Katibeh

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What do I do with this?

Just want to use the font? Click "Get this font on Google Fonts" to download it or add it directly to a document, design tool (like Canva or Photoshop), or your computer's font list.

Building a website? Click "Copy Font Code" to copy a short snippet, then paste it into your website's HTML (usually inside the <head> section) to use this font on your site.

Katibeh is an Arabic-inspired display typeface with bold, expressive letterforms that draw from traditional Naskh calligraphy but carry a strong decorative weight suited for large-scale applications. Its thick strokes, pronounced curves, and tight spacing give it a confident, exotic presence without being overly ornate. The Latin character set mirrors this aesthetic, making it feel culturally distinctive and visually striking when used at display sizes. It reads as assertive and culturally rooted, which makes it stand out clearly in contexts where generic sans-serifs would fade into the background.

Katibeh works well for restaurant branding, particularly for Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, or North African establishments looking for a typeface that signals authenticity without sacrificing legibility at sign sizes. It also suits editorial headlines for cultural magazines or travel publications where a strong sense of place needs to be established quickly. A third practical use is in event posters or packaging design where the goal is visual impact and a clear nod to Arabic typographic tradition, such as music festivals, art exhibitions, or specialty food products targeting a global audience.

Best suited for: Consider Katibeh for restaurant signage, cultural event posters, editorial headlines, and specialty packaging where bold visual presence and Arabic typographic heritage strengthen brand identity.

Design considerations: Katibeh's single regular weight and tight spacing work best at large display sizes where its expressive letterforms command attention. The typeface's decorative character suits contexts emphasizing cultural distinctiveness, though restraint in sizing and frequency helps maintain legibility in mixed-language layouts.

Pairing guidance: Pair Katibeh with Playfair Display to anchor elegant editorial layouts with complementary serif formality, use Lato as a neutral sans-serif counterpoint for body text and supporting information, or combine with Amatic SC to introduce handwritten warmth in secondary headlines or decorative accents while preserving Katibeh's commanding presence.

Pairs well with

Katibeh at a glance

Katibeh styles

Katibeh character map

Which languages does Katibeh support?

Katibeh includes 3 character sets:

• Arabic: Arabic, Persian and Urdu
• Latin: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and other Western European languages
• Latin Extended: Central and Eastern European languages such as Polish, Czech, Turkish, Romanian and Hungarian

It does not include Cyrillic or Greek characters, so it can't set Russian, Ukrainian or Greek text.

Can I use Katibeh commercially?

Yes, it's free for personal and commercial use. Katibeh is released under the SIL Open Font License 1.1. You can use it in logos, websites, apps, videos, printed products and merchandise without paying or asking permission. The one thing you can't do is sell the font file on its own.

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Katibeh FAQ