Microsoft Word for Mac handles RTL text well, but you must enable the correct settings:
Amiri is widely considered the "Gold Standard" for open-source Arabic typography on macOS. It is a Naskh-style typeface that features the classic "thick and thin" transitions found in Times New Roman.
This is the closest visual relative to the "Times New Arabic" experience. It is a TrueType font specifically coded for Arabic script. It is often found in Microsoft Office for Mac installations or can be downloaded separately. It has a classic, newspaper-style weight suitable for body text. times new arabic for macbook top
The Touch Bar adapts to the input source. When you switch your keyboard to Arabic (via the flag icon in the menu bar), the Touch Bar will show Arabic suggestion characters and emoji, not full keys. Use an external Arabic keyboard sticker for physical typing.
"إذا أردت أن تعيش سعيدًا، عش في الريف، وإذا أردت أن تعيش حكيمًا، فعش في المدينة" Microsoft Word for Mac handles RTL text well,
: For easier typing of transliterated characters, many users also install custom keyboard layouts like the
Yes, but with limitations. The standard Times New Roman on macOS includes basic Arabic support. For better results, install Microsoft Office for Mac to get the OpenType version with fuller Arabic character sets. It is a TrueType font specifically coded for Arabic script
If your goal is to type in actual Arabic script rather than transliterated English, macOS includes several native options: Write in another language on Mac - Apple Support (JO)
Always ensure you are typing in "Unicode" format. If you copy Arabic text from the web into Times New Roman and it looks like boxes, your document encoding is wrong. In Word, go to File > Advanced > General and check "Confirm file format conversion on open."
Arabic is a right-to-left (RTL) script, while English and other European languages are left-to-right (LTR). Modern macOS handles bidirectional text natively. Key shortcuts to remember: