133 Most Popular Arabic Tattoos

Arabic Tattoos are among the most ancient. and beautiful These tattoos come steeped in meaning. Many celebrities choose to get Arabic Tattoo, and for good meaning. Enjoy this list of the most popular Arabic Tattoos.

When it comes to tattoos, the easiest way to get across what you want is with script.  However, sometimes, you also want something prettier, or cooler, than just words in Gothic type font on your body.  Some people take this opportunity to have the message written in a foreign language.  Whether the language has something to do with the persons heritage, or maybe they just think its pretty, many people have turned to Arabic to convey their messages.  Arabic writing is simply beautiful and, paired with a meaningful saying, can create one incredible piece of art. Here are a few of the best Arabic tattoos there are.

Here are our Arabic Tattoos:

33. Selena Gomez Arabic Tattoo

Actress and Singer Selena Gomez is also sporting a small piece of Arabic wording just below her right shoulder blade.  It reads “love yourself.”  This is another example of how such a small work can have a big impact.  No matter what the paparazzi or anyone else says about her, she will have this constant reminder to herself.  Always love yourself first.

32. Angelina Jolie Arabic Tattoo

Arabic tattoos are so popular that even celebrities are getting in on the game.  Angelina Jolie has an Arabic script tattoo on her right arm that says “determination.”  The tattoo itself is a cover up of an abstract piece she got with ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton.  For more information on this and other tattoos Angelina Jolie has, check out this article.

31. One Word to Describe Them All

Instead of a random Chinese symbol of meaning, why not a one word Arabic script?  This particular one reads “Traveler.”  The tattoo has meaning because it refers to this young mans travelling nature and his inability to just be still.  Arabic tattoos can be both beautiful and incredibly meaningful, even if Arabic is not a language you are familiar with.  In case Arabic is not your native language, I suggest finding a native Arabic speaker to help be sure the spelling and grammar of the tattoo is correct.  No one wants meaningless jabber etched onto them permanently.

30. Poetic Brilliance

If you feel like more than one word is needed to convey who you are, you can always opt for an entire poem.  Even if no one can actually read it, it looks absolutely stunning, especially placed on the shoulder blade as this one is.  The flow and curling of the language is one of the things that makes Arabic tattoos such a popular choice.

29. INFIDEL

One for the joker in you.  This simple outlined piece rather largely screams “Infidel.”  Maybe he is a fan of a certain puppet master and ventriloquist,or maybe he does feel like an infidel or rebel among men.  No matter what the case, he wants to be assured that everyone can see this one.  A little added shading or color could really pull this one together and give it a more professional look.

28. Beautiful

The Arabic language is so versatile and flows so beautifully that it can be used a number of ways in tattoos.  Here it is paired with a lovely flower and stars.  It has more of a feminine appeal to it, but I absolutely love the placement down the rib cage and onto the waist.  The script is so flexible that it can be turned around and adjusted to fit where it needs to go, giving this one a cool falling (or in the case of Arabic, climbing) effect.  Arabic tattoos may be well suited for this region, but here are some more really cool rib cage tattoos for women.

27. Accent With Color

Letters used to phonetically spell out something in a foreign language is a pretty neat idea.  I have no idea what it says, but I can see that there are a couple recurring letters, so perhaps it is a name.  I do like the emphasis on the red, for whatever reason.  It really gives a bit of mystery to this piece.

26. Keep On Fighting

This one says “fighter.”  It is not really a testament to the fact that he likes to rumble, but more of a symbol of his strength to overcome all obstacles.  This is a reminder to never back down and fight for what you believe in, no matter what may come your way.  I love that is placed on the chest, over the heart.  Strong heart, strong body, strong mind.  Since most Arabic tattoos are script, they take up relatively little space on the body canvas.  If you are looking for a large, bold idea for a chest tattoo have a look at these.

25. Peace and Love

The artistic look of Arabic script means that it can often times be bent and shaped in order to incorporate other designs.  This particular one features the words peace and love intertwined to form the body and head of a dove.  The dove generally symbolizes both peace and love so this small tattoo carries a huge message.  If you are into bird tattoos, but not really into Arabic tattoos, you can check here for some more astonishing bird tattoo ideas.

24. Collar Bone Madness

The collar bone is quickly becoming a popular place to put tattoos, especially those that are lengthy and thin, like Arabic tattoos.  The one on this lovely young lady is the Arabic equivalent of “My Only Sunshine.”  It’s a cute phrase, but etched in a style that makes it stand out and not look quite as childish as just the phrase itself may have appeared.  I think the tattoo may be a little overshadowed by that lovely pink hair, though!

23. Waist not….

Another increasingly popular spot for women is just under the bra line on the rib cage, high along the waist.  It is a great place to put quote tattoos, such as meaningful saying or song lyrics.  It also is well suited for Arabic tattoos, as you can see here.  This short phrase uses more chunky filled in lines and looks a little stronger than the fragile, daintily lined writing some Arabic tattoos convey.

22. Flex It Out

“I suffered, I learned, I changed” is a relatively popular Arabic saying.  It is depicted here on the inside of the bicep on the upper arm.  This is another really popular place for Arabic tattoos, Sanskrit tattoos and any other design that are longer than they are tall.  It’s a neat place to put a tattoo because it’s very visible to the wearer, something they can see to remind them on a daily what that tattoo is all about.  When you need a pick me up, just flex it up!

21. Show Your Stronger Side

This one says “strength.”  I can see the appeal in a piece like this, and, again, the back of the neck is a popular place for these smaller ones.  Darker, bolder lines and “dots” gives this piece a strength of its own.  It is much more stand out than the usually flowing thin lines in most of the Arabic tattoos.

20. Love Life

With a more loose, abstract script, this tattoo still has a distinctly Arabic feel to it in the smooth lines and little dotted accents.  This one says “love” on the arm and “life” on the ribs.  I like how they are both so incredibly different and on two completely different parts of the body, but they still go together so well.

19. Mix It Up

Not all Arabic tattoos need to be stand alone pieces.  This large, colorful tattoo says “Princess.”  It is paired with what appears to be a Celtic style cross and sun just behind it.  Two different cultures and styles have combined to make a really cool back piece.  The script is done in bright orange and yellow, probably in reference to the sun underneath.  This is a bold, bright work, but it is also beautiful.

18. White Out

If color is not for you, you can always get a white ink tattoo.  These works give an incredibly unique look.  It would, of course, show up better on a tanner skin tone, but if you want a discreet, beautiful tattoo, white may be for you. If you are spending a lot of time outdoors in the summer, these tattoos will really pop on sun reddened skin, but will be less visible in the paler winters.  The fine white lines give it a neat, clean look.  It’s very thin and pretty.  For more white ink ideas, you can check out the links here and here.  White ink tattoos could very well be on the rise, because their ability to be covered easily and the fact that they don’t register like most super bright, colorful or deep black pieces would.

17. Non Script

 

While most Arabic tattoos are script, not all are.  There are many cool designs that have an Arabic flair to them.  One style is Henna, which you can see more of here.  Another way to harness the Arabic vibe is to get some neat designs, like the one seen here.  The cool thing about Henna style tattoos is that Henna is predominantly temporary, so if you are not sure you want to fully commit just yet, check out this alternative.  Henna also tends to be very detailed and it incredibly versatile.  Henna is often placed on the hands, arms, feet and ankles, but can be put anywhere your imagination dictates, without the pain of needles in skin.

16. Always Strong

Strength is a common theme in Arabic tattoos.  It could be because the script for the word “strength” is so beautifully written, or just because it is a common theme in Arabic culture.  This particular one says “strength of mind.”  Mental awareness and thought are clearly mighty important to this guy.

15. Add a background

An incredibly popular place for tattoos is the forearm.  It is a large part of the body with a lot of visible canvas to work on.  In order to spice up some Arabic tattoos, a background can be added.  In this case that background is a scroll.  The scroll has a realistic, old feel to it which really makes this piece interesting to look at.  It really does look like an piece of an ancient manuscript. For more intriguing forearm tattoos check out the link here.

14. Lotus

A lot of spirituality can be conveyed in a simple piece of art.  The lotus flower and the script here are meant to symbolize the quest for truth and enlightenment.    The flower is often associated with Eastern faiths such as Buddhism and Hinduism.  It is a very understated and wonderful way to show your spiritual side.  The flower also adds a more feminine quality to it, so that even though it isn’t exactly dainty, it is a bit more “girly.”

13. Follow the Stream

An easy lined script is, again, a beautiful way to convey a message.  This particular person is quite a water aficionado.  The script here reads “I love the river forever and always.”  Either this person is really into river sports, or the idea of the river calls to mind something with a deeper meaning for them.  The idea of putting the sentiment in Arabic script is a good one for people who may not actually care to share their loves with others.  Tattoos are, after all, for the tattooed.

12. Love Yourself

If you are not into getting somebody else’s name tattooed on you, even in another language, you can still enjoy Arabic tattoos.  Why not get your own name?  Surely you will not break up with yourself.  This person chose the back of the neck for placement of this neat piece.  I guess that way people behind him can know his name without asking?  In any case, the flow of this particular script makes for a pretty cool tattoo with the repeated lettering on either side of the middle piece.  Maybe his name is Peter?

11. The Sweet Life

Arabic script reads unlike most other languages because it is read from right to left, or in this case, from hip to armpit.  This proclamation states that “my life is sweet like cinnamon.”  The full length torso tattoo has a really clean, neat look to it.  I like the placement of this one very much.  It has a very masculine feel, every through the look of most Arabic tattoos seem more feminine.  He was able to take the soft flowing words and make them work in his favor with deep bold lines.

10. No Fault in These Stars

“There is no easy way from Earth to the stars” is what this long beautiful spine piece reads.  The spine is an incredibly sensitive place to get a long tattoo, but the effect is so amazing when finished.  I love this one because the curvy lines of the script flow so beautifully down the backbone.  It’s very clean, structured look.  There are so many cool tattoos that can flow down the spine, in fact, go here to check out 20 more.

9. Just Keep Swimming

Occasionally, there is a little bit of irony in a persons tattoo.  In this case, using a Hindu language to state a biblical phrase.  “This too shall pass” is a reminder that no matter how bad things get, you can get though them.  You will not be stuck in the rut and it will also move on.  Instead of the book and verse from that particular biblical passage, the use of Arabic script gives it a unique touch.

8. Accept Life

You will notice that this spinal tattoo differs from the one earlier because it reads the other way.  This one would be read from the base of the neck to the lower back, where as the earlier one would read from the lower back upwards.  Although the tattoos are similar, the changing direction of the quote, in this case, “accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be,” shows the versatility of these Arabic tattoos.  If you have an eye for art, you will be able to notice the difference right away.

7. Peace

Al Salaam is the Arabic word for “peace.”  It is portrayed here in this beautiful design on the wrist.  The part that stands out most to me is the long trailing end of the last letter.  I like the way it moves down the wrist on onto the arm, as if the peace itself could be extended.  The compact look of the rest of the letters together is also really awesome.  Over all, I like this Al Salaam tattoo.

6. Roll It Out

This scroll is unique in the colors of the parchment.  That deep brown and the shading, or lack thereof around the wording really makes the words pop.  I like the size of this one on the upper arm and the way it give the effect of being unfurled to be read.

5. Medallion

Combining the script in Arabic tattoos with a big, bold, colorful design creates an original looking piece.  The medallion here in the middle of the back is over sized, but not so gigantic as to take away from the smaller writing underneath.  The use of the blues and purples in this piece is absolutely wonderful.  It has a symmetry that is calming and gives one a sense of peace when looking at it.

4. Short and Sassy

The shortened version of the spine tattoo gives it a more compact look.  The letters and words are snuggled in close together.  The deep, dark black ink in this one is, in a word, awesome.  This is one of my favorites of the group, and I have no idea what it says.  I especially like how it is between the shoulder blades but does not go all the way down the back.  In this way, all of it is visible in a top like this.

3. A Show of Love

It has been said that having a persons name tattooed on you is a bad idea, unless that person is a child or deceased.  However, some people still want to show their love with a permanent etching.  This man chose to have his wife’s name tattooed in Arabic onto his wrist.  In the case of the relationship going south, he still has a pretty cool tattoo, and with the limited Arabic speakers around, I’m sure he can tell people it means any number of things.  Of course, the relationship could flourish.  Maybe his wife will have the same done with his name as a way to form a lasting bond.  For a look at more cool couples tattoo ideas, check out this link.

 

2. Language or Love

Music is said to be a universal language.  Nothing makes this seem more so than the prevalence of music inspired tattoos.  Arabic tattoos can also be incorporated into musical themes, as with the treble clef and Arabic writing above.   The treble clef seems to be a popular tattoo where music is concerned, possibly because it it instantly recognizable.  The way this one rolls and fades out near the back where the wording picks up is a really cool effect and I love that it is done mostly in shades instead of hard lines.  For more amazing music inspired tattoos, check out this link.

1. Take it to the Limit

A passion for something often translates into a really good tattoo theme.  Here is an abundance of Arabic writings, some in disconnected pieces and some strung together in rolling groups of cursive lettering.  The elongated lines on the biceps are interesting and, not being an Arabic speaker, I don’t know if they are parts of words or not.  The whole dedication to this collection in inspiring to see and I love how it is all done in black with some smaller designs worked into the rib cage.