Arabic-speaking countries primarily use two sets of numerals: Western Arabic (0-9) and Eastern Arabic (٠-٩). The Eastern system (descended from Indian numerals) is common in the Mashriq (Egypt, Levant, Gulf), while Western numerals (which originated in the Maghreb and spread to Europe) are prevalent in North Africa and increasingly in business/modern contexts throughout the Arab world.
Historical Development and Adoption:
Indian Roots: The numerals adopted by the Islamic Caliphate were originally developed by Hindu mathematicians in India around the 6th or 7th century, featuring a decimal positional system.
Transmission: These Indian numerals were introduced to the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad around 771 AD via an Indian astronomer. They were adopted by mathematicians like Al-Khwarizmi and Al-Kindi and spread throughout the Arab world.
Regional Divergence:
Eastern Arabic (Mashriqi): These numerals (٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩) developed in the eastern part of the Islamic world (Egypt to Iraq).
Western Arabic (Maghrebi/Gubar): Developed in the Maghreb (North Africa) and Al-Andalus (Spain), these numerals (0123456789) diverged in form and were later adopted by Europe.
Modern Usage:
Western Arabic (1, 2, 3): Used in North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and widely for international business, street signs, and digital technology across most Arab nations.
Eastern Arabic (١, ٢, ٣): Frequently used in the Mashriq region (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Jordan) in daily life, such as in bookstores, some school contexts, and on, for example, Iranian/Persian-influenced signage, though sometimes used alongside Western numerals.
Writing Direction: Regardless of the numerals used, Arabic text is written right-to-left, but both Eastern and Western numbers are written from left-to-right.
Historically, the Abjad system (assigning letters to numbers) was used before the adoption of the positional decimal system.
