diff --git a/lib/prawn/text.rb b/lib/prawn/text.rb
index b61cb7d0c..63de3579f 100644
--- a/lib/prawn/text.rb
+++ b/lib/prawn/text.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 require_relative 'text/formatted'
 require_relative 'text/box'
+require_relative 'text/arabic_shaping'
 
 module Prawn
   # PDF text primitives.
@@ -263,6 +264,18 @@ def text(string, options = {})
     def formatted_text(array, options = {})
       options = inspect_options_for_text(options.dup)
 
+      # Apply Arabic text shaping to convert characters to presentation forms.
+      # This must happen before rendering because Prawn does not perform
+      # OpenType text shaping (GSUB init/medi/fina/isol features).
+      array =
+        array.map { |fragment|
+          if fragment[:text].is_a?(String)
+            fragment.merge(text: ArabicShaping.shape(fragment[:text]))
+          else
+            fragment
+          end
+        }
+
       color = options.delete(:color)
       if color
         array =
@@ -346,7 +359,7 @@ def draw_text(text, options)
       options = inspect_options_for_draw_text(options.dup)
 
       # dup because normalize_encoding changes the string
-      text = text.to_s.dup
+      text = ArabicShaping.shape(text.to_s).dup
       save_font do
         process_text_options(options)
         text = font.normalize_encoding(text)
diff --git a/lib/prawn/text/arabic_shaping.rb b/lib/prawn/text/arabic_shaping.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aeeba6c20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/prawn/text/arabic_shaping.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,311 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'set'
+
+module Prawn
+  module Text
+    # Arabic text shaping for Prawn PDF.
+    #
+    # Arabic is a cursive script where each character has up to 4 forms
+    # (isolated, initial, medial, final) depending on its position in a word.
+    # Prawn uses ttfunk for font parsing but does not perform OpenType text
+    # shaping (GSUB lookups for init/medi/fina/isol features). Without shaping,
+    # Arabic characters render in their isolated form — disconnected and
+    # unreadable.
+    #
+    # This module converts Arabic characters to their correct Unicode
+    # Presentation Forms (U+FE70-U+FEFF, U+FB50-U+FDFF) based on joining
+    # context, which produces correctly connected Arabic text without requiring
+    # a full OpenType shaping engine.
+    #
+    # Supports:
+    # - All standard Arabic letters (U+0621-U+064A)
+    # - Extended Arabic characters (Farsi, Urdu, etc.)
+    # - Lam-Alef mandatory ligatures
+    # - Diacritical marks (tashkeel) preservation
+    # - Tatweel (kashida) joining
+    #
+    # @example Basic usage
+    #   shaped = Prawn::Text::ArabicShaping.shape("مرحبا بالعالم")
+    #
+    # @example Automatic shaping with direction: :rtl
+    #   pdf.text "مرحبا", direction: :rtl  # shaping applied automatically
+    #
+    module ArabicShaping
+      # Maps Arabic base characters to their presentation forms:
+      # [isolated, final, initial, medial]
+      ARABIC_FORMS = {
+        0x0621 => [0xFE80, nil, nil, nil], # HAMZA
+        0x0622 => [0xFE81, 0xFE82, nil, nil], # ALEF WITH MADDA ABOVE
+        0x0623 => [0xFE83, 0xFE84, nil, nil], # ALEF WITH HAMZA ABOVE
+        0x0624 => [0xFE85, 0xFE86, nil, nil], # WAW WITH HAMZA ABOVE
+        0x0625 => [0xFE87, 0xFE88, nil, nil], # ALEF WITH HAMZA BELOW
+        0x0626 => [0xFE89, 0xFE8A, 0xFE8B, 0xFE8C], # YEH WITH HAMZA ABOVE
+        0x0627 => [0xFE8D, 0xFE8E, nil, nil], # ALEF
+        0x0628 => [0xFE8F, 0xFE90, 0xFE91, 0xFE92], # BEH
+        0x0629 => [0xFE93, 0xFE94, nil, nil], # TEH MARBUTA
+        0x062A => [0xFE95, 0xFE96, 0xFE97, 0xFE98], # TEH
+        0x062B => [0xFE99, 0xFE9A, 0xFE9B, 0xFE9C], # THEH
+        0x062C => [0xFE9D, 0xFE9E, 0xFE9F, 0xFEA0], # JEEM
+        0x062D => [0xFEA1, 0xFEA2, 0xFEA3, 0xFEA4], # HAH
+        0x062E => [0xFEA5, 0xFEA6, 0xFEA7, 0xFEA8], # KHAH
+        0x062F => [0xFEA9, 0xFEAA, nil, nil], # DAL
+        0x0630 => [0xFEAB, 0xFEAC, nil, nil], # THAL
+        0x0631 => [0xFEAD, 0xFEAE, nil, nil], # REH
+        0x0632 => [0xFEAF, 0xFEB0, nil, nil], # ZAIN
+        0x0633 => [0xFEB1, 0xFEB2, 0xFEB3, 0xFEB4], # SEEN
+        0x0634 => [0xFEB5, 0xFEB6, 0xFEB7, 0xFEB8], # SHEEN
+        0x0635 => [0xFEB9, 0xFEBA, 0xFEBB, 0xFEBC], # SAD
+        0x0636 => [0xFEBD, 0xFEBE, 0xFEBF, 0xFEC0], # DAD
+        0x0637 => [0xFEC1, 0xFEC2, 0xFEC3, 0xFEC4], # TAH
+        0x0638 => [0xFEC5, 0xFEC6, 0xFEC7, 0xFEC8], # ZAH
+        0x0639 => [0xFEC9, 0xFECA, 0xFECB, 0xFECC], # AIN
+        0x063A => [0xFECD, 0xFECE, 0xFECF, 0xFED0], # GHAIN
+        0x0640 => [0x0640, 0x0640, 0x0640, 0x0640], # TATWEEL
+        0x0641 => [0xFED1, 0xFED2, 0xFED3, 0xFED4], # FEH
+        0x0642 => [0xFED5, 0xFED6, 0xFED7, 0xFED8], # QAF
+        0x0643 => [0xFED9, 0xFEDA, 0xFEDB, 0xFEDC], # KAF
+        0x0644 => [0xFEDD, 0xFEDE, 0xFEDF, 0xFEE0], # LAM
+        0x0645 => [0xFEE1, 0xFEE2, 0xFEE3, 0xFEE4], # MEEM
+        0x0646 => [0xFEE5, 0xFEE6, 0xFEE7, 0xFEE8], # NOON
+        0x0647 => [0xFEE9, 0xFEEA, 0xFEEB, 0xFEEC], # HEH
+        0x0648 => [0xFEED, 0xFEEE, nil, nil], # WAW
+        0x0649 => [0xFEEF, 0xFEF0, nil, nil], # ALEF MAKSURA
+        0x064A => [0xFEF1, 0xFEF2, 0xFEF3, 0xFEF4], # YEH
+
+        # Extended Arabic (Farsi, Urdu, etc.)
+        0x0671 => [0xFB50, 0xFB51, nil, nil], # ALEF WASLA
+        0x0679 => [0xFB66, 0xFB67, 0xFB68, 0xFB69], # TTEH
+        0x067A => [0xFB5E, 0xFB5F, 0xFB60, 0xFB61], # TTEHEH
+        0x067B => [0xFB52, 0xFB53, 0xFB54, 0xFB55], # BEEH
+        0x067E => [0xFB56, 0xFB57, 0xFB58, 0xFB59], # PEH
+        0x067F => [0xFB62, 0xFB63, 0xFB64, 0xFB65], # TEHEH
+        0x0680 => [0xFB5A, 0xFB5B, 0xFB5C, 0xFB5D], # BEHEH
+        0x0683 => [0xFB76, 0xFB77, 0xFB78, 0xFB79], # NYEH
+        0x0684 => [0xFB72, 0xFB73, 0xFB74, 0xFB75], # DYEH
+        0x0686 => [0xFB7A, 0xFB7B, 0xFB7C, 0xFB7D], # TCHEH
+        0x0687 => [0xFB7E, 0xFB7F, 0xFB80, 0xFB81], # TCHEHEH
+        0x0688 => [0xFB88, 0xFB89, nil, nil], # DDAL
+        0x068C => [0xFB84, 0xFB85, nil, nil], # DAHAL
+        0x068D => [0xFB82, 0xFB83, nil, nil], # DDAHAL
+        0x068E => [0xFB86, 0xFB87, nil, nil], # DUL
+        0x0691 => [0xFB8C, 0xFB8D, nil, nil], # RREH
+        0x0698 => [0xFB8A, 0xFB8B, nil, nil], # JEH
+        0x06A4 => [0xFB6A, 0xFB6B, 0xFB6C, 0xFB6D], # VEH
+        0x06A6 => [0xFB6E, 0xFB6F, 0xFB70, 0xFB71], # PEHEH
+        0x06A9 => [0xFB8E, 0xFB8F, 0xFB90, 0xFB91], # KEHEH
+        0x06AD => [0xFBD3, 0xFBD4, 0xFBD5, 0xFBD6], # NG
+        0x06AF => [0xFB92, 0xFB93, 0xFB94, 0xFB95], # GAF
+        0x06B1 => [0xFB9A, 0xFB9B, 0xFB9C, 0xFB9D], # NGOEH
+        0x06B3 => [0xFB96, 0xFB97, 0xFB98, 0xFB99], # GUEH
+        0x06BA => [0xFB9E, 0xFB9F, nil, nil], # NOON GHUNNA
+        0x06BB => [0xFBA0, 0xFBA1, 0xFBA2, 0xFBA3], # RNOON
+        0x06BE => [0xFBAA, 0xFBAB, 0xFBAC, 0xFBAD], # HEH DOACHASHMEE
+        0x06C0 => [0xFBA4, 0xFBA5, nil, nil], # HEH WITH YEH ABOVE
+        0x06C1 => [0xFBA6, 0xFBA7, 0xFBA8, 0xFBA9], # HEH GOAL
+        0x06C5 => [0xFBE0, 0xFBE1, nil, nil], # KIRGHIZ OE
+        0x06C6 => [0xFBD9, 0xFBDA, nil, nil], # OE
+        0x06C7 => [0xFBD7, 0xFBD8, nil, nil], # U
+        0x06C8 => [0xFBDB, 0xFBDC, nil, nil], # YU
+        0x06C9 => [0xFBE2, 0xFBE3, nil, nil], # KIRGHIZ YU
+        0x06CB => [0xFBDE, 0xFBDF, nil, nil], # VE
+        0x06CC => [0xFBFC, 0xFBFD, 0xFBFE, 0xFBFF], # FARSI YEH
+        0x06D0 => [0xFBE4, 0xFBE5, 0xFBE6, 0xFBE7], # E
+        0x06D2 => [0xFBAE, 0xFBAF, nil, nil], # YEH BARREE
+        0x06D3 => [0xFBB0, 0xFBB1, nil, nil], # YEH BARREE WITH HAMZA ABOVE
+      }.freeze
+
+      # Lam-Alef mandatory ligatures
+      LAM_ALEF_LIGATURES = {
+        0x0622 => [0xFEF5, 0xFEF6], # LAM + ALEF WITH MADDA [isolated, final]
+        0x0623 => [0xFEF7, 0xFEF8], # LAM + ALEF WITH HAMZA ABOVE
+        0x0625 => [0xFEF9, 0xFEFA], # LAM + ALEF WITH HAMZA BELOW
+        0x0627 => [0xFEFB, 0xFEFC], # LAM + ALEF
+      }.freeze
+
+      # Arabic diacritical marks (tashkeel) - transparent to joining
+      ARABIC_MARKS = (0x064B..0x065F).to_a.push(
+        0x0610, 0x0611, 0x0612, 0x0613, 0x0614, 0x0615,
+        0x0616, 0x0617, 0x0618, 0x0619, 0x061A,
+        0x06D6, 0x06D7, 0x06D8, 0x06D9, 0x06DA, 0x06DB,
+        0x06DC, 0x06DF, 0x06E0, 0x06E1, 0x06E2, 0x06E3,
+        0x06E4, 0x06E7, 0x06E8, 0x06EA, 0x06EB, 0x06EC, 0x06ED,
+        0x0670,
+      ).freeze
+
+      ARABIC_MARKS_SET = ARABIC_MARKS.to_set.freeze
+
+      class << self
+        # Returns true if the text contains Arabic characters.
+        #
+        # @param text [String]
+        # @return [Boolean]
+        def contains_arabic?(text)
+          return false unless text.encoding == ::Encoding::UTF_8 || text.encoding == ::Encoding::US_ASCII
+
+          text.match?(/[\u0600-\u06FF\u0750-\u077F\uFB50-\uFDFF\uFE70-\uFEFF]/)
+        rescue ArgumentError
+          false
+        end
+
+        # Shape Arabic text by converting characters to their positional
+        # presentation forms based on joining context.
+        #
+        # @param text [String] UTF-8 text potentially containing Arabic
+        # @return [String] text with Arabic characters replaced by presentation forms
+        def shape(text)
+          return text if text.nil? || text.empty?
+          return text unless contains_arabic?(text)
+
+          chars = text.codepoints
+          result = []
+          i = 0
+
+          while i < chars.length
+            cp = chars[i]
+
+            if arabic_letter?(cp)
+              run = []
+              while i < chars.length && (arabic_letter?(chars[i]) || arabic_mark?(chars[i]) || chars[i] == 0x0640)
+                run << chars[i]
+                i += 1
+              end
+              result.concat(shape_run(run))
+            else
+              result << cp
+              i += 1
+            end
+          end
+
+          result.pack('U*')
+        end
+
+        private
+
+        def arabic_letter?(codepoint)
+          ARABIC_FORMS.key?(codepoint)
+        end
+
+        def arabic_mark?(codepoint)
+          ARABIC_MARKS_SET.include?(codepoint)
+        end
+
+        def dual_joining?(codepoint)
+          forms = ARABIC_FORMS[codepoint]
+          forms && forms[2] && forms[3]
+        end
+
+        def right_joining?(codepoint)
+          forms = ARABIC_FORMS[codepoint]
+          forms && forms[1] && !forms[2]
+        end
+
+        def join_causing?(codepoint)
+          [0x0640, 0x200D].include?(codepoint)
+        end
+
+        def can_join_right?(codepoint)
+          dual_joining?(codepoint) || right_joining?(codepoint) || join_causing?(codepoint)
+        end
+
+        def can_join_left?(codepoint)
+          dual_joining?(codepoint) || join_causing?(codepoint)
+        end
+
+        def shape_run(run)
+          bases = []
+          marks_map = {}
+          base_index = -1
+
+          run.each do |cp|
+            if arabic_mark?(cp)
+              marks_map[base_index] ||= []
+              marks_map[base_index] << cp
+            else
+              base_index += 1
+              bases << cp
+            end
+          end
+
+          shaped_bases = apply_lam_alef_ligatures(bases)
+          result = []
+
+          shaped_bases.each_with_index do |entry, idx|
+            if entry.is_a?(Array)
+              result << entry[0]
+            else
+              forms = ARABIC_FORMS[entry]
+              if forms
+                prev_joins = idx.positive? && prev_can_join_left?(shaped_bases, idx)
+                next_joins = idx < shaped_bases.length - 1 && next_can_join_right?(shaped_bases, idx)
+                result << select_form(forms, prev_joins, next_joins)
+              else
+                result << entry
+              end
+            end
+
+            orig_idx = find_original_index(bases, shaped_bases, idx)
+            result.concat(marks_map[orig_idx]) if marks_map[orig_idx]
+          end
+
+          result
+        end
+
+        def apply_lam_alef_ligatures(bases)
+          result = []
+          i = 0
+          while i < bases.length
+            if bases[i] == 0x0644 && i + 1 < bases.length && LAM_ALEF_LIGATURES.key?(bases[i + 1])
+              alef = bases[i + 1]
+              ligature_forms = LAM_ALEF_LIGATURES[alef]
+              prev_joins = i.positive? && can_join_left?(bases[i - 1])
+              ligature_cp = prev_joins ? ligature_forms[1] : ligature_forms[0]
+              result << [ligature_cp, prev_joins ? :final : :isolated]
+              i += 2
+            else
+              result << bases[i]
+              i += 1
+            end
+          end
+          result
+        end
+
+        def prev_can_join_left?(shaped_bases, idx)
+          entry = shaped_bases[idx - 1]
+          return false if entry.is_a?(Array)
+
+          can_join_left?(entry)
+        end
+
+        def next_can_join_right?(shaped_bases, idx)
+          entry = shaped_bases[idx + 1]
+          return true if entry.is_a?(Array)
+
+          can_join_right?(entry)
+        end
+
+        def find_original_index(bases, shaped_bases, shaped_idx)
+          orig = 0
+          shaped = 0
+          while shaped < shaped_idx && orig < bases.length
+            orig += shaped_bases[shaped].is_a?(Array) ? 2 : 1
+            shaped += 1
+          end
+          orig
+        end
+
+        def select_form(forms, prev_joins, next_joins)
+          if prev_joins && next_joins && forms[3]
+            forms[3]
+          elsif prev_joins && forms[1]
+            forms[1]
+          elsif next_joins && forms[2]
+            forms[2]
+          else
+            forms[0]
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/prawn/text/arabic_shaping_spec.rb b/spec/prawn/text/arabic_shaping_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..626a3daf6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/prawn/text/arabic_shaping_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+RSpec.describe Prawn::Text::ArabicShaping do
+  describe '.contains_arabic?' do
+    it 'returns true for Arabic text' do
+      expect(described_class.contains_arabic?('مرحبا')).to be(true)
+    end
+
+    it 'returns false for Latin text' do
+      expect(described_class.contains_arabic?('Hello')).to be(false)
+    end
+
+    it 'returns true for mixed Arabic/Latin text' do
+      expect(described_class.contains_arabic?('Hello مرحبا')).to be(true)
+    end
+
+    it 'returns false for empty string' do
+      expect(described_class.contains_arabic?('')).to be(false)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '.shape' do
+    it 'returns nil unchanged' do
+      expect(described_class.shape(nil)).to be_nil
+    end
+
+    it 'returns empty string unchanged' do
+      expect(described_class.shape('')).to eq('')
+    end
+
+    it 'returns non-Arabic text unchanged' do
+      expect(described_class.shape('Hello World')).to eq('Hello World')
+    end
+
+    it 'converts Arabic characters to presentation forms' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('مرحبا')
+      expect(shaped.codepoints).to all(
+        be_between(0xFE70, 0xFEFF).or(be_between(0xFB50, 0xFDFF)),
+      )
+    end
+
+    it 'shapes initial form correctly' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('مرحبا')
+      expect(shaped.codepoints.first).to eq(0xFEE3)
+    end
+
+    it 'shapes final form correctly' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('مرحبا')
+      expect(shaped.codepoints.last).to eq(0xFE8E)
+    end
+
+    it 'shapes medial form correctly' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('مرحبا')
+      expect(shaped.codepoints[2]).to eq(0xFEA3)
+    end
+
+    it 'shapes isolated characters correctly' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('ء')
+      expect(shaped.codepoints.first).to eq(0xFE80)
+    end
+
+    it 'handles right-joining characters' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('با')
+      cps = shaped.codepoints
+      expect(cps[0]).to eq(0xFE91)
+      expect(cps[1]).to eq(0xFE8E)
+    end
+
+    it 'creates Lam-Alef ligatures' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('لا')
+      expect(shaped.codepoints).to eq([0xFEFB])
+    end
+
+    it 'creates Lam-Alef ligature in final form when preceded' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('بلا')
+      cps = shaped.codepoints
+      expect(cps[0]).to eq(0xFE91)
+      expect(cps[1]).to eq(0xFEFC)
+    end
+
+    it 'creates Lam-Alef with Madda ligature' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape("\u0644\u0622")
+      expect(shaped.codepoints).to eq([0xFEF5])
+    end
+
+    it 'preserves diacritical marks' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape("\u0628\u0650\u0633\u0652\u0645\u0650")
+      marks = shaped.codepoints.select { |codepoint| (0x064B..0x065F).cover?(codepoint) }
+      expect(marks).to_not be_empty
+    end
+
+    it 'preserves spaces between words' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('مرحبا بالعالم')
+      expect(shaped).to include(' ')
+    end
+
+    it 'handles mixed Arabic and Latin text' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape('Hello مرحبا World')
+      expect(shaped).to include('Hello')
+      expect(shaped).to include('World')
+      expect(shaped).to_not include('م')
+    end
+
+    it 'handles Tatweel' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape("\u0628\u0640\u0627")
+      expect(shaped.codepoints).to include(0x0640)
+    end
+
+    it 'shapes Farsi Yeh correctly' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape("\u06CC")
+      expect(shaped.codepoints.first).to eq(0xFBFC)
+    end
+
+    it 'shapes Peh correctly' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape("\u067E")
+      expect(shaped.codepoints.first).to eq(0xFB56)
+    end
+
+    it 'shapes Gaf correctly' do
+      shaped = described_class.shape("\u06AF")
+      expect(shaped.codepoints.first).to eq(0xFB92)
+    end
+  end
+end