Types of Arabic Calligraphy: 8 Styles with Their Uses
Arabic script has developed many styles over more than a thousand years, each with its own look and uses. Here are the eight best known, how to recognise them and where each one fits.
1. Naskh
The clearest Arabic style and the easiest to read, which is why books, newspapers and the Quran are printed in it. Its letters are balanced and evenly spaced.
- **Recognise it by:** clear letters of similar size and moderate curves.
- **Use it for:** long texts, books, websites and apps.
[Download Naskh fonts](/en/fonts/naskh)
2. Thuluth
Called the mother of Arabic scripts, Thuluth is the hardest to write and the most ornate. Its letters overlap in artistic compositions seen on mosques, wall art and book covers.
- **Recognise it by:** tall curved letters, words stacked on each other and many decorative marks.
- **Use it for:** luxury headings, wall art and Islamic logos.
[Download Thuluth fonts](/en/fonts/thuluth)
3. Ruqaa
The most common everyday handwriting. Its short, straight letters are quick to write; it took shape in the Ottoman era to speed up official writing.
- **Recognise it by:** short unadorned letters, joined dots and a slight slant.
- **Use it for:** short headings, ads, signs and quick notes.
[Download Ruqaa fonts](/en/fonts/ruqaa) · [Ruqaa font generator](/en/ruqaa-font-generator)
4. Diwani
The script of the Ottoman chancery, with flowing letters joined in continuous curves. Its ornate form is called Diwani Jali.
- **Recognise it by:** rounded, interlaced letters rising at the end of the line.
- **Use it for:** invitations, greeting cards, certificates and names.
[Download Diwani fonts](/en/fonts/diwani)
5. Kufi
The oldest Arabic style, named after the city of Kufa. Its geometric letters have sharp angles and straight lines, with many variants such as square Kufi and floriated Kufi.
- **Recognise it by:** right angles and clear horizontal and vertical strokes.
- **Use it for:** logos, brand identities, architectural decoration and modern design.
[Download Kufi fonts](/en/fonts/kufi)
6. Nastaliq (Farsi)
Born in Persia from Naskh and Ta'liq, it is often called Farsi script in the Arab world. Its words slope from top right to bottom left with fine, elegant letters.
- **Recognise it by:** slanted, cascading words and long thin strokes.
- **Use it for:** poetry, short phrases, and Persian and Urdu text.
[Download Nastaliq fonts](/en/fonts/nastaliq)
7. Maghribi
The script of North Africa and Andalusia, used for Qurans in the Maghreb. It dots fa and qaf differently from the East: fa with a dot below, qaf with a single dot above.
- **Recognise it by:** wide rounded letters and long curved endings.
- **Use it for:** heritage texts and designs with a North African feel.
8. Modern display fonts
Contemporary digital fonts made for screens and advertising, some based on Kufi or Naskh and others entirely new, from bold headline fonts to handwritten styles.
- **Recognise them by:** simplified shapes and several weights from thin to bold.
- **Use them for:** social media, ads, websites and video.
[Download display fonts](/en/fonts/tasmeem)
Quick comparison
| Style | Look | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Naskh | Clear and balanced | Books and long texts |
| Thuluth | Ornate and stacked | Wall art and luxury headings |
| Ruqaa | Short and quick | Everyday writing and headings |
| Diwani | Rounded and interlaced | Invitations and greetings |
| Kufi | Geometric and angular | Logos and identities |
| Nastaliq | Slanted and elegant | Poetry and phrases |
| Maghribi | Wide and rounded | Heritage texts |
| Display | Simple and modern | Ads and social media |
How to choose
- **For long reading:** Naskh or a simple display font.
- **For an artistic heading or a name:** Thuluth or Diwani.
- **For a logo:** Kufi or a bold display font.
- **For a quick post:** Ruqaa or a display font.
Try your text in every style in the [font library](/en), or write a name in any font and download it with the [Arabic font generator](/en/arabic-font-generator).