Arabic mehendi designs are not a world apart from traditional Indian henna art. But they do have a few elements that give them a distinct character. First, Arabic henna uses mostly floral elements like flowers, buds, vines, birds etc. But unlike Indian henna art, in Arabic mehendi we seldom see density of motifs. The motifs are sparsely distributed or concentrated in a particular area on the palm.
Moreover, Arabic henna uses geometric shapes or angular designs to go along with its floral elements. Together, they look immensely inspired from Middle Eastern or Mughal architecture. The combination of floral elements housed within geometric shapes reminds one of pietra dura art as well.
Arabic mehendi designs are usually not as heavy as Indian henna but in some cases elaborate designs are drawn especially if it is for the bride. Today, we shall see:
40 Arabic henna designs for bridal as well as festive purposes
1. Resembling Jewellery
This stunning Arabic mehendi design is reminiscent of traditional finger to ring bracelets. A line of leaves connect the design on the wrist to the design on the fingers. There is an ornate half floral motif on the way where we can see a jaal art paisley also.
2. Rose and Leaf Motifs
Sparsely placed motifs of roses and leaves make up this Arabic mehendi design. There is nothing exquisite to this look. But the large motifs, the perfection in the drawing etc make it stunningly beautiful!
3. Diagonal Floral Design
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Here the floral motifs are concentrated in a diagonal way, across the palm. We also see floral and leaf motifs on the fingers. While drawing the petals of the flowers, the artist has also used shading technique.
4. More Floral Diagonal Designs
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Here is another diagonal floral henna design running across the palm. Here we see Mandala flowers as well. So in the true sense, here Arabic elements have been blended with Indian ones.
5. Typical Full Hand Arabic Mehendi Design
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This type of henna is typical when it comes to bridal Arabic mehendi designs. We see lots of different kinds of motifs – ranging from lotuses to roses, floral jaal art and floral bootas, leaf and petal patterns etc. There are many motifs but they are well spaced out and shading technique is used to advantage.
6. Lotus Motifs Within Squares
Only the fingers and two corners on the palm showcase lotus pond imagery placed within squares. The shaded background of the lotus pond and the intricacy of the motifs are impressive!
7. Use of Geometrical Shapes
The Arabic mehendi design here is truly unique! First, we see a unique distribution of motifs. The way it is drawn creates a gap at the middle portion of the palm. Also, we see the use of numerous geometric shapes – like jaal work, square jaal work domes, spirals etc – apart from floral motifs.
8. Use of Paisley
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Paisleys are mostly seen in traditional Indian henna art. Here Arabic style floral motifs have been combined with a single paisley motif to create a unique yet ornate look.
9. Use of Jaal Work
Jaal work, though also common in Indian henna, is particularly reminiscent of Mughal architecture. The patch of jaal work in the middle of this design reminds one of the windows with cut stone work in Mughal palaces from where the onlooker could safely watch what is happening outside without being detected. That is why this design is so distinctly Arabic.
10. Leaf Motifs
This henna design showcases numerous different types of design languages. It has a lotus pond, spirals, geometric shapes etc. But what stands out is the various types of leaf imagery. For example, there is a paan leaf border with tiny stalk-and-leaf motifs. There are leaf motifs along with spirals on the fingers. Lotus leaves can also be seen.
11. Floral Clusters
This is a typical Arabic henna design! Large flowers along with leaves are drawn in clusters all over the palm and back hand. There is usually some gap between two clusters – a common feature in Arabic henna art!
12. Single Lotus Imagery
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The lotus motif is considered auspicious in Arabic style bridal mehendi. Here we see the use of a single motif within an ornate circle and it’s as if the rest of the design consisting mostly of leaves in different shapes, originates from the lotus.
13. Floral Motif
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Though reminiscent of Mandala art, this floral image is characteristically Arabic. We can also see jaal work on the fingers along with spiral flowers.
14. Floral Rounds Within Domes
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This is just a variation of the round floral Arabic mehendi design. The detailing here has increased. The floral rounds have been placed under domes. The part outside the domes is filled with spiral flowers and leaf motifs.
15. Squares and Rectangles
This stunning henna art is the perfect example of how geometric shapes are used in Arabic mehendi designs. It is primarily a floral imagery with a cluster of three flowers from which leaves and tendrils extend in all directions. But part of the design is brought within a square and a rectangle. The whole shapes are not present in the design. The partial presence of the shapes creates a sense of continuity.
16. Shaded Floral Patches With Jaal Art
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This Arabic bridal henna is exquisite! Floral motifs adorn a dark shaded background while the rest of the palm showcases jaal art! There are leaf patterns and even paisleys in the design.
17. The Swan Motif
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The beauty of Arabic mehendi designs is in the detailing! Here, the lotus pond imagery has been used. But the highlight of the look is the swan motif. We can also see numerous geometric shapes used for filling up the square spaces.
18. Floral Rounds
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Though the simplest and commonest type of Arabic henna art, these floral rounds don’t fail to impress us! We see typical floral motifs on the fingers as well as on the wrists.
19. Indian and Arabic Motif Blend
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This isn’t typical Arabic henna art! For starters, the density of the motifs is way too much compared to traditional arts. Second, the use of Mandala art circles in the design is evident! This makes it a fusion Arabic henna design perfect suitable for bridal mehendi!
20. More Fusion Arabic Mehendi
Just like the previous design, this mehendi design too uses elements from Indian henna art! We can see Mandala circles along with typical geometric designs like jaal, barfi, spirals etc. For Indian brides, who want something Arabic as well as elaborate for their bridal henna, such designs are ideal.
21. Layered Motifs
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Observe closely and you will notice a layered structure to this Arabic mehendi design. Starting from the arms, we see a layer of lotuses followed by ornate zigzag jaal work followed by another layer of lotuses and spirals and so on. It is another interesting way of creating an Arabic design.
22. Buds and Vines
It is unbelievable how sparsely placed these floral motifs are. The henna design showcases blooming buds and vines in excruciating detail. It’s a work of art but the design is one-of-a-kind and beautifully lacks density!
23. Simple Yet Stunning
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A very common Arabic henna design can be seen here. Nonetheless, these floral rounds, structured by a bracelet-resembling design on the wrist and floral naksha on the fingers, do not fail to impress us. They are simple and common yet stunning!
24. Domes and Spiral
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It’s an exquisite example of the artistry of Arabic geometric and floral henna design! The main structure is that of domes resembling the architecture of a mosque. Within that we have the lotus motif and outside, it’s a spiral sky. Though the lotus motif is seen all over the back hand, the palm showcases a singular rose. It is to be noted that each motif has a meaning and significance of its own!
25. Filled Floral Imagery
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Though this kind of floral diagonal design is pretty common in Arabic henna art, what makes it even more beautiful is the fact that many of the shapes, especially the petals of the flowers, have been filled up! This creates a shaded look!
26. Squares and Rounds
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While floral designs and jaal art go hand in hand, here we see the placement of the same things within squares or rounds. On the backside of one hand floral designs have been placed within boxes and on the other back hand, we see the typical jaal art within circle design.
27. Spirals All The Way
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Not only is this Arabic henna design complex and neat, there is an element of uniqueness about it. We can see floral designs, a close knit patch of jaal work but the only motif that is repeated and spread all over is the spiral!
28. Roses Within Paan Leaves
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It’s a very unusual yet stunning design! We can see the juxtaposition of paan leaf patterns – one on another. Within each paan leaf there an exquisite rose and the paan leaf patterns are also bordered by lines of ornate leaves.
29. Arches and Domes
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We have mentioned before that Arabic mehendi designs are highly influenced by Mughal or Persian architecture. So, we often see the placement of floral motifs inside geometric shapes. Arch and dome shapes are also used to structure out the design. That has been done in this case.
30. Gaps With Layers
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This bridal Arabic mehendi design is created in layers. From the rose motifs at the farthest end on the arm, to the jaal art to the lotus pond on the palm, we see a varied display of imagery. But the images are not closely packed and gaps or empty spaces have been created between them, creating a unique look.
31. All The Elements
In this bridal Arabic mehendi design, we see the juxtaposition of different types of motifs that are crucial to this kind of henna design. There are floral motifs of various types and different types of flowers have been drawn. There are two types of jaal art. Leaf lines run ornately all over. Lotus pond motif can also be seen.
32. Simple Floral Clusters
This henna design is so simple yet so beautiful! Alpana-like floral motifs are drawn in clusters. Some designs can be seen on the fingers. Dotted lines link the clusters.
33. Wristlet Art
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While the round motif in the centre is pretty common in Arabic henna art, here we see an ornate design created at the wrists. It gives the impression of a wristlet. Drawing forms of jewellery on the hand in a pretty common practice in traditional henna art.
34. Imagery in Layers
It’s the perfect bridal Arabic mehendi design! We see different kinds of imagery, placed in layers. On the arm, right at the top, we have lotus motifs followed by another floral design against a shaded background. There is an ornate net design after that followed by ornate borders and a line of elephant imagery. On the palm, we have a diagonal cluster of lotuses and two types of jaal art among other more complex motifs.
35. Bridal Arabic Henna
Here is another complex bridal Arabic mehendi design! Unlike the previous mehendi design, we do not see very different types of imagery here. What makes this design look all the more complex is the use of spirals all over! Spirals inside other geometric shapes gives a uniquely complex look without being too difficult to draw.
36. Minimal Elegant Arabic Henna
It’s one of the most elegant designs we have seen on this list. Each finger is adorned in a different set of motifs. On one side of the palm we see a beautiful harmony of floral motifs, leaf patterns and jaal art.
37. Just Flowers
They say, sometimes flowers are all you need to create a positive impression. In the case of Arabic mehendi too this theory works. This henna art is just about the homogeneous placement of floral motifs all over the hand and yet it looks so stunningly beautiful!
38. Design Squares
These leaves and vines are a traditional form of henna design. We see them being used liberally for this henna art. What’s unique is the placement of these motifs within ornate squares.
39. The Butterfly Motif
It’s a unique style of Arabic henna! Traditional floral motifs have been combined with something very new and different – butterfly imagery! But this simplistic yet unique style is really impressive!
40. Mandala-Inspired Arabic Mehendi Design
The first look at this henna design will create an impression that the motifs drawn here are basically half Mandala circles. Mandala art is essential to Indian henna! If you look closely at this design, you will notice that though it may be inspired by Mandala art, the motifs inside the semi circles or the strokes or the shading technique is very different from traditional Mandala art.
For more information and inspiration on bridal henna or mehendi designs, check out our other blogs on the same topic!
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