirection>('inherit');
+
+  return (
+    <Split.Host direction={direction}>
+      <Split.Column>
+        <ColumnContent
+          columnTitle="Primary column"
+          currentDirection={direction}
+          onChangeDirection={setDirection}
+        />
+      </Split.Column>
+      <Split.Column>
+        <ColumnContent columnTitle="Secondary column" />
+      </Split.Column>
+    </Split.Host>
+  );
+}
+
+export function ColumnContent(props: {
+  columnTitle: string;
+  currentDirection?: SplitHostDirection;
+  onChangeDirection?: (dir: SplitHostDirection) => void;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <View style={styles.container}>
+      <Text style={styles.columnTitle}>{props.columnTitle}</Text>
+
+      {props.onChangeDirection && (
+        <View style={styles.controlPanel}>
+          <Text style={styles.statusText}>
+            Current direction:{' '}
+            <Text style={styles.bold}>{props.currentDirection}</Text>
+          </Text>
+
+          <View style={styles.buttonRow}>
+            <Button
+              title="LTR"
+              onPress={() => props.onChangeDirection?.('ltr')}
+            />
+            <Button
+              title="RTL"
+              onPress={() => props.onChangeDirection?.('rtl')}
+            />
+            <Button
+              title="INHERIT"
+              onPress={() => props.onChangeDirection?.('inherit')}
+            />
+          </View>
+        </View>
+      )}
+    </View>
+  );
+}
+
+const styles = StyleSheet.create({
+  container: {
+    flex: 1,
+    width: '100%',
+    height: '100%',
+    alignItems: 'center',
+    justifyContent: 'center',
+  },
+  columnTitle: {
+    fontSize: 24,
+    fontWeight: 'bold',
+  },
+  controlPanel: {
+    marginTop: 20,
+    alignItems: 'center',
+  },
+  statusText: {
+    fontSize: 16,
+    marginBottom: 12,
+  },
+  bold: {
+    fontWeight: 'bold',
+    textTransform: 'uppercase',
+  },
+  buttonRow: {
+    flexDirection: 'row',
+    gap: 10,
+    justifyContent: 'center',
+  },
+});
+
+export default createScenario(App, scenarioDescription);
diff --git a/ios/conversion/RNSConversions-SplitView.mm b/ios/conversion/RNSConversions-SplitView.mm
index c9a18a8f0b..b2a6d3115b 100644
--- a/ios/conversion/RNSConversions-SplitView.mm
+++ b/ios/conversion/RNSConversions-SplitView.mm
@@ -115,6 +115,23 @@ UISplitViewControllerDisplayModeButtonVisibility SplitViewDisplayModeButtonVisib
   }
 }
 
+UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirection UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirectionFromSplitHostCppEquivalent(
+    react::RNSSplitHostLayoutDirection layoutDirection)
+{
+  using enum facebook::react::RNSSplitHostLayoutDirection;
+  switch (layoutDirection) {
+    case Inherit:
+      return UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirectionUnspecified;
+    case Ltr:
+      return UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirectionLeftToRight;
+    case Rtl:
+      return UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirectionRightToLeft;
+    default:
+      RCTLogError(@"[RNScreens] unsupported layout direction");
+      return UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirectionUnspecified;
+  }
+}
+
 RNSOrientation RNSOrientationFromRNSSplitHostOrientation(react::RNSSplitHostOrientation orientation)
 {
   using enum facebook::react::RNSSplitHostOrientation;
diff --git a/ios/conversion/RNSConversions.h b/ios/conversion/RNSConversions.h
index 9f28007079..a4bac299fe 100644
--- a/ios/conversion/RNSConversions.h
+++ b/ios/conversion/RNSConversions.h
@@ -134,6 +134,9 @@ std::optional<UISplitViewControllerColumn> SplitViewTopColumnForCollapsingFromHo
 
 RNSOrientation RNSOrientationFromRNSSplitHostOrientation(react::RNSSplitHostOrientation orientation);
 
+UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirection UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirectionFromSplitHostCppEquivalent(
+    react::RNSSplitHostLayoutDirection layoutDirection);
+
 #pragma mark SplitScreen props
 
 RNSSplitScreenColumnType RNSSplitScreenColumnTypeFromScreenProp(react::RNSSplitScreenColumnType columnType);
diff --git a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitAppearanceApplicator.swift b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitAppearanceApplicator.swift
index 617da145ef..05d529e2bc 100644
--- a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitAppearanceApplicator.swift
+++ b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitAppearanceApplicator.swift
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ class RNSSplitAppearanceApplicator {
     appearanceCoordinator.updateIfNeeded(.orientationUpdate) { [] in
       RNSScreenWindowTraits.enforceDesiredDeviceOrientation()
     }
+
+    appearanceCoordinator.updateIfNeeded(.layoutDirectionUpdateBelowIOS17) {
+      updateLayoutDirectionBelowIOS17(splitHost, splitHostController)
+    }
   }
 
   ///
@@ -191,4 +195,18 @@ class RNSSplitAppearanceApplicator {
       "[RNScreens] Split column constraints are invalid: minWidth \(minWidth) cannot be greater than maxWidth \(maxWidth)"
     )
   }
+
+  public func updateLayoutDirectionBelowIOS17(
+    _ splitHost: RNSSplitHostComponentView,
+    _ splitHostController: RNSSplitHostController,
+  ) {
+    assert(
+      splitHostController.parent != nil,
+      "[RNScreens] Expected non-null parent view controller for layout direction update."
+    )
+    splitHostController.parent?.setOverrideTraitCollection(
+      UITraitCollection(layoutDirection: splitHost.layoutDirection),
+      forChild: splitHostController
+    )
+  }
 }
diff --git a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitAppearanceUpdateFlags.swift b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitAppearanceUpdateFlags.swift
index dfbd9043dd..aff82567bb 100644
--- a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitAppearanceUpdateFlags.swift
+++ b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitAppearanceUpdateFlags.swift
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ struct RNSSplitAppearanceUpdateFlags: OptionSet {
   static let secondaryScreenNavBarUpdate = RNSSplitAppearanceUpdateFlags(rawValue: 1 << 1)
   static let displayModeUpdate = RNSSplitAppearanceUpdateFlags(rawValue: 1 << 2)
   static let orientationUpdate = RNSSplitAppearanceUpdateFlags(rawValue: 1 << 3)
+  static let layoutDirectionUpdateBelowIOS17 = RNSSplitAppearanceUpdateFlags(rawValue: 1 << 4)
 }
diff --git a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostComponentView.h b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostComponentView.h
index 0538aa09ac..9bea19c7fb 100644
--- a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostComponentView.h
+++ b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostComponentView.h
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ NS_ASSUME_NONNULL_BEGIN
 #endif // RNS_IPHONE_OS_VERSION_AVAILABLE(26_0)
 
 @property (nonatomic, readonly) RNSOrientation orientation;
+@property (nonatomic, readonly) UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirection layoutDirection;
 
 @end
 
diff --git a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostComponentView.mm b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostComponentView.mm
index 721c480be0..c8ae713fc3 100644
--- a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostComponentView.mm
+++ b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostComponentView.mm
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ @implementation RNSSplitHostComponentView {
   bool _needsSplitSecondaryScreenNavBarUpdate;
   bool _needsSplitDisplayModeUpdate;
   bool _needsSplitOrientationUpdate;
+  bool _needsSplitLayoutDirectionUpdate;
   // We need this information to warn users about dynamic changes to behavior being currently unsupported.
   bool _isShowSecondaryToggleButtonSet;
 }
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ - (void)initState
   _needsSplitSecondaryScreenNavBarUpdate = false;
   _needsSplitDisplayModeUpdate = false;
   _needsSplitOrientationUpdate = false;
+  _needsSplitLayoutDirectionUpdate = false;
   _reactSubviews = [NSMutableArray new];
 }
 
@@ -92,6 +94,7 @@ - (void)resetProps
   _topColumnForCollapsingColumn = UISplitViewControllerColumnPrimary;
 
   _orientation = RNSOrientationInherit;
+  _layoutDirection = UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirectionUnspecified;
 
   _isShowSecondaryToggleButtonSet = false;
 }
@@ -330,6 +333,12 @@ - (void)updateProps:(const facebook::react::Props::Shared &)props
     _orientation = rnscreens::conversion::RNSOrientationFromRNSSplitHostOrientation(newComponentProps.orientation);
   }
 
+  if (oldComponentProps.layoutDirection != newComponentProps.layoutDirection) {
+    _needsSplitLayoutDirectionUpdate = true;
+    _layoutDirection = rnscreens::conversion::UITraitEnvironmentLayoutDirectionFromSplitHostCppEquivalent(
+        newComponentProps.layoutDirection);
+  }
+
   // This flag is set to true when showsSecondaryOnlyButton prop is assigned for the first time.
   // This allows us to identify any subsequent changes to this prop,
   // enabling us to warn users that dynamic changes are not supported.
@@ -365,6 +374,16 @@ - (void)requestSplitHostControllerForAppearanceUpdate
     _needsSplitOrientationUpdate = false;
     [_controller setNeedsOrientationUpdate];
   }
+
+  if (_needsSplitLayoutDirectionUpdate && _controller != nil) {
+    _needsSplitLayoutDirectionUpdate = false;
+#if RNS_IPHONE_OS_VERSION_AVAILABLE(17_0)
+    if (@available(iOS 17.0, *)) {
+      _controller.traitOverrides.layoutDirection = _layoutDirection;
+    } else
+#endif // RNS_IPHONE_OS_VERSION_AVAILABLE(17_0)
+      [_controller setNeedsLayoutDirectionUpdateBelowIOS17];
+  }
 }
 
 #pragma mark - RCTMountingTransactionObserving
diff --git a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostController.swift b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostController.swift
index e40fb42d3e..f9af503d00 100644
--- a/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostController.swift
+++ b/ios/gamma/split/RNSSplitHostController.swift
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ public class RNSSplitHostController: UISplitViewController, ReactMountingTransac
   RNSOrientationProvidingSwift
 {
   private var needsChildViewControllersUpdate = false
+  private var isLayoutDirectionUpdatePending = false
 
   private var splitAppearanceCoordinator: RNSSplitAppearanceCoordinator
   private var splitAppearanceApplicator: RNSSplitAppearanceApplicator
@@ -94,6 +95,15 @@ public class RNSSplitHostController: UISplitViewController, ReactMountingTransac
     splitAppearanceCoordinator.needs(.orientationUpdate)
   }
 
+  @objc
+  public func setNeedsLayoutDirectionUpdateBelowIOS17() {
+    if self.parent != nil {
+      splitAppearanceCoordinator.needs(.layoutDirectionUpdateBelowIOS17)
+    } else {
+      isLayoutDirectionUpdatePending = true
+    }
+  }
+
   // MARK: Updating
 
   @objc
@@ -552,4 +562,14 @@ extension RNSSplitHostController: UISplitViewControllerDelegate {
     }
     return proposedTopColumn
   }
+
+  public override func didMove(toParent parent: UIViewController?) {
+    super.didMove(toParent: parent)
+
+    if parent != nil && isLayoutDirectionUpdatePending {
+      isLayoutDirectionUpdatePending = false
+      splitAppearanceApplicator.updateLayoutDirectionBelowIOS17(
+        self.splitHostComponentView, self)
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/components/gamma/split/SplitHost.tsx b/src/components/gamma/split/SplitHost.tsx
index 7a5de71374..9a33639cdb 100644
--- a/src/components/gamma/split/SplitHost.tsx
+++ b/src/components/gamma/split/SplitHost.tsx
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ const isValidDisplayModeForSplitBehavior = (
  * EXPERIMENTAL API, MIGHT CHANGE W/O ANY NOTICE
  */
 function SplitHost({ ref, ...props }: SplitHostProps) {
-  const { preferredDisplayMode, preferredSplitBehavior } = props;
+  const { direction, preferredDisplayMode, preferredSplitBehavior } = props;
   const nativeRef = React.useRef<NativeRef>(null);
 
   React.useImperativeHandle(
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ function SplitHost({ ref, ...props }: SplitHostProps) {
       // This enables us to fully recreate the Split when necessary, ensuring the correct column configuration is always applied.
       key={`columns-${columns.length}-inspectors-${inspectors.length}`}
       {...props}
+      layoutDirection={direction}
       style={styles.container}>
       {props.children}
     </SplitHostNativeComponent>
diff --git a/src/components/gamma/split/SplitHost.types.ts b/src/components/gamma/split/SplitHost.types.ts
index 83ba3785ff..0e69786077 100644
--- a/src/components/gamma/split/SplitHost.types.ts
+++ b/src/components/gamma/split/SplitHost.types.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { NativeSyntheticEvent, ViewProps } from 'react-native';
-import type { InterfaceOrientation } from '../../shared/types';
+import type { Direction, InterfaceOrientation } from '../../shared/types';
 
 // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/ban-types
 type GenericEmptyEvent = Readonly<{}>;
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ export type SplitDisplayMode =
   | 'twoOverSecondary'
   | 'twoDisplaceSecondary';
 
+export type SplitHostDirection = Direction | 'inherit';
+
 export type SplitHostOrientation = InterfaceOrientation | 'inherit';
 
 export interface SplitColumnMetrics {
@@ -116,6 +118,27 @@ export interface SplitHostProps extends ViewProps {
   children?: React.ReactNode;
   ref?: React.Ref<SplitHostCommands>;
 
+  /**
+   * @summary Specifies the layout direction of the native container, its views and child containers.
+   *
+   * The following values are currently supported:
+   *
+   * - `inherit` - uses parent's layout direction,
+   * - `ltr` - forces left-to-right layout direction,
+   * - `rtl` - forces right-to-left layout direction.
+   *
+   * On iOS, this property sets `layoutDirection` trait override for the
+   * native split view controller. Property is propagated via the native trait
+   * system. The value will fallback to direction of the **native** app
+   * (`userInterfaceLayoutDirection`), potentially ignoring `react-native`'s
+   * override (e.g. when `forceRTL` is used). To mitigate this, you can pass
+   * `ltr`/`rtl` to this property depending on the value of `I18nManager.isRTL`.
+   *
+   * @default inherit
+   *
+   * @platform ios
+   */
+  direction?: SplitHostDirection;
   /**
    * @summary An object describing bounds for column widths.
    *
diff --git a/src/components/gamma/split/index.ts b/src/components/gamma/split/index.ts
index 1f79f6787d..eaa7067854 100644
--- a/src/components/gamma/split/index.ts
+++ b/src/components/gamma/split/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export type {
   SplitPrimaryEdge,
   SplitPrimaryBackgroundStyle,
   SplitDisplayMode,
+  SplitHostDirection,
   SplitHostOrientation,
   SplitColumnMetrics,
   SplitNavigableColumn,
diff --git a/src/fabric/gamma/split/SplitHostNativeComponent.ts b/src/fabric/gamma/split/SplitHostNativeComponent.ts
index 7a70092723..e7a24cfa0a 100644
--- a/src/fabric/gamma/split/SplitHostNativeComponent.ts
+++ b/src/fabric/gamma/split/SplitHostNativeComponent.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ type SplitViewOrientation =
 
 type SplitViewPrimaryBackgroundStyle = 'default' | 'none' | 'sidebar';
 
+type LayoutDirection = 'inherit' | 'ltr' | 'rtl';
+
 type SplitViewTopColumnForCollapsing =
   | 'default'
   | 'primary'
@@ -68,6 +70,7 @@ interface ColumnMetrics {
 interface NativeProps extends ViewProps {
   // Appearance
 
+  layoutDirection?: CT.WithDefault<LayoutDirection, 'inherit'>;
   preferredDisplayMode?: CT.WithDefault<SplitViewDisplayMode, 'automatic'>;
   preferredSplitBehavior?: CT.WithDefault<SplitViewSplitBehavior, 'automatic'>;
   primaryEdge?: CT.WithDefault<SplitViewPrimaryEdge, 'leading'>;