Published textbook series and single textbooks for teaching Modern Standard Arabic to non-native speakers, from Saudi Arabia and beyond. Each entry gives the publisher, editions, levels, audience, language of instruction, components, and published evaluation studies.
A listing and description only, not a judgement of quality: we give the facts and do not rate the books; the studies cited are their authors' views. What we could not confirm is marked "not known".
Adults · 4 levels
Arabic Language Teaching Series (Imam University)
سلسلة تعليم اللغة العربية · Arabic Language Institute, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University · Saudi Arabia
- Levels: 4 levels, 33 student books
- Language of instruction: Arabic
- Components: Student books, 4 handwriting workbooks, 5 teacher's guides and a dictionary for each level
The institute's own curriculum, combining language courses with Islamic studies for Muslim learners.
Studies about it (2)
Adults · 6 parts
The Basic Book (Umm al-Qura, earlier series)
الكتاب الأساسي (سلسلة أمّ القرى القديمة) · Arabic Language Institute, Umm al-Qura University, Makkah · Saudi Arabia
- Levels: 6 parts, each in two sections
- Language of instruction: Not known
- Components: Books for writing, handwriting and sounds, a teacher's guide and ten short stories
Written by Abdullah al-Jarbou, Abdullah al-Abbadi, Tammam Hassan, Ali al-Fiqi, Mahmoud Kamel al-Naqa and Rushdi Tuaima.
Adults · 4 levels
Umm al-Qura Series for Teaching Arabic to Speakers of Other Languages
سلسلة أمّ القرى لتعليم العربيّة للناطقين بغيرها · Arabic Language Institute, Umm al-Qura University · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: Announced by the university in 2022
- Levels: 4 levels
- Language of instruction: Not known
- Components: Student book, teacher's book, picture dictionary, graded readers, a talking pen, an interactive e-book and apps
Adults · 3 books of 23
Arabic Course for English-Speaking Students (the Madinah Books)
دروس اللغة العربيّة لغير الناطقين بها · Dr V. Abdur Rahim, Islamic University of Madinah · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: Many printings, including a British edition since 2007
- Levels: 3 books of 23, 31 and 34 lessons
- Language of instruction: Arabic, with an English key
- Components: The three books and a three-volume key with explanations and answers
Organised by grammar topics. No purchase link is given, as not all of its many printings are licensed.
Studies about it (1)
Adults
Arabic for Life (King Saud University)
العربيّة للحياة · Arabic Linguistics Institute, King Saud University · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: From 1977
- Levels: 4 books of 10 units each
- Language of instruction: Arabic
- Components: Student book
Described as the first series for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers published in Saudi Arabia.
Studies about it (1)
- عمر الصديق عبد الله، تحليل محتوى كتب تعليم العربية «العربية للحياة نموذجًا»، مجلة العربية للناطقين بغيرها، جامعة إفريقيا العالميّة، ٢٠٠٤ (published article)
Adults
Arabic for the World
العربيّة للعالم · King Saud University Press · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: Trial edition 2010, approved edition 2012
- Levels: 5 books; the fourth for diplomats and the fifth for business people
- Language of instruction: Arabic
- Components: Student book and audio CD
Studies about it (1)
Adults · 4 levels in 8 volumes
Arabic Between Your Hands
العربيّة بين يديك · Arabic for All, Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: First edition 2000, revised edition 2014
- Levels: 4 levels in 8 volumes
- Language of instruction: Arabic only
- Components: Student book, teacher's book, audio, picture dictionary, placement test, app and online platform
Special editions exist in Egypt, Afghanistan, China, Bosnia, Indonesia and Turkey.
Studies about it (2)
Adults
Arabic: A Bridge to Islamic Culture
العربيّة جسرٌ للثقافة الإسلاميّة · Dr Mamdouh Nour al-Din Muhammad, Dar al-Andalus al-Khadra, Jeddah · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: 2003
- Levels: 4 books of 10 lessons each
- Language of instruction: Arabic, with English vocabulary lists in the first two books
- Components: Student books, teacher's guide and tapes
Its texts are Islamic; it belongs to Arabic for specific purposes.
Adults · 6 levels
Bayan
بيان · Arabic Institute for the Arabic Language, Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: 2014
- Levels: 6 levels, 324 hours
- Language of instruction: Not known
- Components: Student books
General · 7 books on the CEFR
Tawasul
تواصُل · King Fahd Cultural Centre, Sarajevo · Saudi Arabia (a Saudi centre based in Sarajevo)
- Levels: 7 books on the CEFR, from level A0
- Language of instruction: Not known
- Components: 34 components, including audio, cards, charts and a picture dictionary
Written by Khalid al-Damegh, Jumaan al-Qahtani and Saleh al-Nassar.
University students · 4 books
Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya
الكتاب في تعلّم العربيّة · Georgetown University Press · United States
Built on Modern Standard Arabic, but the third edition's video dialogues also use Egyptian and Levantine Arabic.
- Editions: From 1995; third edition 2011–2014
- Levels: 4 books: Alif Baa, then parts 1–3, beginner to advanced
- Language of instruction: English
- Components: Student book, answer key, audio and video, and a paid online platform
Studies about it (2)
- Awad, M. (2005), review of the second edition, LINGUIST List (review)
- Coffin, E. (2006), review of Part One (2nd ed.), MESA Bulletin (review)
University students · Two volumes
Ahlan wa Sahlan: Functional Modern Standard Arabic
أهلًا وسهلًا · Yale University Press · United States
- Editions: Third edition 2021
- Levels: Two volumes: beginners and intermediate
- Language of instruction: English, then Arabic only from lesson ten
- Components: Letters-and-sounds book, student book, audio and video, and a teacher's edition
University students
Arabic for Life: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic
العربيّة للحياة (ييل) · Bassam Frangieh, Yale University Press · United States
- Editions: 2011
- Levels: One volume for beginners, reaching early intermediate
- Language of instruction: English
- Components: The book, with more than 80 videos and 100 audio files
General · Two volumes
Mastering Arabic
إتقان العربيّة · Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar, Bloomsbury · United Kingdom
- Editions: Fourth edition 2024
- Levels: Two volumes (beginner and intermediate), plus a grammar book and a workbook
- Language of instruction: English
- Components: A full-colour book with free online audio and video
University students · Elementary
Elementary and Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic
العربيّة الفصحى المعاصرة (سلسلة ميشيغان) · Peter Abboud et al., University of Michigan, later Cambridge University Press · United States and United Kingdom
- Editions: From 1971; an advanced volume in 2023
- Levels: Elementary (two volumes), intermediate and advanced
- Language of instruction: English
- Components: Student books and audio recordings
Adults · 6 books
Lughatuna al-Fusha: A New Course in Modern Standard Arabic
لغتنا الفصحى · Samia Louis, AUC Press · Egypt
- Editions: 2010–2015
- Levels: 6 books, beginner to advanced
- Language of instruction: English
- Components: Student book and interactive online exercises
Adults
Al-Kitab al-Asasi
الكتاب الأساسي في تعليم اللغة العربيّة لغير الناطقين بها · ALECSO, later AUC Press · Tunisia and Egypt
- Editions: Cairo edition 2008–2009
- Levels: 3 volumes and a companion dictionary
- Language of instruction: Arabic
- Components: Student books, audio CD and a companion dictionary
Sources differ on its authorship.
Studies about it (1)
University students · Two volumes
Méthode d'arabe
منهج العربيّة (دوهوفلس) · Luc-Willy Deheuvels, L'Asiathèque · France
- Editions: 2022; preceded by Manuel d'arabe moderne from 1993
- Levels: Two volumes: A1–A2, and B1–B2 in preparation
- Language of instruction: French
- Components: Student book, free audio, two glossaries and answers
University students · Two parts
Lehrbuch des modernen Arabisch / Standard Arabic
كتاب العربيّة الحديثة (كرال ورويشل وشولتس) · Günther Krahl, Wolfgang Reuschel and Eckehard Schulz · Germany
- Editions: From 1976; English edition by Cambridge, 2000
- Levels: Two parts
- Language of instruction: German, and English in the Cambridge edition
- Components: Student book and keys
University students · Several volumes
新编阿拉伯语 (New Arabic Course)
العربيّة الجديدة · FLTRP with Beijing Foreign Studies University · China
- Levels: Several volumes
- Language of instruction: Chinese
- Components: Student book and teacher's guide
Studies about it (1)
Adults
Arabic Reading for Muslims
سلسلة القراءة العربيّة للمسلمين · A team led by Dr Mahmoud Ismail Sini, Librairie du Liban, Beirut · Lebanon
- Editions: Part one 1991
- Levels: Several parts of 30 lessons each
- Language of instruction: Arabic
- Components: Texts with comprehension, vocabulary and grammar exercises; answers and a glossary at the end of each book
For reading religious texts. From the author's own guide to Arabic teaching series.
Adults · 6 parts
Arabic of the Quran
عربيّةُ القرآن · Mahmoud Ismail Saleh and colleagues, Arabic without Boundaries · South Africa
- Levels: 6 parts: 50 lessons each in the first four, 25 in the last two
- Language of instruction: Not known
- Components: Texts and exercises on Quranic vocabulary, structures and styles, with Quranic reading passages
For reading and comprehension only. From the author's own guide to Arabic teaching series.
Adults
Simplified Arabic Grammar series
سلسلة القواعد العربيّة الميسّرة · Mahmoud Ismail Saleh, Muhammad al-Rifai al-Sheikh and Ibrahim al-Sayyid, King Saud University Press · Saudi Arabia
- Levels: 3 levels of 24 lessons each
- Language of instruction: Arabic
- Components: Student book
Its vocabulary follows Dawood Abdo's frequency list. From the author's own guide to Arabic teaching series.
Adults · 3 parts
Graded Arabic Reading series
سلسلة القراءة العربيّة المتدرّجة · Adel Muhammad Shaaban, supervised by Dr Mahmoud Ismail Sini, King Saud University · Saudi Arabia
- Levels: 3 parts, each built on a further thousand frequent words
- Language of instruction: Arabic
- Components: Reading texts
Described as the first Arabic reader built on word-frequency studies.
Adults · 3 booklets
Speak Arabic
هيّا نتكلّم العربيّة · Mahmoud Ismail Saleh, Nasif Mustafa Abdulaziz and Mukhtar al-Tahir Hussein, Maktabat al-Tawbah, Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: First a radio series on Riyadh's English service, then booklets
- Levels: 3 booklets, 48 lessons
- Language of instruction: Arabic and English: each dialogue with its translation
- Components: Dialogues and vocabulary lists
From the author's own guide to Arabic teaching series.
Adults · 7 levels
Teach Me Arabic
علّمني العربيّة · Islam Presentation Committee, Kuwait · Kuwait
- Levels: 7 levels
- Language of instruction: Not known
- Components: Vocabulary and structures for daily life and dealings
For new Muslims and resident communities.
Adults · 5 parts
The Road to Arabic
الطريق إلى العربيّة · Fanar Qatar Islamic Cultural Center, Doha · Qatar
- Levels: 5 parts
- Language of instruction: Not known
University students
Полный курс литературного арабского языка
الدورةُ الكاملة في العربيّة الفصحى · Vladimir Lebedev, VKN, Moscow · Russia
- Editions: Final stage 2017
- Levels: Successive stages; the last in two volumes
- Language of instruction: Russian
- Components: Authentic texts and exercises
University students · Alatul for beginners
Alatul / Mabruk
Alatul وMabruk · Victoria Aguilar and colleagues, Herder and Diego Marín · Spain
- Editions: 2010 and 2014
- Levels: Alatul for beginners, Mabruk for A2.1
- Language of instruction: Spanish
University students · 3 parts
Comunicare in arabo
Monica Ruocco and colleagues (University of Naples L'Orientale), Hoepli · Italy
- Editions: 2022–2024
- Levels: 3 parts: A1–A2, A2–B1, B1–B2
- Language of instruction: Italian
- Components: Dialogues, texts, grammar and audio
Includes cultural notes on dialects; its basis is Modern Standard Arabic.
University students · Two parts
Grammatica teorico-pratica della lingua araba
نحوُ العربيّة النظريُّ والتطبيقيّ (فيتشا فالييري) · Laura Veccia Vaglieri, Istituto per l'Oriente, Rome · Italy
- Editions: From 1937; tenth printing 2006
- Levels: Two parts: morphology and basic syntax, then exercises
- Language of instruction: Italian
A teaching grammar with exercises.
University students · Two parts
Yallā: A Textbook of Modern Standard Arabic
يلّا (Yallā) · Shukri Gohar and David Nanskivell (McGill University), Cambridge University Press · Canada and United Kingdom
- Editions: 2023
- Levels: Two parts: beginner to upper intermediate
- Language of instruction: English
Adults · 4 levels
At-Takallum
التكلّم · Saber al-Meshrefy, Suad al-Khouly and Abu Owais Mahmoud; Dar al-Burj, Cairo, with a Bosnian edition by El-Kalem · Egypt and Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Levels: 4 levels: A1, A2, B1, B2
- Language of instruction: Arabic
- Components: Student book and workbook per level, and a picture glossary
Adults · Single book
Arabic for Beginners (King Saud University)
العربيّة للمبتدئين للناطقين بلغاتٍ أخرى · Rashid al-Duwaish, Mustafa Sulaiman and Ahmad Hammad, King Saud University · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: 2003
- Levels: 15 lessons for beginners
- Language of instruction: Arabic
From the 2020 guide to Arabic teaching series.
Adults · Single book
Arabic for Medical Staff (King Saud University)
العربيّة للعاملين في المجال الطبّيّ من الناطقين بلغاتٍ أخرى · Dr Rashid al-Duwaish and colleagues, King Saud University Press · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: 1997
- Language of instruction: Arabic
Arabic for specific purposes, built on a needs survey in seven Riyadh hospitals. From the 2020 guide to Arabic teaching series.
Adults · Single book
Arabic for Medical Staff (King Abdulaziz University)
العربيّة للعاملين في المجال الطبّيّ · Dr Muhammad Abdulkhaliq Fadl, King Abdulaziz University · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: 2015
- Language of instruction: Not known
Arabic for specific purposes. From the 2020 guide to Arabic teaching series.
Adults · Single book
Arabic for Diplomats
العربيّة للدبلوماسيّين · Dr Muhammad Abdulkhaliq Fadl and Dr Mukhtar al-Tahir Hussein, King Abdulaziz University · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: 2015
- Language of instruction: Not known
Arabic for specific purposes. From the 2020 guide to Arabic teaching series.
Adults · Single book
Programmed Arabic Grammar for Self-Study
النحو العربيّ المبرمج للتعليم الذاتيّ · Mahmoud Ismail Sini, Muhammad al-Rifai al-Sheikh and Dafallah Ahmad Saleh, King Saud University Press · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: 1987
- Language of instruction: Arabic
For self-study. From the 2020 guide to Arabic teaching series.
Adults · Single book
Learn Arabic Morphology by Yourself
تعلّم الصرفَ العربيَّ بنفسك · Mahmoud Ismail Sini and colleagues, Dar al-Marrikh, Riyadh · Saudi Arabia
- Editions: 1988
- Language of instruction: Arabic
For self-study. From the 2020 guide to Arabic teaching series.
University students · Single book
Учебник арабского языка (Kovalev & Sharbatov)
كتابُ العربيّة (كوفاليف وشرباتوف) · A. A. Kovalev and G. Sh. Sharbatov, Vostochnaya Literatura, Moscow · Russia
- Editions: First edition 1960, third 1998
- Levels: One volume, beginner to intermediate
- Language of instruction: Russian, comparing the grammar of both languages
University students · Single book
Corso di arabo contemporaneo
Olivier Durand, Angela Daniela Langone and Giuliano Mion, Hoepli · Italy
- Editions: 2010
- Levels: One beginners' volume with exercises
- Language of instruction: Italian
A listing and description, not a judgement of quality. Inclusion rule: an identifiable publisher, a published series or single book, and Modern Standard Arabic. We link only to official pages; a book without one is listed without a link. Most details of the Saudi series come from the 2020 guide to Arabic teaching series published by the King Abdullah International Center for the Arabic Language.
