Note
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try signing in or changing directories.
Access to this page requires authorization. You can try changing directories.
Overview
Aldhabi is an Arabic typeface inspired by early Diwani calligraphy. It is intended for use at large, display sizes in titles, and in situations where an elegant, flowing style is appropriate. Although its roots are in Ottoman and Persian calligraphy, Aldhabi is a computer typeface designed to be readable by modern readers. It includes a set of Latin letters that have been designed to complement the Arabic letter forms, for occasional words in English or other European languages within an Arabic text, or for transliteration of Arabic and Persian.
Aldhabi was designed for Microsoft in 2015 by type designers Tim Holloway, Fiona Ross, and John Hudson, with consultation by Mamoun Sakkal and ornaments designed by Titus Nemeth. It was inspired by a flowing, undulating Ottoman Turkish writing style known as the “way of curls.” It also involves features in common with Persian nastaliq style.
Unlike many other Arabic fonts that attempt, with limited success, to implement specific historical styles of Arabic calligraphy, Aldhabi represents a new synthesis of historical influences, technical capabilities of current font and layout software, and the needs of contemporary use (including the increasingly important area of text on screen).
The design of Aldhabi is inspired, in the first place, by the overall impact on the page of an historical writing style known in Ottoman Turkish as zülf-ü aruz, the ‘way of curls’. This flowing, undulating style is a precursor of the Ottoman diwani calligraphic style, and also involves features in common with the Persian nastaliq style.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| File name | Aldhabi.ttf |
| Styles & Weights | Aldhabi |
| Copyright | © 2015 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. |
| Designers | Tim Holloway, Fiona Ross & John Hudson (ornaments, Titus Nemeth; consultant, Mamoun Sakkal) |
| Font vendor | Microsoft Corp. |
| Script Tags | dlng:'Arab', 'Aran' slng:'Arab', 'Aran', 'Latn' |
| Code pages | 1252 Latin 1 1256 Arabic |
| Fixed pitch | False |
| Download | N/A – Exclusively included with Microsoft products and services where applicable. |
Licensing and redistribution info
- Font redistribution FAQ for Windows
- License Microsoft fonts for enterprises, web developers, for hardware & software redistribution or server installations
Products that supply this font
| Product name | Font version |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 | See the Windows 11 page. |
| Windows 10 | See the Windows 10 page. |
| Windows 8.1 | See the Windows 8.1 page. |
| Windows 8 | See the Windows 8 page. |
This typeface is also available within Office applications. For more information visit this page.
Style & weight examples
- Figure 1: Aldhabi is an Arabic typeface inspired by early Diwani calligraphy, distinct for its ornate details and exaggerated cursive connections. The Arabic glyphs are accompanied by a harmonized Latin design that provides support for occasional English or other European language words in the larger context of Arabic text, as well as transliteration of Arabic and Persian.
- Figure 2: One of Aldhabi’s distinctive features is the ability to make numerous cursive extensions simply by typing kashidas from the keyboard.