When Adobe commissioned Robert Slimbach and the Arabic type expert Tim Holloway to create Myriad Arabic, the goal was not to "Arabize" a Latin font by force, but to find a calligraphic counterpart. They settled on a modern interpretation of the style, the script traditionally used for long-form reading. However, they infused it with the humanist sans-serif's clarity, creating a hybrid: a clean, uncluttered Arabic that lacks the heavy decorative flourishes of Thuluth or the strict geometry of Kufic. The result is a font that feels native to both scripts.
Myriad Arabic is a "workhorse" font. Its neutrality and clarity make it suitable for a wide range of applications: myriad arabic font
is a contemporary sans-serif typeface family designed by Robert Slimbach in collaboration with Mamoun Sakkal and the Adobe type team. Released as an extension of the iconic Myriad humanist sans-serif family, it was engineered to bring the neutral, clean aesthetic of the original Latin script to the Arabic writing system. It is recognized as one of the first Arabic sans-serif typefaces specifically optimized for long-form body text and high-resolution digital displays, balancing traditional calligraphic roots with modern functionalism. Quick Facts Designers When Adobe commissioned Robert Slimbach and the Arabic
is a triumph of practical type design. It does not attempt to be the most beautiful or expressive Arabic font; instead, it strives to be the most reliable and transparent. By successfully matching the humanist sans-serif ethos of its Latin sibling, it removes the visual barrier between two writing systems. For designers, developers, and corporations seeking a professional, legible, and culturally respectful bilingual solution, Myriad Arabic remains an indispensable tool. Its true utility lies in its invisibility—you notice the message, not the font, regardless of the alphabet in which it is written. The result is a font that feels native to both scripts