75 Arabic Tattoo Ideas That Will Immerse You in Culture

From single, meaningful words to beautiful, lyrical phrases, there are so many different Arabic tattoos for you to choose from!

I spent some time in Turkey and Egypt, studying Islamic art. I also learned about the nuances of Arabic script and calligraphy. Due to this, I am always excited when a client comes in asking for an Arabic tattoo. It gives me a chance to brush up on my skills and talk about this beautiful language!

In this post, I will introduce you to the top Arabic tattoo ideas and explain all the different designs that you can consider for yourself!

The Best Arabic Tattoo Designs

Here are the top Arabic tattoos that you can get for yourself:

Arabic Word Tattoos

If you want an Arabic script tattoo and want to keep it simple, then a single word is the way to go. This is especially a good idea if you want to get a small Arabic tattoo - some of these Arabic tattoos can be small enough to fit anywhere you want!

What I love about the single word Arabic tattoo idea is that it can be quite a powerful tattoo concept. So, if you are looking for meaningful Arabic tattoos, you will be happy to know that this kind of Arabic tattoo design fits the bill perfectly!

In fact, if you are considering religious tattoos, then this type of Arabic tattoo will work well for you. From God's name to other spiritual words, there are plenty of options for you to choose from.

I would also recommend a single word Arabic tattoo to tattoo lovers who aren't well versed in the Arabic language. You are less likely to make a mistake when you only need to translate a single word.

If you are thinking of getting the word Freedom inked on you, here are a couple of different concepts that you can choose from. They are both equally beautiful!

This is another lovely tattoo. Technically, this tattoo only consists of a single word - He. However, it is meant to depict the sentiment that There is No God but He. This kind of tattoo works for people from any kind of faith background!

Of course, as with English, you can get the names of loved ones inked on you. Here are the different styles that you can adopt for this kind of tattoo:

Arabic Phrase Tattoos

Of course, if you want to go all out with your Arabic tattoo, then a full Arabic script is the way to go. The cursive flow of Arabic words makes for such stunning Arabic tattoo designs.

When it comes to such Arabic tattoos, there are lots of concepts and designs for you to choose from. For instance, you can take a quote from a book or a poem - after all, Arabic culture has a great deal of literature for you to choose from. These make for some truly meaningful Arabic tattoos.

Now, with such Arabic tattoos, the margin for error is greater. This is because the Arabic language and Arabic writing doesn't really present in a way that you are used to.

Not only is the Arabic language written from right to left, but cursive letters can be quite tricky for online or digital translators to work with. This means that you may end up with the wrong translation if you aren't careful.

Spinal Arabic Tattoos

There is a reason that I have included this type of Arabic tattoo design under a different section. This largely has to do with the way that the Arabic alphabet is written.

Unlike many other languages, Arabic letters and Arabic words are written from right to left.

Now, for most Arabic tattoos, this isn't an issue. When it comes to an Arabic tattoo going down your spine, though, you have to consider where the first Arabic word of the tattoo needs to be placed.

For this kind of Arabic tattoo, you have a few options. You can go from left to right if you draw the tattoo in a column-like format. Otherwise, start at the base of your neck and work your way downwards. This is something that you will need to convey to your tattoo artist.

The following Arabic tattoos will give you an idea of how to proceed:

Arabic Calligraphy Tattoos

Now, considering that Arabic is written in cursive letters, you may be wondering what Arabic calligraphy is. Well, this is where the words and phrases are arranged into beautiful designs.

You will often find these in religious texts, although they can be found in other forms of literature as well. This is a really beautiful Arabic tattoo design and works well if you want an Arabic tattoo that is also aesthetically pleasing.

Once again, with an Arabic calligraphy tattoo you have to be mindful of the rules of the language. This is why it is best if you can find an existing phrase that has been written in this form. You can then guarantee that your Arabic tattoo will be legible and accurate.

Geometric Arabic Tattoos

Want to throw all the rules out of the window for your Arabic tattoo? Then you may want to consider geometric Arabic tattoos.

See, most Arabic letters need to be joined together in a certain fashion when forming a word. This is why it looks like the words in an Arabic tattoo flow together.

If you want something a bit more geometric, then simply have each letter of your Arabic tattoo done in separate block letters.

Now, the thing to keep in mind about this kind of Arabic tattoo is that it works best for single Arabic word tattoos. This way, it is easier to make sense of the meaning behind the tattoo.

The other thing to understand about this kind of Arabic tattoo is that it may not have the meaning you want. These kinds of Arabic tattoos are largely for aesthetic purposes.

This is such a beautiful idea regardless of whether you are Christian or Muslim. It says: Thy will be done as in heaven as on the ground.

Arabic Abstract Tattoos

Do you want a different kind of Arabic writing tattoo but still want it written in a traditional fashion? If so, you should get an abstract Arabic tattoo.

Now, this is very close in design to the other Arabic tattoos that I have introduced to you so far. However, with an abstract Arabic tattoo, there is a bit more design to the tattoo.

You may also find that the letters and the words of the Arabic tattoo are a little less eligible as well. However, this does make for a gorgeous Arabic tattoo.

What Should You Know About Getting Arabic Tattoos?

An Arabic tattoo can be a gorgeous and meaningful idea. However, before you go ahead and get one, there are a few things to consider.

The Different Dialects

The first thing to be aware of is that there are different dialects of Arabic. As a result, you will find a different version of Arabic being spoken and written in countries like Egypt or Iran.

This is something that you will need to think about before getting your Arabic tattoo - which dialect would make the most sense for you?

Translations

This is a warning that I would give to anyone who wants to get a tattoo in a foreign language, not just an Arabic tattoo.

However, with Arabic tattoos, a little bit more caution is required. This is because the letters, the writing system, and the grammar rules may be so different from what you are used to. Due to this, it is a lot easier to make mistakes when getting your tattoo designed.

As Arabic is written in a cursive format, it is very difficult to get accurate translations from online or digital translators. As a result, it is a good idea to always get a translation from somebody who is fluent in Arabic. This way, you can guarantee that the word or phrases will be accurate.

Of course, if you are taking a phrase from a book or poem, then there is less chance of you getting things wrong. Still, you should be absolutely certain that you know what that phrase translates to before getting it permanently inked on your body.

If it is possible go to a tattoo artist or tattoo shop where there are people who can speak or write in Arabic. They will be much better equipped to give you a beautiful tattoo with a deep meaning.

Consider the Structure

If you are getting a phrase or several phrases included in your Arabic tattoo, then it is important to consider the structure of your design.

It is easy to forget that Arabic is written in a very different way. So, if you do want several lines of text, have someone make sure that it is written in a way that makes sense when read by a native Arabic speaker.

Be Respectful

If you want to get an Arabic tattoo that is from a book or poem, then you are unlikely to experience any pushback or backlash.

On the other hand, if you want to get any kind of religious text as an Arabic tattoo, this is something that you should consider a bit more carefully. This is true whether or not you are a follower of Islam.

In Islam, there are two parties. One believes that tattoos are haram because they are disfiguring the creation of God. And, this is strictly against the Quran.

There are those, however, that believe that tattoos do not fall under this category and so are fine for you to get. This is a discussion that you may want to have with the elders in your family or even religious leaders before you make a concrete decision.

If you don't practice Islam, you may want to re-think getting any religious text inked on your body. This may not be tolerated all that well by believers who are against tattoos.

Well, there you go - the top designs for Arabic tattoos. It doesn't matter if you are looking for something simple or complex, there is a design for all of your ideas and requirements. Go through all the tattoos in this post to discover which concept may be just right for you!